Lemon water is the easiest way to lose weight and stay healthy. There is a lot of talk about this in forums dedicated to the fight against excess weight. Today we'll talk about how water with lemon will help you lose extra pounds, how effective it is and whether there are any contraindications. We immediately note that it is better to lose weight using a special program.
Lemon water: benefits and harms, recipes, how to drink it
According to many doctors, lemon water could actually be helpful. It is important to take some precautions to avoid harm to your health. Experts usually point out that this drink has the following positive properties: it improves blood circulation, accelerates metabolism and maintains vitality. Additionally, lemon water can be beneficial for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Composition and calorie content of water with lemon
The composition of this drink is as simple as possible: water and lemon or lemon juice. Therefore, this cocktail contains the same vitamins that are found in lemon. These include: ascorbic acid, vitamins A and B2, flavonoid, thiamine, potassium, fiber and organic acids.
The drink can safely be called low-calorie, because there are only 1. 2 kcal per 100 ml. Even if you add honey, the calorie content will not increase significantly. In this case it is about 10-11 kcal.
Myths about lemon water
Lemon water has long been overgrown with myths and legends. The most common include:
- Helps get rid of excess weight. It should be noted that this water is not a magic wand. It is not enough to just drink water and then expect a miracle. Losing weight is, first of all, a comprehensive approach.
- Stimulates liver function. There is actually no official data to support this.
- Lemon water helps prevent dehydration. This is true, as with any other liquid.
- Increases the levels of vitamin C, calcium and iron in the blood. That's true, but the substance content increases slightly.
- Lemon water improves immunity. This is still true, however, you need to drink lots and lots of water to somehow boost your immunity.
Despite many myths and misconceptions, lemon water remains the favorite drink of all losing weight girls.
Benefit and harm
Experts are still discussing and researching the benefits and harms of water. Water with lemon can have the following positive effects:
- improved digestion, accelerated metabolism;
- Normalization of liver function, thanks to lemon water, bile outflow is normalized;
- relieves swelling;
- People with diabetes can drink lemon water to reduce sugar levels;
- helps restore blood pressure;
- strengthens the blood vessels and makes them elastic. Lemon water is a good preventive measure for diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- increases immunity;
- removes waste and toxins;
- thins the blood and thus prevents the development of varicose veins and thrombosis;
- helps maintain visual acuity and prevents the development of cataracts.
However, if used incorrectly, it can cause significant damage to the body: Firstly, 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 reaction.
- Headache, irritability, fatigue. This may be due to a drop in glucose levels.
- Stomach pain.
To minimize the risk of such diseases, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of lemon juice.
Lemon water for weight loss
Discussions about "magic" water for weight loss are becoming more and more common in forums. Many incredible facts are attributed to it, but one should not really hope for a miracle effect. When preparing water, it is very important to adhere to the proportions in order to activate metabolic processes. If youIf you want to lose weight, you should not drink cold water. It is recommended to drink warm water, in this case it normalizes the acid-base balance and starts metabolic processes. You need to drink 200-250 ml on an empty stomach. However, people with stomach problems shouldbe careful. For example, ulcers, gastritis, increased acidity. Nutritionists indicate that you need to 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 proponents of lemon water say, you can get rid of 5 kg in 3-4 weeks of use.
Can you drink water with lemon during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Lemon water has a variety of effects on the female body. Its regular consumption has a positive effect on the reproductive system, helps restore hormonal levels and relieves well-being during menopause or painful periods.
Lemon also helps maintain the beauty and elasticity of your skin, prevents the first signs of aging and strengthens your hair.
Pregnant women can take this drink as it helps maintain immunity, improves digestion, and also reduces attacks of toxicosis. Lemon has a positive effect on the fetus; the child develops 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's best not to take risks; Breast milk, even with a small amount of lemon, can harm the baby.
How to drink lemon water properly
Like any product, lemon water must be consumed properly. Only in this case can the maximum effect be achieved. Most often, experts identify the following universal rules:
- The freshness of the drink should not raise any questions. Ideally, you should prepare the drink immediately before drinking.
- Additionally, the first dose should be taken 30 minutes before meals and 20 to 30 minutes after. Under no circumstances should you drink food with a citrus drink.
- You should not drink more than 200 ml at a time.
- To avoid damaging tooth enamel, it is best to drink water through a straw. And after the appointment, brush your teeth.
There are also recommendations on the timing of taking lemon. It is very important to pay attention to this in people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.
Drink water with lemon in the morning on an empty stomach
Lemon water on an empty stomach can be very beneficial as it stimulates metabolic processes and cleanses the body. Citrus fruits also have an invigorating effect. By taking it regularly in the morning, you can avoid tea and coffee.
In addition, lemon cocktail perfectly eliminates thirst and restores the body after an illness. In the morning, the body may feel intense thirst. It needs water to remove toxins and regenerate cells. In the morning, lemon helps activate the kidneys, ensuring they function more efficiently.
Lemon juice helps digestion. For example, it is able to regulate gastric juice secretion. Helps cleanse the liver and has a cleansing effect on the respiratory tract.
Lemon water in the evening
You can drink this cocktail at night. In this case, it helps calm nerves and improve sleep quality. If you drink a glass (200 ml) at night, the body will continue to break down fats at night. And in the morning the intestinal peristalsis is ready for active work.
Which lemon water is better to drink: hot or cold?
You can add lemon to both cold and hot water. There won't be much difference. A cooler drink perfectly quenches your thirst. But it is a warm liquid that is most effective for weight loss. Thanks to the warm temperature, digestion is accelerated, while warm water does not irritate the mucous membranes.
If we talk specifically about boiling water, it is worth noting that boiling water that already contains lemon is not recommended. This can destroy all of the beneficial properties of vitamin C. However, you can add lemon to boiling water so that all the beneficial effects are preserved in 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 ways to vary the taste of your drink.
Classic recipe
One hundred percent classic is the use of just 2 simple components. You need to extract the juice of half a lemon and then simply top it up 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 this you need kiwi, 100 ml of water, a few sprigs of mint, parsley and a few lemon slices. Before cooking, all ingredients must be washed and then sliced. Put everything in a blender and grind.
Water with lemon and honey
The version with honey is a good remedy for sore throats, colds and supports the immune system. To prepare it you need 3 citrus fruits, 3-5 tablespoons of honey, 1. 5-2 liters of filtered water.
The lemon must be cut into slices and then filled with water. Heat water slightly (without boiling), add honey. Let the container steep for 2-3 hours.
Lemon water with honey and ginger
Ginger is an excellent fat burning agent, so it is not surprising that the recipe with ginger is so popular among everyone who is losing 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 products with water and place them in the refrigerator overnight.
Lemon drink with aloe
Homemade aloe juice helps to improve the general condition of the body, making it more resilient and strengthening the immune system. To prepare it, you need to put the leaves of homemade aloe in the refrigerator for a day and then squeeze the juice. Please note that you should have about 5ml of aloe juice. Next, add juice to the classic lemon recipe. 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 and a few sprigs of mint.
Then chop the cucumber finely. You need to squeeze the juice from the citrus fruit. Then simply add all the ingredients to the water. You need to drink 2 liters of the drink per day and prepare more in the evening but the next day.
Instead of mint, you can also add thyme and rosemary.
Water with lemon and turmeric
To prevent viral diseases, taking the cocktail is recommended.
Preparation: ¼ teaspoon turmeric, 200-250 ml warm water, ½ citrus juice, ½ tablespoon 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 steep for 3-5 minutes and then drink it while it is still warm.
Lemon mint water
To prepare it you will need: 1. 5 liters of water, citrus fruits, a few sprigs of mint.
Slice the lemon, add mint to the container and then fill it with water. The drink must be left to steep in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours.
Opinions about lemon water
In the forums you can find many different opinions about this cocktail. Many agree that one should not expect a big miracle. Lemon water does not melt kilograms. But if you take it along with proper nutrition, you can easily lose 5 kilograms in a month without harming your health.
Expert opinion
When losing weight, it is very important to drink enough fluids. Lemon improves the taste of clean water, so you 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, no matter what form it is prepared in, does not lead to weight loss.