5 Benefits Of Lemon Water, Explained By A Nutritionist

 

Spoiler: losing weight is not one of them. Since there are polarising opinions about the benefits of lemon water, an expert finally sets the record straight 

The benefits of lemon water first thing in the morning is one of the most vouched-for wellness tips. And no, we are not just talking about the purifying properties that have always been attributed to it. It has a few other benefits beyond its detox effect. But given that it is one of the most polarising wellness and nutrition tricks and one that generates the most conflicting opinions–from those who fervently believe that it helps you to lose weight (spoiler: it's not true) to those who claim it's worth absolutely nothing, we spoke to nutritionist Laura Parada, technical director of Slow Life House to talk about the actual benefits of lemon water. Before getting into the subject, we will say one thing in favour of drinking liquid first thing in the morning: it is a way to prevent the body from retaining fluids in its absence to

perform its bodily functions.

1. "It helps kick-start the digestion process in the morning," explains the expert. And that means it also soothes indigestion, heartburn and bloating. In addition, lemon is known to stimulate the production of bile and gastric juices and can therefore prevent gas formation. However, this does not mean that it can be used to lose weight, on the contrary: this remedy is not miraculous and does not have a fat burning effect.
2. "It strengthens the immune system," says Parada, referring to the high vitamin C content of lemon juice. In addition, it is also rich in vitamin B, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and enzymes.
3. It is good for the skin because of its high content of antioxidants that "prevent damage from free radicals," says the expert.
4. It hydrates the body. Let us remember that, as we explained on another occasion, drinking an important part of the amount of water we have to drink during the day on an empty stomach is an effective way to stimulate the metabolism and hydrate the body. Given that sometimes drinking water can be a bit lazy, adding lemon juice "can give a pleasant taste that makes the task easier," says Parada. In addition, doing it on an empty stomach favours the hydration of the body after having been many hours without hydrating during the night.
5. "It improves intestinal transit and hydrates the colon," says Parada, which is why taking it on an empty stomach can help with constipation. In addition, lemon, being rich in fiber, also favours intestinal processes.

Requirement: the water must be lukewarm, not hot

Parada stresses that it is important that the temperature of the water be lukewarm and not hot because "being at the same temperature as our body, it is absorbed much faster since it does not have to lower its temperature to be assimilated", explains the expert.

And no, lemon is not alkalizing

And just a note, among all the benefits that this trick has, Parada rules out that it is an alkalizing trick. Although much has been said about the possible ability of foods to alkalize the pH of the blood - and the supposed benefits it may have such as preventing osteoporosis or regulating blood pressure - Parada confirms that it is not possible to change the pH of our body through diet. "It is often heard that lemon water could modify the pH of the blood with an alkalizing effect. This is false since the ones in charge of regulating blood acidity are the kidneys, liver and lungs, always keeping it in a range of 7.3 to 7.5", he points out.