As I’m trying to undo my last 9 months of coke drinking and ice cream eating I’ve been looking at simple changes to my diet and lifestyle which will benefit me. I’m not looking for a crazy quick fix, or to commit to a change for a couple of months, I’m looking for long term changes which will help and easy to do.

One of those which I’ve researched is drinking lemon water in the morning. I’m not the best at drinking water, I was throughout pregnancy so keen to keep it up. So to add a glass of water with lemon while getting ready in the morning should be easy!

So why is lemon water so good for us?!

1. Helps Digestion

The biggest lemon water benefit may be from the temperature of the water and not even the added lemon. Drinking any water, or especially warm water, first thing in the morning can help flush the digestive system and rehydrate the body.

Think about this during sleeping you typically haven’t been drinking for at least 8 hours (I mean I pray when cub sleeps through the night at the moment it’s every 3 hours!!) Giving the body adequate water when you first wake up is a great way to get your body and your mind going.

2. A Natural Flush

The liver is extremely active during sleep since sleep is the body’s time to restore and regenerate. Drinking enough water, especially in the morning, helps make sure that the body can perform these jobs most effectively. There is even some evidence that lemon juice can help stimulate proper stomach acid production and bile production.

3. A Little Immune System Boost

Lemons contain Vitamin C… not a spectacularly high amount, but 30-50 mg per lemon. They also contain potassium.

Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning gives the body a chance to absorb these vitamins effectively and can provide a little immune boost.

Vitamin C is also good for the adrenals and can potentially help reduce the affects of stress.

4. Happier Skin

By helping flush the body and improve digestion, lemon water can lead to cleaner skin. It also contains Vitamin C which is needed for collagen production for smooth, healthy skin.

5. Healthy Weight

There is evidence that drinking water, especially lemon water, first thing in the morning can help maintain a healthy weight. Researchers in Germany found that drinking enough water increased metabolism:

After drinking approximately 17 ounces of water, the subjects’ metabolic rates — or the rate at which calories are burned — increased by 30% for both men and women. The increases occurred within 10 minutes of water consumption and reached a maximum after about 30 to 40 minutes.

Of course, drinking water (or lemon water) by itself isn’t going to be a miracle weight loss solution, but with other healthy habits, it can help maintain a healthy weight.

Does anyone else drink lemon water in the morning? Do you feel better for it?

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