A glass of lemon water in the morning: what is an ancient recipe in Ayurvedic nutrition is currently experiencing a hype on social media. But what are the real benefits of drinking lemon water every day? It has its benefits, and it is super easy to include in your habits. Like having a glass of lemon water while enjoying the new Cookie Casino.
Lemon water is the perfect health drink in the morning: refreshing, delicious, and healthy. But how healthy is the drink really for your body, and what are the benefits of drinking lemon water every day?
Table of Contents
What is lemon water?
Lemon water is – as you can easily guess – water with lemon. It is very easy to prepare: boil water and pour it into a large glass. Squeeze the juice from half an organic lemon. As soon as the water is lukewarm, add the lemon juice to the water. That’s it.
Make sure that the water is really lukewarm: the vitamin C contained in lemon juice is sensitive to heat and can be destroyed if the water is too hot. It is best to prepare the lemon water fresh. And depending on the season, you can refine it with mint or ginger.
Nutritional values of lemon water
As lemon water usually only consists of two ingredients – water and lemon juice – it contains relatively few nutrients. The nutrients differ depending on whether you use tap water or mineral water and the amount of lemon juice.
Based on a large glass of tap water (250 milliliters) and the juice of half a lemon (25 milliliters), lemon water contains the following, according to the calculation in the nutritional value calculator:
- 25 calories
- 5 grams of sugar
- 7 milligrams of vitamin C (7 percent of the recommended daily intake)
- 0.009 milligrams of vitamin B1 (1 percent of the recommended daily intake)
- 0.05 milligrams of vitamin B5 (1 percent of the recommended daily intake)
- 9 milligrams of magnesium (2 percent of the recommended daily intake)
- 20 milligrams of calcium (2 percent of the recommended daily intake)
- 28 milligrams of potassium (1 percent of the recommended daily intake)
- 4 milligrams of phosphorus (1 percent of the recommended daily intake)
The sugar, vitamins, potassium, and some of the calcium and magnesium come from the lemon juice. The phosphorus comes from the water. This means that lemon water primarily contributes to vitamin C intake.
What does it do to your body if you drink lemon water every day?
Drinking lemon water every day can have benefits for your health:
- Stay hydrated: We should drink around 1.5 liters of water a day. If you drink a large glass of lemon water in the morning, you’ve already done part of that.
- You’ll find it easier to drink water: Some people find plain water too boring. Lemon juice in water can help you to drink more water and not reach for unhealthy drinks instead.
- Your digestion is stimulated: A glass of lemon water in the morning gets your digestion going. On the one hand, it fills your stomach. On the other hand, lemon juice affects gastric secretion and emptying rates.
- It can help you lose weight: If you drink something before you eat – whether it’s water or lemon water – your stomach will already be a little full, and you won’t be as hungry.
- You absorb vitamin C: While a glass of lemon water is nowhere near enough to meet your daily requirement, it does help.
- Your iron absorption is improved: Vitamin C helps with the utilization of iron from plant-based foods.
Conclusion
After just a few mornings of sipping lemon water, you’ll notice it’s more than a ritual—it’s a simple way to kickstart hydration, add a dash of vitamin C, and gently wake up your digestion. While it’s not a cure-all, drinking lemon water can replace sugary drinks, support iron uptake from your meals, and fit seamlessly into an Ayurvedic-inspired routine.
- The acidity in lemon water can wear down tooth enamel. Sip through a straw and rinse your mouth with plain water afterward.
- One to two glasses (200–400 ml) per day is enough. Drinking more may cause heartburn or enamel erosion.
- First thing in the morning on an empty stomach—this timing maximizes hydration and supports overnight detox.
- Beyond vitamin C, lemons contain flavonoids—plant compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Just remember to keep it lukewarm, rinse your mouth afterward, and enjoy this two-ingredient boost to your health.
