Lemon water is the easiest way to lose weight and stay healthy. There is a lot of talk about it in forums dedicated to the fight against excess weight. Today we will talk about how lemon water helps you lose extra pounds, how effective it is in this matter and are there any contraindications. Let's emphasize right away 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 can be really beneficial. It is important to take some precautions to avoid harming your health. Experts usually note that this drink has the following positive properties: it improves blood circulation, accelerates metabolism and maintains vitality. In addition, lemon water can be beneficial for pregnant and lactating women.
Composition and caloric content of lemon water
The composition of this drink is as simple as possible - water and lemon, or lemon juice. Therefore, this cocktail contains all the same vitamins found in lemons. Among them: ascorbic acid, vitamins A and B2, flavonoids, thiamine, potassium, fiber, as well as organic acids.
The drink can be safely considered low-calorie, because there are only 1. 2 kcal per 100 ml. 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 filled with myths and legends. Among the most common are the following:
- It helps to 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. Weight loss is primarily a holistic approach.
- Stimulates liver function. There is actually no official data to support this.
- Lemon water helps prevent dehydration. This is true, like any other liquid.
- It 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 need to drink lots and lots of this water in order to boost your immunity somewhat.
Despite many myths and misconceptions, lemon water remains the favorite drink of all girls who are losing weight.
Benefits and damages
Experts are still conducting debates and research about the benefits and harms of water. Lemon water can have these beneficial effects:
- improved digestion, accelerated metabolism;
- normalization of liver function, thanks to lemon water, bile flow is normalized;
- relieves swelling;
- People suffering from diabetes can drink lemon water to lower their sugar level;
- 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 damage to the body. First, the acid can severely irritate the stomach lining and also damage tooth enamel. Some people notice the appearance of hypersensitivity of the teeth to heat or cold. The following symptoms are also often observed:
- Heartburn.
- Allergic reactions.
- Headache, nervousness, 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 "magical" water for weight loss. Many incredible facts are attributed to it, but still you should not 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 should drink 200-250 ml on an empty stomach. However, people with stomach problems should be careful. For example, ulcers, gastritis, increased acidity. Nutritionists note that you should drink up to 2 liters of fluid 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 lemon water during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Lemon water has a number 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 maintain the beauty and elasticity of a woman's skin, prevents 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 toxicosis attacks. 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 positive aspects become sharply negative. Citrus fruits are a strong allergen, so it is better not to risk; breast milk, even with a small lemon content, can harm the baby.
How to properly drink lemon water
Like any product, lemon water should be consumed correctly. Only in this case the maximum effect can be achieved. Most often, experts identify the following universal rules:
- The freshness of the drinks should not raise questions. Ideally, you should prepare the drink immediately before drinking it.
- 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 the tooth enamel, it is best to drink water through a straw. And after the meeting, 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 suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.
Lemon water in the morning on an empty stomach
Lemon water on an empty stomach can be very useful, as it helps activate metabolic processes and cleanses the body. Citrus fruits also have an invigorating effect. Taking it regularly in the morning, you can give up tea and coffee.
In addition, lemon cocktail perfectly quenches thirst and restores the body after illness. It is in the morning that the body can be acutely thirsty. It needs water to remove toxins and also to renew 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. It helps to 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. It won't make much difference. A cooler drink will quench your thirst perfectly. But it is the warm liquid that is 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 the 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 seems that mixing water and lemon is a simple recipe. However, there are many different variations on how to diversify the taste of your drinks.
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 just 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 few slices of lemon. Before cooking, all ingredients should be washed and then cut into slices. Add everything to a blender and grind.
Water with lemon and honey
The honey option is a good remedy for sore throats, colds and supports the immune system. For preparation, you need 3 citrus fruits, 3-5 spoons of honey, 1. 5-2 liters of filtered water.
The lemon should be cut into slices and then filled with water. Heat the water a little (without boiling), add the honey. Let the pot boil for 2-3 hours.
Lemon water with honey and ginger
Ginger is an excellent medicine for burning fat, so it is not surprising that the recipe using ginger is so loved by all those who lose 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 homemade aloe leaves in the refrigerator for a day and then squeeze the juice from them. Please note that you should have about 5 ml of aloe juice. Next, add juice to the classic lemon recipe. It 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 few sprigs of mint.
Then finely chop the cucumber. You need to squeeze the juice from citrus fruits. Then simply add all the ingredients to the water. You should drink 2 liters of drink a 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 of turmeric, 200-250 ml of warm water, ½ citrus juice, ½ teaspoon of honey, a little cinnamon.
The juice is squeezed from the citrus fruits, the water is heated to 50 degrees and then mixed with all the ingredients. Let the drink simmer for 3-5 minutes and then drink it until it is warm.
Lemon mint water
To prepare, you will need: 1. 5 liters of water, citrus fruits, a few sprigs of mint.
Cut the lemon into slices, add mint to the container and then fill with water. The drink should be put in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours.
Opinions about lemon water
On the forums you can find many different opinions about this cocktail. Many agree that you should not expect a big miracle. Lemon water does not melt away the pounds. But if you use it together with the right food, you can easily lose 5 kilograms per month without harming your health.
Expert opinion
During the weight loss process, it is very important to drink enough fluids. 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.