The Benefits of Lemon Water
Adding lemon water to your diet comes with plenty of benefits, and this citrus-infused drink can support your overall well-being. Discover why a glass of lemon water could be the perfect addition to your morning routine and how it can contribute to better health.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard crystals that form and build up in the kidneys. They can cause intense pain, and the risk of recurrence is high. Over the long term, kidney stones can harm kidney function. Citrus fruits like lemons contain citrates, which help reduce the formation of kidney stones. Citrates are the most important inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystal formation, the most common composition of kidney stones.
Vitamin C
Lemon juice is a good source of vitamin C. This vitamin plays many important roles in the body, including supporting collagen synthesis, boosting iron absorption by converting it to its reduced form, helping detoxify drugs, carcinogens and pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides, reducing free radicals in the body as an antioxidant, and supporting wound healing and immune function. That's why vitamin C from fruits and vegetables may help lower the incidence of certain cancers (esophageal, pharyngeal, oral, stomach) and cardiovascular disease.
Women need about 75 mg of vitamin C per day, and men need about 90 mg. Smokers need that amount plus an extra 35 mg. The juice of half a lemon equals about 2 tablespoons, providing 12 mg of vitamin C first thing in the morning, which is 16% (women) and 13% (men) of the recommended daily intake.
Digestion
Drinking lemon water before breakfast can also help improve digestion. The citric acid in lemon juice stimulates the secretion of gastric acid, a digestive fluid produced in the stomach that helps break down food.
A glass of water first thing in the morning also helps you stay hydrated, which helps regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation.
Conclusion
Adding lemon water to your daily routine is a great way to stay well hydrated and support your health. It helps with digestion and gives you a dose of vitamin C, all while reducing the risk of kidney stones.
Reference
- IUCPQ-UL. (2021). Conseils alimentaires pour vos calculs rénaux. bibliotheque-patients.iucpq.qc.ca/notice?id=p%3A%3Ausmarcdef_0000017258&locale=fr
