Many nutrition experts consider water with a squeeze of lemon juice to be a nutritious health drink and an aid to weight loss. Lemons and lemon juice are alkalizing, cleansing, antiseptic and antioxidant and may successfully treat a variety of health problems. For best results, add the juice of half a freshly picked lemon to cool or warm water. Water that is too hot will destroy vital enzymes in the lemons.
Lemons and pH Balance
Ripe lemons have an alkalizing effect on the body despite being an acidic fruit. According to Dr. Susan E. Brown and Larry Trivieri, Jr., authors of "The Alkaline-Acid Food Guide," if a diet raises acidity levels in the body, the kidneys, lungs and skin must borrow alkaline minerals from bone, muscle and tissue to redress the pH balance. These minerals include calcium, magnesium and potassium, and their depletion over time can lead to weakened bones and muscle wastage. Lemons are a good source of all three minerals, so may help protect against acidosis.
Digestion and Cleansing
Lemons boost the immune system, purify the blood and help the body rid itself of toxins. Taken regularly, lemon juice stimulates liver performance and can aid sluggish bowels, preventing both constipation and diarrhea, according to Jethro Kloss in his book "Back to Eden." Half a fresh lemon squeezed into a glass of warm water last thing at night or first thing in the morning may help digestion, soothe heartburn and prevent bloating.
Lemons and Weight Loss
Vitamin C in lemon juice may aid weight loss because it boosts metabolism and helps burn fat, according to Ann Louise Gittleman, author of "The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet." Drinking water with lemon juice may help fill you up, stave off hunger pangs and prevent water retention, leading to a flatter belly. According to a study published in "The Journal of the American College of Nutrition" in 2005, consuming adequate vitamin C may allow you to oxidize 30 percent more fat during exercise sessions than if you have lower levels of the vitamin. Vitamin C also helps normalize blood sugar levels.
Other Health Benefits
Lemon juice purifies the blood and, according to Kloss, may help treat acne, scurvy and other skin conditions. It is antiseptic and helps fight infection, is believed to relieve symptoms of asthma and is also used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, gout, cholera and malaria. Warm lemon water can soothe a sore throat and relieve cold and flu symptoms. According to Brown and Trivieri, chronic, low-grade acidosis caused by an acidic diet may result in other health conditions such as osteoporosis and joint and back problems. Alkalizing lemons may benefit these conditions.
References
- "The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide"; Susan E. Brown, et al.; 2006
- "Back to Eden"; Jethro Kloss; 2004.
- "The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet"; Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S.; 2005
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; Strategies for Healthy Weight Loss: From Vitamin C to the Glycemic Response; Carol S. Johnston, PhD, FACN; 2004
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