The Perks of Warm Lemon Water

Waking up with a glass of warm lemon water has been one of the many healthy morning rituals by many. Sipping on warm citrus drink offers a host of healthy perks — especially if you do it first thing in the A.M. I never really tried drinking lemon water regularly, but now is a perfect time to start since it is a New Year, and I want a Healthier Me. Here are five reasons I am going to incorporate drinking warm lemon water regularly into my routine: 

1. Minimizes skin blemishes.

UGH! One of my hated things (I am an adult kid I swear). I have been having acne problems ever since I was thirteen and tried everything. But I hear lemon juice contains antioxidants which not only help strengthen the skin and decrease blemishes, it may help fight off wrinkles due to its ability to fight off free-radical damage. So let me sip away on this lemon goodness.

2. Help prevent infection.

I have been sick for about two weeks fighting the flu. It really did suck to be sick during the holidays, but I hear that lemon water is packed with vitamin C which detoxifies your blood and boosts your immune system. Why didn't I try this while I was sick? While it is an excellent way to prevent colds, you can always drink warm lemon water during a cold to help loosen congestion and shorten the duration of symptoms. 

3. Help regulate stress levels.

This is definitely one I am interested to see if it will affect the times that I do get stress out. Dehydration can lead our bodies to experience fatigue and stress. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” and can have many effects on the body, including weight gain, high blood pressure, and sleep deprivation. The vitamin C in lemons helps minimize the effects of Cortisol in the body and when combined with water, can help you relax, hydrated and energetic throughout the day. Vitamin C supplements can also be taken separately to help cope with stress. 

4. Time to start Detox-ing.

Ok, I will have to do this in small waves simply because I love food, but I am happy to know that drinking warm lemon water can help aid in detoxing your body. Lemons contain an antioxidant called d-limonene, which has been shown to activate enzymes that help kick your liver into detox-mode, helping flush out built-up toxins. Yay! to kicking bad toxins to the curb. 

5. Increase your potassium intake.

Not consuming enough potassium can lead to muscle weakness, cramping, and fatigue. You can get potassium from a variety of foods, including bananas. This is something my grandparents kept telling me to eat growing up, especially when I was running. However, bananas aren’t the only way to get potassium in your diet. Because potassium is considered an electrolyte, drinking lemon water daily is an excellent way to avoid muscle cramps and beneficial for supporting healthy skeletal muscle function.