Have you ever had a glass of warm water with a touch of lemon juice in the morning? You may have heard the many health benefits of lemon water, but were they all true?

Do you start your morning with a glass of warm water and a hint of lemon juice?

It’s been said that lemon water can be cleansing for the body, helping to flush out toxins first thing in the morning.

I am definitely one who loves having a good lemon water first thing in the morning. For me, it helps me wake up.

After recently coming across some posts floating around on the internet questioning whether drinking lemon water was actually good for us, I decided to go and investigate.

Before we get started in learning about the health benefits of lemon water, if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!

The Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

There are indeed benefits to drinking lemon water, some of which include the following.

Acting as a Natural Flush

The liver is very active while we sleep. During this time the body is busy restoring and regenerating itself (one of these processes is known as autophagy). Drinking plenty of water, especially in the morning, may help to ensure that the body is able to carry out these jobs effectively. Some studies even show that lemon juice has the ability to help stimulate the proper production of stomach acid and bile.

Forming the habit of drinking 1 to 2 glasses of lemon water in the morning, before having your tea or coffee, can prove very beneficial and may help to support a happy, healthy liver and lymphatic system.

Furthermore, the citric acid found in lemons may help in preventing kidney stones. Citrate (a part of citric acid) actually helps make urine less acidic and can even break up small stones. By drinking lemon water, it not only provides your body with citrate, but the water may help in preventing kidney stones from forming and/or flush out any existing stones.

Promoting Healthier Skin

By flushing out the body regularly, along with improving digestion, lemon water may encourage clearer, healthier skin! The vitamin C found in lemons may help to reduce wrinkling, as well as dry skin from aging, and even damage from the sun.

Vitamin C is also needed for collagen production, encouraging plumper, smoother skin.

Assisting Digestion

Drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning when you wake up may help to kick-start your digestive system. However, one of the biggest factors that determine lemon water’s overall benefit is the temperature of the water. Drinking water – especially warm water – in the morning just after waking up will help in flushing out the digestive system as well as rehydrate the body.

Immunity Boost from the Vitamin C

While the vitamin C found in lemons may not come in huge amounts, it does contain approximately 30-50 mg per lemon (this will vary). Potassium is another nutrient found in lemons.

By drinking lemon water first thing in the morning, your body has a chance to absorb these nutrients more effectively and provide a little immune boost along with it.

Vitamin C is also wonderful for the adrenals, and may help in reducing the effects of stress. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys, and along with the thyroid, and they create energy as well as secrete important hormones like aldosterone (which regulate water levels and mineral concentrations in the body). By drinking lemon water, this can hydrate the lymphatic system (your detoxifying system) as well as assist in preventing dehydration.

Lemon water is also a wonderful substitute to caffeinated drinks (which is particularly important if you have adrenal fatigue).

Myths about Lemon Water

While drinking more water and adding a small dose of vitamin C to your body each morning can be a great habit, lemon water is no “magic pill.” Some of the claims made online about the benefits of lemon water actually have no scientific backing to them.

Flushes Out Toxins

Drinking water can assist the body in naturally removing cellular waste (a process that the body naturally does on its own already), but claims that lemon water has a special ability to flush out “toxins” without specifically identifying what they are or how this process is done, are overhyped.

“Alkalises” the Body

There is a theory that certain foods have the ability to change the alkalinity or acidity of the body, but this only affects the pH of the urine, not the body’s blood pH (as the body tightly regulates blood and extracellular fluid pH itself). Chris Kresser goes into more depth on the acid/alkaline myth here.

How I Drink Lemon Water

Each morning I make sure to drink a few glasses of warm, filtered water. But, a few days a week, I’ll enjoy some warm lemon water to assist my liver in cleansing. Here’s what I do for this.

I cut an organic lemon in half lengthways, then squeeze the juice of the lemon slices into a glass filled with warm filtered water. I like to enjoy the lemon water at a leisurely pace, not needing to rush things. I enjoy a slow pace to my mornings. I follow up by swishing plain filtered water around my mouth to wash any remaining residue from my teeth.

Homemade Lemon Water

Ingredients

• 3-4 glasses of warm, filtered water (not hot)
• 1 organic lemon, juiced

Instructions

1. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze each half of the lemon into the water. Mix the lemon in with the water and drink.
2. Please note that after drinking lemon water, it’s a good idea to swish plain filtered water around the mouth for around 30 seconds or so just to help remove any acidic residue remaining on the teeth from the lemon juice, as this can damage the enamel overtime.

This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user’s own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Do you drink lemon water in the morning too? Have you noticed any benefits? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

Vanessa