Lemon is a juicy fruit, smelling of freshness and he alth, dressed in a bright yellow porous peel. It can be called one of the most popular citrus fruits in the world. Everyone knows how pleasant tea with a lemon slice tastes. Hot water with lemon is also tasty and fragrant, but mostly they drink it not because of its taste, but because they consider such lemonade to be extremely he althy.
But is it really? In our article, we will talk in detail about hot water with lemon, the benefits and dangers of this drink. You will learn how it affects our appearance and well-being and get acquainted with the simplest and fastest recipes.
Composition of lemon
The benefits of hot water with lemon are undeniable, and many have been able to experience the positive effects of this drink. But what causes such an effect? To understand this, let's first examine the composition of a lemon.
Yellow exotic fruit can be called a storehouse of vitamins. Lemon contains a lot of ascorbic acid (vitamin C),and in lemon pulp and juice, vitamins of group B are concentrated in abundance:
- riboflavin (B2);
- pantothenic acid (B5);
- folates (B9);
- thiamine (B1);
- pyridoxine (B6).
Lemon is also rich in vitamins P, A, PP, E, beta-carotene and niacin.
And here is an impressive list of macronutrients found in citrus:
- magnesium;
- sulfur;
- chlorine;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- sodium.
But that's not all! Lemon also contains many trace elements. This is:
- copper;
- fluorine;
- boron;
- zinc;
- molybdenum;
- iron;
- manganese.
In addition to all this we alth, lemon contains glucose, sucrose, monosaccharides and fructose.
What benefits can you get from hot water with lemon
This unpretentious drink has the ability to bring considerable benefits to our body. What does it consist of? The action of homemade lemonade is multifaceted:
- lemon water helps lower blood sugar levels;
- regulates metabolic processes;
- positive effect on digestion;
- can be used as an additional tool in the prevention of strokes, gout and thrombosis;
- helps the body get rid of toxins and cleanse the digestive tract;
- activates lymph flow;
- mildly lowers bloodpressure;
- reduces the risk of developing senile cataracts;
- thanks to vitamin P, contained in excess in lemon, increases the elasticity of blood vessels;
- gives the body strength to fight diseases;
- slows down the progression of age-related changes;
- reduces cholesterol levels.
Hot water with lemon juice added to it has a good effect on the body if a person has a cold. Water with lemon, drunk at bedtime, helps to sweat well and bring down the temperature. It is recommended to drink it for both tonsillitis and acute tonsillitis.
Together with this drink, vitality is poured into a sick body, energy and mood increase. That is why depression can also and should be resorted to this remedy. Chronic fatigue and drowsiness can also be overcome with lemon water. It is even believed that it can serve as an almost equivalent substitute for a morning cup of coffee.
It is also advised to resort to the help of a sour drink in case of food poisoning, with nausea and dizziness. Just don't drink it on an empty stomach in these cases.
Slimming benefits
Hot water with lemon is widely used for weight loss. Reviews claim that this is fully justified, and the drink really helps to lose weight.
Weight loss is facilitated by the fact that lemon juice significantly affects the activation of metabolic processes in the body and simultaneously stabilizes the digestive tract, and water saturates the cells with life-giving moisture. hot lemonadeeffectively suppresses the feeling of hunger, and this in itself helps to lose weight, as the appetite is taken under control.
It is known that people often confuse hunger with thirst. They begin to eat at a time when the body simply suffers from a lack of fluid. Water with lemon shoots in two directions: on the one hand, it delivers a lot of macro- and microelements to the body, coupled with a whole bunch of vitamins, and on the other hand, it allows you to fully satisfy the body's need for moisture.
For those who want to lose weight, it is important to drink hot water with lemon on an empty stomach. After that, physical education is recommended (morning exercises, jogging in the fresh air, etc.), after which you can already afford a light breakfast.
How to cook and eat
How to drink hot water with lemon and how to prepare it? It would seem, why recipes and advice, because what is easier: squeeze citrus juice into hot water and that's it. However, the preparation of this drink can be approached creatively. Here are some options:
- In a glass of hot water, put a thick slice of fresh citrus and let it brew a little and cool a little. Then drink the drink quickly. Nutritionists say that after this, fats are broken down more actively throughout the day. Of course, the effect of lemonade should be supported by physical activity and a rational balanced diet.
- Squeeze the juice from half a lemon and pour it into a cup or glass of warm water. Further, it is allowed to sweeten the drink with a spoonful of honey. You can drink the drink in the morning on an empty stomachand at bedtime.
- Chop the whole citrus together with the peel in a blender. Use the resulting gruel during the day, adding it to the water intended for drinking. This will help clear out toxins and relieve swelling.
Tip: mint leaves can serve as an additional component to water with lemon, which successfully complements the taste of the drink.
Pregnant women
Hot water with lemon in the morning can be very useful for expectant mothers, because women who are expecting a baby, like no other, need a constant influx of vitamins and microelements into the body. Pregnant women should take care of strengthening their immunity in order to protect themselves from bacterial and viral infections. The beneficial substances of lemon juice diluted in water help expectant mothers to get rid of the deficiency of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C.
The listed elements are involved in the formation of the bone structures of the fetus, its brain and nervous system. A well-nourished child in the womb will subsequently have a stronger immune system and will not develop rickets.
Water with lemon: the harm of breastfeeding
But nursing mothers should not get carried away with lemon water. The fact is that citrus fruits often cause allergic reactions in babies. The milk of a mother who drinks water with lemon for he alth can harm the baby to a large extent.
For kids
It has already been said above aboutlemon allergenicity. It is because of this that children under 3 years old should not be given water with lemon juice. But after overcoming the age of three, it is quite acceptable to supplement the child's diet with natural homemade lemonade.
Only you need to start with very small portions and at the same time carefully monitor the condition of the baby. It is important to respond quickly at the first sign of an allergy and stop giving the child a drink.
When making lemonade for babies, it is recommended to sweeten it with honey (if not allergic) or add the juice of other fruits.
Hangover Help
Many people are familiar with the state of a hangover and how difficult it can be to bring yourself back to normal. But if you have a lemon and a kettle of hot water on hand, the healing process can be greatly accelerated.
Hot water with lemon will help neutralize toxic substances, concentrated in excess in the blood of a person who allowed himself to drink too much alcohol the day before, and remove toxins from the body. The condition of the sufferer who has resorted to lemon water is quickly relieved, and the following changes occur with the body:
- blood pressure drops gently;
- vessels and small capillaries dilate;
- blood viscosity decreases;
- kidney activity improves;
- edema disappears due to the removal of excess fluid;
- toxins are neutralized.
Cosmetic effect
Women have long noticed that if you drink hot water with lemon regularly, it improves the appearance of skincovers. The fact is that the lack of trace elements and vitamins has a very negative effect on the condition of the skin.
If there is a steady and long-term deficiency of the necessary substances, then the skin of the face begins to quickly signal this. It acquires a lifeless shade, irritations, pimples, etc. appear on the surface. In this condition, even expensive creams or masks can not always help.
But hot water with lemon copes with a cosmetic problem with a bang. Still, because this tool can be called a "vitamin bomb"! For example, vitamin C, which is very abundant in lemons, is necessary for the body to synthesize collagen, the lack of which leads to the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin.
Zinc deficiency makes the skin prone to irritation and dryness, nails break, and hair falls out. Zinc is present in lemon in sufficient quantities to make up for the lack of this element.
Without vitamin E, it is hardly possible to maintain a beautiful appearance for a long time. Tocopherol is called so: "vitamin of beauty and youth." Those who want to have silky beautiful hair and well-groomed facial skin must make sure that the body does not lack it. The same can be said about other vitamins contained in lemon. This citrus is a kind of balanced natural vitamin complex.
All that remains for us is to dilute lemon juice in water, drink fragrant, he althy nectar every day and watch in the mirror the transformation of ourappearance.
What harm can lemon water do
We have already talked a lot about the benefits of hot water with lemon. It can also be used on an empty stomach, although not for everyone.. But can it cause any harm?
You should know that citric acid is a rather aggressive substance. For example, it can negatively affect tooth enamel, which can be especially felt by people whose tooth enamel is thin and sensitive by nature. But even for those who have excellent teeth strength and he alth, it is recommended to rinse your mouth thoroughly after drinking a sour lemon drink.
It is recommended to be very careful with lemon and water with the addition of juice from it for people who have gastritis with high acidity. If they drink hot water with lemon on an empty stomach, the benefits of this action are unlikely to be felt. Severe heartburn and stomach pain - that's what awaits them. In some cases, it is even possible to develop a peptic ulcer.
In cases where there is any damage to the mucous membrane in the mouth, citric acid is also undesirable, because it can increase irritation and contribute to the appearance of sores.
And, of course, those who have the misfortune of being allergic to citrus should not drink water with lemon.
People with any kind of chronic medical condition, it is best to check with your doctor about your plans for regular consumption of the drink discussed in this article.
Closing word
Rave reviews about hot water with lemon push to the conclusion that some kind of universal magical panacea has been found, moreover, worth mere trifles and available to everyone. But I would like to remind you that even if some remedy helps most people, there will definitely be those to whom it not only does not help, but even harms.
Before you start actively drinking water with lemon, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the possible negative effects of this drink and the list of contraindications.
