{"id":61252,"date":"2023-11-09T10:24:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T15:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=61252"},"modified":"2026-02-25T21:23:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T02:23:16","slug":"lemon-water-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/lemon-water-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"8 lemon water benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drinking water can seem incredibly dull in a world of coffee, booze, energy drinks, and juice. Water is critical to proper hydration, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice makes water taste more interesting\u2014the health benefits of lemon water can be a great thing, too. Unlike plain H2O, lemon water contains a small amount of <\/span>nutrients<\/span> such as vitamin C, folate, potassium, and B vitamins.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Lemon water is not a magic elixir, but if it can induce more water intake and replace sugary, calorie-laden drinks in the diet, that’s a good thing,” says <\/span>Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN<\/span>, author of <\/span>Total Body Diet For Dummies<\/span><\/i> and nutrition practitioner at <\/span>FORM<\/span>, an online medical weight-loss clinic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Health benefits of drinking lemon water<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lemon water is more than a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. Here are eight reasons to squeeze more lemon juice into your daily glass of water.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. It’s hydrating<\/span><\/h3>\n

Up to <\/span>60% of your body<\/span><\/a> is water. <\/span>Staying hydrated<\/span><\/a> is one of the body’s most constant and critical needs. Hydration keeps your digestive system moving, joints lubricated, temperature regulated, and more. In other words, drinking water is incredibly important to your overall health, and the refreshing taste of lemon can help you drink more of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. It’s a good dose of vitamin C<\/span><\/h3>\n

Vitamin C is a <\/span>well-known contributor to the immune system<\/span><\/a>, and citrus fruits like lemon are packed with vitamin C. Contrary to popular belief, a daily dose of vitamin C <\/span>won’t prevent the common cold<\/span><\/a>, but it is one of several vitamins that keep your body’s natural defense system running smoothly.<\/span><\/p>\n

One great way to get your daily fill of vitamin C is lemon water.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Cleveland Clinic, squeezing half a lemon into your water offers your body <\/span>more than one-sixth of your recommended daily vitamin C<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. It may help prevent kidney stones<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to Harvard Health, <\/span>lemon water<\/span><\/a> can reduce your risk of kidney stones. <\/span>Kidney stones<\/span><\/a> are hard deposits of minerals found in urine. Drinking water helps dilute the concentration of these minerals so that kidney stones don’t form in the first place. The citric acid in lemon juice also helps <\/span>prevent kidney stones<\/span><\/a> by breaking down the particles that form them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, drinking a daily glass of lemon water is a great idea if you have a high risk of kidney stones or have previously experienced kidney stones.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. It can help regulate digestion<\/span><\/h3>\n

Back to the powers of hydration: One of the most<\/span> common causes of constipation<\/span><\/a> is inadequate fluid intake. The number-one <\/span>remedy for constipation<\/span><\/a> is drinking more water. When the digestive tract has enough water, your body can pass smooth, “normal” bowel movements. <\/span>Constipation<\/span><\/a> has many causes, but if you’re straining to pass hard, lumpy stool, drinking more tasty lemon water could help.<\/span><\/p>\n

As an added bonus, the acid in lemons stimulates enzymes in the digestive system that help <\/span>break down starches<\/span><\/a>. That can help to reduce bloating and ease spikes in blood sugar.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. It’s anti-inflammatory<\/span><\/h3>\n

Lemons are full of <\/span>antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids<\/span><\/a>. These natural compounds help prevent oxidative stress\u2014an excess of free radicals in the body that can cause cellular damage and systemic inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, flavonoids don’t only exist in lemon water. These anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative compounds are also found in foods like grapefruit, oranges, limes, and ginger.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. It can help your skin glow<\/span><\/h3>\n

Research shows that <\/span>vitamin C is essential to overall skin health<\/span><\/a>. This essential nutrient, abundant in lemons, <\/span>can help stimulate collagen<\/span><\/a>. Collagen provides structure to your skin, hair, and nails. A lack of collagen can contribute to <\/span>premature wrinkles<\/span><\/a> or sagging skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

While drinking lemon water won’t smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, it’s an easy daily ritual to boost overall skin health.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. It’s a weight-loss-friendly drink<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you’re trying to lose weight, why not swap the sugar in your morning tea for a squeeze of lemon juice? You could also replace canned sugar-sweetened beverages with a water bottle full of cold water and lemon slices. Lemon water is a weight-loss-friendly drink because you receive the same amount of hydration while adding nutrients and limiting calorie intake.<\/span><\/p>\n

“A glass of lemon water contains just about six calories,” says <\/span>Kimberley Wiemann<\/span><\/a>, MS, RDN, a Long Island, NY-based registered dietitian. “Some people get bored with plain water and tend not to drink enough. Lemon water can provide a tasty way to enjoy water without adding extra calories.”<\/span><\/p>\n

8. It might improve symptoms of gastric ulcer<\/span><\/h3>\n

It seems like the ascorbic and citric acid present in lemon juice would irritate stomach ulcers. However, for some people with ulcers, <\/span>consuming ascorbic acid<\/span><\/a> helps protect the stomach against further damage. Of course, acid reflux, heartburn, and pain from peptic ulcers can be triggered by different foods for different people. More research is needed to determine which patients with gastric irritation would benefit from drinking lemon water.<\/span><\/p>\n

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