In recent years, lemon water has become more than a drink. Even celebrities swear by it! But is it true that lemon water has weight loss and appetite suppressing qualities?
Have you ever tried lemon water? If not, you probably heard about the losing weight benefits of drinking freshly-squeezed lemon juice mixed with water. Lemon is full of vitamins but that doesn’t answer this question: “Will drinking lemon water help me become thinner?”.
In the pasts years, lemon water became more than just a drink. Many people hope that this sour liquid that isn’t very pleasant to drink will melt the extra pounds in just a few days. But nutritionists have different opinions. Some of them think it’s true that lemon water helps in losing weight, some don’t. But all of them recognize the benefits of lemon juice.
If you drink lemon infused water in the morning especially, it will help to speed up your body’s detoxifying process and also its natural cleansing process. The more lemon water you drink, the more you can speed up weight loss.
Not only do lemons help you lose weight, but also they are good for your digestion, skin and hair care, respiratory disorders,(and) high blood pressure. So replace soda, coffee or other unhealthy drinks with lemon water.
Lemon water benefits
According to the USDA National nutrient database, one raw lemon without peel provides 17 calories, 0.6 grams of protein, 0.2 grams of fat, 5.4 grams of carbohydrate (including 1.6 grams of fiber and 1.5 grams of sugar), 51% of daily vitamin C needs as well as small amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese.
Citrus flavonoids act as a digestive tonic, with appetite suppressing abilities, according to Greenmedinfo.com.
Pectin and polyphenols, compounds found in lemons, have weight loss and appetite suppressing qualities. Pectin makes you feel full for a longer time, in the same way as soluble dietary fibers. That may reduce your daily calorie intake. In one study, these two compounds increased good cholesterol and lowered bad cholesterol.
Research published in 2008 investigated the effect of dietary lemon polyphenols on high-fat-diet-induced obesity in mice. Mice were divided into three groups and fed either a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet or a high-fat diet supplemented with 0.5% lemon polyphenols extracted from lemon peel for 12 weeks. Body weight gain, fat pad accumulation, the development of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance were significantly suppressed by lemon polyphenols, study says, according to Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Additional research is needed regarding the weight loss benefits of this drink. But nobody can deny the positive benefits of replacing sugary drinks with lemon water.
How to consume lemons
Lemons are not usually consumed the way they are. That’s why we use them in lemon water or to cook meat and vegetables, along with all kind of spices.
To make lemon infused water, squeeze half a fresh lemon in 8 to 12 ounces of water and drink it first thing in the morning for the best cleansing benefits. If this is too strong, dilute it to taste. It is also good to drink lemon water about 30 minutes before a meal to help your body get the most energy and nutrients from the food you eat. The best way to drink lemon water is warm or at room temperature.
