Boiled lemon water is often touted as a natural treatment for a range of ailments. Some even claim that it can promote weight loss, lighten skin. The drink is made by boiling lemons or lemon zest in water. In some cases, other ingredients are added, such as ginger, honey, cinnamon or cayenne pepper. While many swear by this natural remedy, others may wonder if this health myth is true.
This article takes a closer look at boiled lemon water to determine how it can affect your well-being.
1 Lemon water can keep you hydrated
Adding boiled lemon water to your diet is a great way to stay hydrated and ensure you drink enough water throughout the day. Lemon water can be especially beneficial for those who don’t like to drink plain water and prefer flavored drinks. Staying hydrated is important for many aspects of health. Hydration plays a key role in metabolism, brain function, kidney health, and more.
Conversely, dehydration can cause many unpleasant symptoms, including muscle cramps, headaches, dry skin, and fatigue. If you regularly consume sugary drinks like soda, sweet tea, or sports drinks and want to reduce your intake, boiled lemon water can be a great alternative. Lemon boiled water is free from added sugar, additives and preservatives, and it is much lower in calories.
2 It Could Prevent Kidney Stones
Some research suggests that lemon water may help prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. These hard deposits that form in the kidneys can cause severe pain and other symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Lemon water can help because citrus fruits are rich in citric acid, a compound that can bind to calcium to prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Drinking lemon water can also increase the amount of urine you excrete, which may also help protect you against kidney stones. Some older studies have shown that drinking lemonade, or lemon juice diluted in water, can increase the amount of citrate in the urine and significantly decrease the risk of kidney stone formation. For best results, be sure to add lemon juice to your boiled lemon water to maximize its citric acid content.
3 It may promote weight loss
Combined with a balanced diet, lemon boiled water can be a great option if you are looking to lose weight. However, that’s probably because water promotes weight loss, not because lemon water is particularly beneficial. Studies show that increasing water intake may be associated with increased weight loss, especially if you use it to replace other higher calorie beverages in your diet. Drinking water before meals can also increase feelings of fullness, which could lead to decreased food intake.
Also, some older studies found that drinking water can temporarily boost your metabolism and increase calorie and fat burning. However, more research is needed, as some studies have observed mixed results. And again, drinking water is associated with weight loss. Research does not indicate that lemon water is more effective than plain water.
4 Lemon water or plain water
If you prefer the taste of citrus water to plain, unflavored water, infusing your water with lemons, limes, or oranges can be a great option. However, aside from its potential effects on kidney stones, most of the benefits of citrus water are due to its water base rather than the citrus fruits that make it up. Although water made with lemon, lime or oranges may contain a small amount of vitamins and minerals, the difference between citrus water and plain water in terms of nutrition is minimal.
In summary
Boiled lemon water is a drink made by boiling lemons or lemon zest in water. In addition to keeping you hydrated, it can promote weight loss and prevent kidney stones.
While lemon water can be a tasty way to meet your hydration needs, increasing your regular water intake can be just as beneficial.
Source
Medical and Dietary Therapy for Kidney Stone Prevention
Long-term lemonade based dietary manipulation in patients with hypocitraturic nephrolithiasis
