When Life Gives You Lemon Water

Let’s talk lemon water- is it something you should drink? Are the claims true?

Lemon (specifically lemon verbena leaves) are loaded with anti-oxidant (keeps your cells from being damaged) and anti-inflammatory (pain reduction) properties.
Lemon verbena is an excellent digestive aid, increases your vitamin C intake, and even helps with nervous discomfort. It offers the individual less muscle damage, creatine kinase, and liver biomarkers related to oxidative stress.

What this means:

You have a faster/full recovery from DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). For those of us that are active, this is gold. This study was done to see about effects on the possibility of reducing muscle damage after exhaustive exercise.

There are a lot of claims out there that basically say lemon water is the same thing as drinking plain water. Yes, water is miraculous and we can discuss the auspiciousness of staying hydrated in length but let’s just say, increasing water intake (flavored with lemon or not) will help you to get more fluid into your bowels which does help move things along after digesting them. Excreting waste from your body 2-3x/day is considered normal bowel activity and will, in turn, help keep the skin clear. Add a little lemon juice to your water if it will help you keep your hydration levels up. Remember, we are 76% water! We need to stay hydrated to keep everything functioning properly.

Go the route of lemon verbena tea for sake of ease. As for the actual fruit, according to Medical News Today:

• flavonoids in lemons are linked to benefits in
  • blood circulation
  • insulin activity
  • metabolic health
  • reduction of oxidative stress
• lemons have high concentrations of calcium oxalate which could play a part in the prevention of kidney stones
• flavonoids may help lower risk of ischemic stroke in women
• lowers blood pressure in regular consumption
• vitamin C plays a role in the formation of collagen- think brighter complexion
• Pairing vitamin C foods with iron-rich foods helps prevent anemia (except in the case of iron supplements as this can cause stomach upset- eat iron-rich foods instead)
• Boosted immune function
• Smokers need 35mg more per day than non smokers
• Reduces dehydration

As a side note:

• lemons do not ripen or improve after picking. Really, no fruit does. It’s technically finished with its growth cycle so, after picking (up from the grocery store) make sure they are stored at room temp away from direct sunlight. If you prefer to purchase the bottles of lemon juice for convenience, keep in mind the bottled juice does not have the same vitamin C content. If you’re using it for just the flavor, go with that option but, if you have a citrus juicer, opt for the actual lemon. You also use a fork and your hand is another kitchen gadget is not on your list.
• Lemons are highly acidic! Make sure your water isn’t too loaded or you could notice some tooth sensitivity or even mouth ulcers. Lemons can worsen the symptoms of GERD causing heartburn and regurgitation. Choose wisely.
• Due to this acidity, make sure you brush your teeth to protect the enamel. Using a straw may be of benefit for your teeth as well.

Questions? Please feel free to reach out!

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283476#takeaway
https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-018-0208-0

Channing has been teaching various styles of yoga in Denver for over 20 years and loves to guide individuals into feeling their best. She is trained in the healing arts of Touch Kinesiology, Healing Touch 2, Reiki, Functional Range Conditioning, and Fascia Stretch Therapy. She is a certified nutritionist through Precision Nutrition and has her Masters of Herbology in western herbs. She has a thriving bodywork practice at Herb and Legend and sees clients online for health and nutrition coaching for those dedicated and willing to work on their skin issues and chronic pain.

Channing Grivas, MH, FRC, FST, Pn1
The Mobility Director, LLC
720.251.0753