Lemon water is the easiest way to lose weight and stay healthy. There is a lot of talk about it on forums dedicated to the fight against excess weight. Today we’ll talk about how water with lemon helps you lose extra pounds, how effective it is in this matter, and are there any contraindications. Let us immediately note that it is better to lose weight using a special program.
Lemon water: benefits and harms, recipes, how to drink
According to many doctors, lemon water may actually be beneficial. It is important to take some precautions to avoid harm to your health. Experts usually note that this drink has the following positive properties: improves blood circulation, speeds up metabolism, and maintains vitality. In addition, lemon water can be beneficial for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Composition and calorie content of water with lemon
The composition of this drink is as simple as possible - water and lemon, or lemon juice. Therefore, this cocktail contains all the same vitamins that are found in lemon. Among them: ascorbic acid, vitamins A and B2, flavonoid, thiamine, potassium, fiber, as well as organic acids.
The drink can safely be considered low-calorie, because per 100 ml there are only 1. 2 kcal. Even if you add honey, the calorie content will not increase much. In this case, it will be about 10-11 kcal.
Myths about lemon water
Lemon water has long been overgrown with myths and legends. Among the most common are the following:
- Helps get rid of excess weight. It is worth paying attention that this water will not be a magic wand. It is not enough to just drink water and then expect a miracle. Losing weight is primarily a comprehensive approach.
- Stimulates liver function. There's actually no official data to back this up.
- Lemon water helps prevent dehydration. This is true, like any other liquid.
- Increases the content of vitamin C, calcium and iron in the blood. This is also true, but the level of substances increases slightly.
- Lemon water improves immunity. This is still true, however, you will have to drink a lot, a lot of this water in order to somehow strengthen your immunity.
Despite many myths and misconceptions, lemon water remains the favorite drink of all girls who are losing weight.
Benefits and harms
Experts are still conducting debate and research about the benefits and harms of water. Water with lemon can have the following beneficial effects:
- improved digestion, accelerated metabolism;
- normalization of liver function, thanks to lemon water, the outflow of bile is normalized;
- relieves swelling;
- people suffering from diabetes can drink lemon water to reduce sugar levels;
- helps restore blood pressure;
- strengthens blood vessels, making them elastic. Lemon water will be a good preventive measure for diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- increases immunity;
- removes waste and toxins;
- thins the blood, preventing the development of varicose veins and thrombosis;
- helps maintain visual acuity, preventing the development of cataracts.
However, if used incorrectly, it can cause significant harm to the body. Firstly, the acid can severely irritate the gastric mucosa and also harm tooth enamel. Some people note the appearance of hypersensitivity of teeth to hot or cold. The following symptoms are also often observed:
- Heartburn.
- Allergic reactions.
- Headaches, irritability, fatigue. This may be due to a drop in glucose levels.
- Stomach ache.
To minimize the risk of such conditions, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of lemon juice.
Lemon water for weight loss
More and more often on forums people are discussing "magic" water for weight loss. Many incredible facts are attributed to her, but still you shouldn’t really hope for a miracle effect. It is very important to maintain proportions when preparing water in order to activate metabolic processes. You should not drink cold water if you want to achieve weight loss. It is recommended to drink warm water, in this case it will normalize the acid-base balance and start metabolic processes. You need to drink 200-250 ml on an empty stomach. However, people who have stomach problems should be careful. For example, ulcers, gastritis, increased acidity. Nutritionists note that you need to drink up to 2 liters of liquid per day.
Lemon is able to remove waste and toxins. The fruit also has a fat-burning effect, thanks to which, as supporters of lemon water say, you can get rid of 5 kg in 3-4 weeks of use.
Is it possible to drink water with lemon during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Lemon water has a variety of effects on the female body. Its regular consumption has a positive effect on the reproductive system, helps restore hormonal levels, and eases well-being during menopause or painful periods.
Lemon also helps preserve a woman’s beauty and elasticity of her skin, prevents the appearance of the first signs of aging, and strengthens her hair.
Pregnant women can take this drink, as it helps maintain immunity, improves digestion, and also reduces attacks of toxicosis. Lemon has a beneficial effect on the fetus; the child will develop a healthy nervous and skeletal system.
It is worth noting that during breastfeeding all the positive aspects become sharply negative. Citrus is a strong allergen, so it is best not to take risks; breast milk, even with a small lemon content, can harm the baby.
How to drink lemon water correctly
Like any product, lemon water must be consumed correctly. Only in this case can the maximum effect be achieved. Most often, experts identify the following universal rules:
- The freshness of the drink should not raise any questions. Ideally, you should prepare the drink immediately before drinking.
- Also, the first dose should be 30 minutes before meals, and 20-30 minutes after. Under no circumstances should you drink food with a citrus drink.
- You should drink no more than 200 ml at a time.
- To avoid damaging tooth enamel, it is best to drink water through a straw. And after the appointment, brush your teeth.
There are also recommendations related to the time of taking lemon. It is very important to pay attention to this for people who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases.
Water with lemon in the morning on an empty stomach
Lemon water on an empty stomach can be very beneficial, as it helps activate metabolic processes and cleanses the body. Citrus also has an invigorating effect. By taking it regularly in the morning, you can give up tea and coffee.
In addition, lemon cocktail perfectly removes thirst and restores the body after illness. It is in the morning that the body may become acutely thirsty. It needs water to remove toxins and also to rejuvenate cells. In the morning, lemon helps activate the kidneys for more efficient functioning.
Lemon juice helps digestion. For example, it is able to regulate the secretion of gastric juice. Helps cleanse the liver and has a cleansing effect on the respiratory tract.
Lemon water at night
You can drink this cocktail at night. In this case, it will help calm the nerves and improve the quality of sleep. If you drink a glass (200 ml) at night, then even at night the body will continue to break down fats. And in the morning, intestinal peristalsis will be ready for active work.
Which lemon water is better to drink: hot or cold?
You can add lemon to both cold and hot water. There won't be much difference. A cooler drink will quench your thirst perfectly. But warm liquid is the most effective for weight loss. It is thanks to the warm temperature that digestion is accelerated, while warm water does not irritate the mucous membrane.
If we talk specifically about boiling water, then it is worth noting that boiling water that already contains lemon is not recommended. This can destroy all the beneficial properties of vitamin C. But you can add lemon to boiling water, so all the beneficial effects will be preserved inside the fruit.
How to make lemon water
There is nothing easier than preparing such a mixture. It would seem that mixing water and lemon is a simple recipe. However, there are a whole lot of different variations on how to diversify the taste of your drink.
Classic recipe
One hundred percent classic is the use of only 2 simple components. You need to extract the juice from ½ lemon, and then simply fill it with warm water. It is best to use filtered water without gas.
You can also use a slightly more advanced recipe for weight loss. For it you will need kiwi, 100 ml of water, a few sprigs of mint, parsley, and a couple of slices of lemon. Before cooking, all ingredients must be washed and then cut into slices. Add everything to a blender and grind.
Water with lemon and honey
The option with honey is a good remedy for sore throats, colds, and supports the immune system. To prepare you need 3 citrus fruits, 3-5 tablespoons of honey, 1. 5-2 liters of filtered water.
The lemon needs to be cut into slices and then filled with water. Heat the water slightly (without boiling), add honey. Leave the container to steep for 2-3 hours.
Lemon water with honey and ginger
Ginger is an excellent fat-burning remedy, so it is not surprising that the recipe using ginger is so loved by everyone losing weight. The drink should be prepared in the evening, but it is better to drink it in the morning. For 2 liters of water you need the juice of one lemon, a small piece of ginger. Fill all the products with water and put them in the refrigerator overnight.
Lemon drink with aloe
Homemade aloe juice will help improve the general condition of the body, make it more resilient, and strengthen the immune system. To prepare, you will need to put the leaves of homemade aloe in the refrigerator for a day, and then squeeze the juice out of them. Please note that you should have about 5 ml of aloe juice. Next, add juice to the classic lemon recipe. Should be taken as needed.
Water with lemon and cucumber
Lemon and cucumber are an excellent way to normalize digestion. Take 2 liters of water, cucumber, lemon, a couple of mint sprigs.
Then finely chop the cucumber. You need to squeeze the juice out of the citrus. Then simply add all the ingredients to the water. You need to drink 2 liters of the drink per day, and prepare more in the evening, but the next day.
Instead of mint, you can add thyme and rosemary.
Water with lemon and turmeric
Taking the cocktail is recommended to prevent viral diseases.
Prepare: ¼ teaspoon turmeric, 200-250 ml warm water, ½ citrus juice, ½ tablespoon honey, a little cinnamon.
The juice is squeezed out of the citrus, the water is heated to 50 degrees, and then mixed with all the ingredients. Leave the drink to steep for 3-5 minutes and then drink while it is warm.
Lemon mint water
To prepare you will need: 1. 5 liters of water, citrus, a couple of mint sprigs.
Cut the lemon into slices, add mint to the container, and then fill with water. The drink must be infused for 4-5 hours in the refrigerator.
Opinions about lemon water
On the forums you can find many different opinions about this cocktail. Many agree that you shouldn’t expect a big miracle. Lemon water doesn't melt kilograms. But if you use it together with proper nutrition, you can easily lose 5 kilograms in a month without harm to your health.
Expert opinion
During the process of losing weight, it is very important to drink enough liquid. Lemon improves the taste of clean water, so a person can drink it with great pleasure and in the right quantities. At the same time, lemon is a source of vitamins necessary for humans. However, drinking lemon water, in any form of its preparation, does not reduce weight.