When you increase your metabolism, you burn more calories while at rest, which is useful when you're trying to maintain or lose weight. Drinking lemon water is a favorite fad among weight-loss aficionados, but the truth is that no food or beverage can actually speed up metabolism. That can only be accomplished through building lean muscle tissue and adopting a more active lifestyle. Lemons are high in vitamin C and contain no fat, so while drinking lemon water cannot make you lose weight faster, substituting lemon water for sugary and chemical-laden soft drinks can help you lose it healthier.
Metabolism Myths
The idea that a slow metabolism is partially responsible for some people being overweight has some basis in fact. But the idea that there are any foods or beverages that can appreciably increase your metabolic rate has none. Stimulants may make your heart race, but that is not the same thing as speeding your metabolism. Lemon water is not a stimulant, so it doesn't increase either your heart rate or your metabolism.
Metabolism Facts
Your basic metabolic rate is something that you are born with. Some people simply burn calories faster then others. There are ways to increase your metabolism. Muscle tissue burns calories faster than fatty tissue, so building lean muscle can ensure that you burn more calories while at rest. Lemon water doesn't affect muscle building. Eating several small meals and snacks throughout the day so that you body has fuel to burn can keep your metabolism up and functioning at its natural peak efficiency, but substituting lemon water for meals won't increase that rate because your body needs more calories than lemon water has in order to function.
Lemon Facts
Lemons are high in vitamin C, ascorbic acid and pectin, though the pectin is found in the peel. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps scour free radicals from your blood. Ascorbic acid can help stimulate digestion, though more studies are needed to determine exactly how effective it is. None of these benefits have anything to do with metabolism.
Pros & Cons
The benefits of drinking lemon water instead of sugary, chemically-enhanced drinks are many. Lemon juice is a natural diuretic, which can help combat water retention and bloating. Vitamin C can help support your immune system. Drinking lemon water won't speed your metabolism. You can't lead a sedentary lifestyle, eat an unhealthy diet and drink lemon water to counteract those two choices.
Member Comments