Here's What Happens When You Drink Lemon Water Every Day
While doctors recommend that the average male needs 3.7 liters of water daily and the average woman needs 2.7, some people may have problems meeting that goal (via Mayo Clinic). It's quite a lot of water to take in every day, and so much water can get to be a bit boring if we're being perfectly honest. To meet their water goals, many folks turn to flavored water in order to spice their hydration up a bit. But store-bought flavored water can contain additives, be expensive, and sold in plastic bottles that aren't particularly environmentally-friendly.
Luckily, there's an easy way to flavor to water at home, and that's with the addition of lemon juice, to create lemon water. Because the concoction is so simple — just water and a squeeze of citrus juice — some might think that it doesn't have a particularly noticeable impact on the body, but that's not quite right.
You'll start the day with a boost of vitamin C
While lemons don't have as much vitamin C as oranges do, they're still a citrus fruit and like all citrus fruits, contain vitamin C (via Livestrong). Adding just a half ounce to your water boosts your vitamin C intake by 6 milligrams. Vitamin C is thought to boost the immune system and fight against cell damage from free radicals (via Healthline). The vitamin can also lower blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart problems, and decrease your chances of having a stroke as well.
The juice of a single lemon contains around 19 milligrams of vitamin C. The recommended daily intake for adults is 65 to 90 milligrams, which means that the adding the juice of one lemon to your water will make up somewhere between 20 and 30 percent of the recommended daily allotment.
You may be stripping your teeth of their enamel
Acidic foods like lemons can contribute to tooth erosion (via WebMd). The acid in lemon water can destroy enamel, the thin covering on the outside of the tooth. In fact, some acids that occur in fruit juices are more erosive than battery acid. Enamel doesn't regenerate and therefore it's important to be careful when it comes to taking care of it.
While enamel is translucent and it's not possible to see it, there are a number of telltale signs that suggest that tooth enamel is eroding. These can include tooth sensitivity, tooth discoloration, cracking and chipping of the teeth, and visible indents on the tooth. Continued degradation of the enamel can also lead to cavities.
Enamel damage can be mitigated by brushing teeth after eating, chewing sugar free gum between meals since it helps with saliva production and saliva helps protect the teeth, and using a straw when drinking acidic beverages since it allows the liquid to bypass the teeth and go straight to the throat. You can also drink a glass of plain water after your lemon water.
Assuming you're like a mouse, you might drop some pounds
Scientists have found that the polyphenols (an antioxidant) in lemons have significantly reduced weight gain in mice that were being fed copious amounts of food to encourage obesity. Research showed that the polyphenols also helped to increase insulin resistance and regulate blood glucose levels. These are two important factors which can fight against the development of type 2 diabetes.
It's important to not that this study hasn't yet been verified in humans. However, a 2011 study in humans found that polyphenols interacted with gut bacteria to encourage weight loss, and a 2015 study found that subjects taking curcumin supplements (a substance found in turmeric, rich in polyphenols) experienced increased weight loss compared to those taking a placebo (via Medical News Today).
You'll be less likely to develop kidney stones
Although one in ten people is expected to develop a kidney stone over the course of a lifetime, you might be able to cut down your chances if you're drinking lemon water (via Kidney.org).
Lemon juice contains citrate, which promotes less acidic urine, and can even help to break up small kidney stones before they grow and become painful. Hydration is also imperative in preventing kidney stones, so drinking lemon water will help on that front as well.
So, the next time you get sick of water, try squirting in some lemon. It seems you have many health benefits to gain — just don't forget that straw!