The health benefits of lemon water

Lemon water has been linked to many benefits, including improved skin and digestion. But does the science stack up? Nutritionist Jo Lewin explains.

Lemon water

Lemons and other citrus fruits are well known for their colourful pitted skins and tart, refreshing taste. Lemons contain citric acid and are well known for their high vitamin C content. The peel of a lemon consists of two layers: the outer zest and a white inner layer. The zest contains essential oils - the most common of which is called limonene.

Nutritional benefits

Lemons have been used for centuries and have been highly regarded in the past for treating scurvy, a rare condition that can develop through lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is often claimed to support the immune system, however, studies have been inconclusive. One study found that although vitamin C did not prevent otherwise healthy people from catching the common cold, it may shorten the duration of symptoms, and halved the common cold risk in people exposed to short periods of extreme physical stress (e.g. marathon runners). Lemons also contain some vitamin B6 and other antioxidants called flavanoids. They are low in calories but high in flavour.

Health claims

Headlines have linked drinking lemon water to many other health claims, including weight loss, improved digestion, ‘alkalising’ effects on the body, improved skin and detoxification. The research, especially human studies, to back up many of these health claims is minimal.

Some evidence has linked vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) and flavonoids to improvements in skin. Vitamin C is known to help the body produce collagen, which contributes to the integrity of skin.

Lemon water may also help the appearance of skin because it is caffeine-free. Too much caffeine acts as diuretic, causing some people to experience dry skin. If you are someone who regularly drinks a lot of tea or coffee, swapping to caffeine free alternatives might help the appearance of skin, and positively affect your energy levels and quality of sleep.

If you are someone who finds it difficult to drink water, or doesn’t really like the taste, then adding lemon to hot or cold water can make it more palatable. Drinking adequate water will benefit your health. It’s possible to mistake thirst for hunger, so if you have been



advised to lose weight, try having a glass of lemon water first when you feel hungry to see if you're really just thirsty. If you usually opt for fizzy or sugary drinks, lemon water would be a lower-calorie and lower-sugar alternative.

If you suspect you are dehydrated, you could try a glass of lemon water as it acts in the same way as water. Dehydration is common and can present with headaches, dizziness and tiredness – it’s important to make sure that you consume enough fluid while exercising or in hot weather. The NHS advises drinking 6-8 glasses of fluid, ideally water, a day.

Indigestion, characterised by symptoms of heartburn and bloating, can be uncomfortable. Some people find drinking a glass of lemon water, particularly first thing in the morning, aids digestion. This is mainly subjective and reports are anecdotal.

Lemons and lemon tea

Should I drink lemon water first thing in the morning?

The effect of lemon water will not change regardless of whether you drink it first thing in the morning or last thing at night. If you like the taste of lemon water, it could be a good choice for first thing in the morning as we often wake up a little dehydrated - especially if you've had alcohol or salty food the night before. Drinking a glass of water early in the morning will certainly help to hydrate us.

There is currently no evidence to suggest that lemon water has an alkalising or detoxing effect on the body. The liver is responsible for elimintating toxins from everything we eat, drink and are exposed to in our environment, so no amount of lemon water is going to ‘detox’ our bodies any further. There is also no truth to the claims that lemon water balances pH levels.

Effects on teeth

Fruit juices and acidic liquids can impact the enamel of teeth, so it is best to dilute concentrated lemon juice with water or drink through a straw.

How to make lemon water

Lemon water is simply that; the juice and/or slices of lemon including the peel in water. Warm or cold water is up to you. You can add other ingredients and flavours such as orange or mint if desired. The lemons can be juiced (in advance if convienient) and even stored in ice cube trays for freezing. Some claim that rolling a lemon between hands before juicing yields more juice.