Looking at this picture, my mind jogged down memory lane when I once questioned the importance of lemon water. I’ve often observed persons squeezing a lemon, ½ a lemon, or nicely cut thin slices of a lemon inside their glass of water before drinking. Interestingly, when I became thoroughly educated about this practice, it preceded an informed decision that benefits my health and life.

Lemons are refreshing fruits that are a part of the citrus family. Although lemons are not frequently eaten whole like other fruits, they are often used for flavoring meals or as a garnish. But the benefits that lemon provides the body through its soluble fiber, plant compounds, and vitamin C nutrient go beyond just an enhanced taste. Today, I am no longer sitting outside in the dark, possessing more questions than answers regarding the benefits of drinking lemon water. The essential nutrients that lemon in and of itself contain have been well documented through scientific literature. 

Let’s talk a little more about some of these nutrients:

1).Soluble Fiber: As noted earlier, lemon is considered a citrus fruit. It contains a type of fiber called pectin, which comes from the Greek word pektos, meaning firm and strong.  As pectin is present in the primary cell wall of the fruit, it becomes a water-soluble fiber through the ripening process. Importantly, research has shown pectin helps lower glucose levels, among other demonstrated health benefits.

2).Plant Compounds: The plant compounds in lemon provide the body with increased health benefits. These compounds include citric acid, which helps the body prevent the formation of kidney stones. In addition, eriocitrin, hesperidin, diosmin, and d-limonene are listed among other plant compounds lemon contains that carry a host of other benefits. 

3).Vitamin C: The vitamin C that is found in lemon is of great quality for the body. This vitamin provides several immune benefits, helps counter free radical damage, supplies antioxidants, and helps prevent scurvy. The white blood cells rely on vitamin C to assist multiple cellular functions. For example, vitamin C enhances lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). This white blood cell helps the body’s immune system fight off infection. 

So, why drink lemon water, you ask? Firstly, drinking water helps the body to stay hydrated and maintain a normal body temperature. Secondly, you get all the nutrients from the lemon when you squeeze its juice inside your glass of water.  A perfect two-for-one deal if you ask me. Notice, I said squeeze. Yes, the squeeze determines the quality and quantity of the extracted nutrient. Having a lemon sitting on the side of your glass or thin slices of lemon hanging out at the bottom of your drink; looks excellent for an Instagram photo, but this is not a sensible approach to maximizing the quality and quantity of the nutrients. After squeezing the lemon inside a nice glass of water, your lemon water is ready for consumption. Since the body does not store this nutrient, it will absorb the vitamin C it needs and excrete the vitamin C it does not need through the urine. 

For more research information that further expounds on this topic, please visit the articles section on this website to see how you could obtain a copy of the research article I have written on this topic. 

Join the journey and make steps of wellness today!

Rico