Lemon Water

Add some life to your usual.

So this post is a little bit different from the usual; this is not really a recipe but it's something that I do every morning. So I thought I'd share it.

Here are some reasons why lemon water is beneficial

1. It promotes hydration

If you're not someone who drinks a lot of water, adding some flavor to your water might help you drink more. So instead of adding sugary juice, you can just add some freshly squeezed lemon.

2. It’s a good source of vitamin C

Citrus fruits like lemons are high in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damaging free radicals. While lemons don’t top the list of citrus fruits high in vitamin C, they’re still a good source. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the juice of one lemon provides about 18.6 milligrams of vitamin C. The recommended daily amount for adults is 65 to 90 milligrams.

3. It aids digestion

Some people drink lemon water as a daily morning laxative to help prevent constipation. Drinking warm or hot lemon water when you wake up may help get your digestive system moving.

I also think it's important to address some of the myths surrounding this as well

Myth 1: The fiber in it helps you lose weight

Lemons contain a type of fiber called pectin, this helps reduce your appetite.

However, lemon water is basically filtered, heavily diluted lemon juice, which leaves it with only trace amounts of pectin. Even a whole lemon only contains 2 grams of fiber in total.

There is no evidence that lemon water has any more benefits for weight loss than plain water.

Myth 2: It fights cancer

This claim emerged from the alkaline diet myth. It's built on the premise that cancer cells cannot thrive in an alkaline environment.

While cancer cells do prefer the cells around them to be acidic, studies show they can grow in alkaline environments as well. Also, cancer cells create their own acidic environment, and eating alkalizing food doesn’t stop it.

LEMON WATER

Serves 1

INGREDIENTS

1. 2 Tbsp fresh lemon, juiced

2. 1 cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Slice the lemon in half.

2. Using a citrus juicer, squeeze out about 2 Tbsp of juice. You can just squeeze the lemon with your hands as well. Just be careful to discard the seeds.

3. Add the lemon to your water and stir.

4. Serve immediately.

NOTES

You can make a big batch if you want and it can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.

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