When I heard about the warm lemon water benefits being touted by health gurus, I was intrigued. I had heard about the lemon water side effects as well but that didn’t stop me from giving it a try. I thought I would share BOTH with you and let you know whether drinking lemon water really lives up to the hype.
Table of Contents
Is drinking warm lemon water good for you?
The older I get, the more I feel like an old car that only has a few more miles left to go before hitting the scrap heap. My body is slowing down, my aches and pains are numerous and I spend a lot of time Googling weird health problems.
I am always on the lookout for natural health solutions to my many random ailments. I came across several posts that tout the benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning. Not just any old lemon water, either.
Nope, the natural health gurus swear by WARM lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. This isn’t the same as a lemon detox water but has similar results.
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Warm Lemon Water Benefits
If you are feeling listless or find yourself with frequent digestive or immune issues, you might want to give lemon water a shot in your daily routine.
To make life easier for yourself, invest in a wooden lemon reamer to get as much juice from the lemons as possible. Here are just a few of the benefits of drinking lemon water in the morning:
Aid Digestion:
Drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning is said to boost your digestive capabilities. Lemons contain pectin fiber which is beneficial for colon health and acts as a powerful antibacterial agent. It also encourages the production of bile. Improved digestion is supposed to improve nutrient absorption which may lead to better health.
Improved Immunity:
Lemon contain lots of Vitamin C which is essential for a healthy immune system. Drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach gives your body a better chance of fully absorbing the Vitamin C which means a nice boost to your immune system.
Check out these essential oils for immune support to further boost your immune system.
Detoxify your Body:
A glass of warm lemon water in the morning wakes up your liver which, in turn, helps your liver flush toxins out of your body.
Reduce pain and inflammation:
The potassium content in lemon helps nourish brain and nerve cells. It also helps reduce pain and inflammation in joints and knees as it dissolves uric acid.
Improve skin health:
Studies suggest that drinking lemon water in the morning will improve the look of your skin. Vitamin C aids in the production of collagen which helps skin appear more youthful.
My Experience with Warm Lemon Water in the Morning:
So, my lemon water detox had it’s ups and downs. Here are a few of the things I experienced, although your personal journey might be different than mine. Stock up on fresh lemons and start drinking!
The acidity of the lemon water was bothering my mouth:
I learned quickly that I had to chase my morning warm lemon water with a glass of plain water to counteract the acidity. Once I did that, the lemon water no long irritated my mouth. It is also good to do this for the protection of your tooth enamel.
I definitely felt more energized…for a short time!
Lemon water really did a great job of perking me up. I used to get up and have 2 cups of coffee. This month, I switched to a glass of warm lemon water and then 30 minutes later ONE cup of coffee and I have honestly not missed that second cup at all.
If you are trying to give up caffeine in the AM, warm lemon water might be a good solution. The energy boost didn’t last all day or anything but it was a nice perky wakeup in the morning.
It definitely makes you regular:
In fact, I had to cut down a bit occasionally on my lemon water habit or I was a bit TOO regular. I found that 2 days of lemon water and a day off seemed to be a good pattern for me. Your digestive tract may differ then mine but I found that too much lemon water was harsh on my stomach.
Skin looks no different at all:
But, then again I don’t really have huge skin problems other than some dryness and a bit of redness occasionally if I am not gentle with it.
You will pee a LOT more:
Maybe that is just the increased fluid intake but I have always drank quite a bit of water. However, starting my day out with a glass of lemon water had me basically in and out of the bathroom for the next 2 hours. Sorry if that is a bit TMI for you but you should know what to expect!
No effect on pain or inflammation:
I noticed no decrease in pain or inflammation from my warm lemon water habit. But, then again…I am not your normal person dealing with general muscle stiffness. I was diagnosed a couple years ago with Myofascial Pain Syndrome which is basically chronic muscle pain and stiffness of no known origin. So, for me…no benefit from the lemon water on my aches and pains.
Is Lemon Water Worth the Hype?
I have been drinking warm lemon water for about 6 to 8 weeks on most days. There are definitely some side effects of lemon water and some are problematic.
Overall, I think starting you day out with a glass of warm lemon water is probably a good thing for your body but don’t expect any miracle cures. There are a lot of warm lemon water benefits but it is not going to be a miracle cure.
How to Make Warm Lemon Water
This is not a complicated process but if you want a printable recipe, I am including it below. Basically, heat 8 to 10 ounces of water so that it is warm but not hot. Squeeze 1/2 to 1 lemon (I used a half) into the water. Drink the entire thing. Pretty simple, right? Give it a try! Have you added warm lemon water to your morning routine?
Warm Lemon Water Benefits and Side Effects
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of water
- Juice of 1 lemon
- honey or mint if desired
Instructions
- Heat water for approximately 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave. You want it warm but not hot.
- Add the juice of one lemon and stir gently
- Add a touch of honey or fresh mint if desired
- Drink lemon water with a straw to avoid damage to tooth enamel.
- Rinse your mouth right after drinking lemon water and wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 82Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 12mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 0gSugar: 20gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information not always accurate
Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire and has worked in cancer research, academics, and biotechnology. Concern over the growing incidence of human disease and the birth of her children led her to begin living a more natural life. She quickly realized that the information she was learning along the way could be beneficial to many others and started blogging and freelance writing to share this knowledge with others. Learn more about her HERE.
I do this every day and have noticed many benefits you have as well. I do use one drop of essential oil, versus a regular lemon. I won’t go without!
I may have to check out the lemon essential oils for days when I run out of lemons. Some days it is hard to keep them stocked in the house!