By Ashley Mussbacher (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: September 18, 2013
Everyone’s heard the advice, “drink eight glasses of water per day.” Now, I don’t know about you, but unless I’m on a treadmill I hardly finish half that amount. The taste of water is just plain boring. Unlike coffee, it’s hard to want it. So how do you make your water more appealing without breaking the bank, and without adding a sugary flavouring? I’ll give you a hint: it’s yellow, it’s sour, and it stings if you get it in the eyes.
It’s lemon juice.
Believe it or not, slicing a lemon into quarters, squeezing one section into a glass, and drinking it down with either cold or warm water is not only cheap and tasty, but has significant health benefits. According to a health article on EMR Labs by Ann Heustad, R.N., lemon juice helps with the digestive system and boosts the immune system. She says in her article, “There are basic lifestyle habits that are important to incorporate into your daily life, and this is certainly one of them.”
Now, I know you might be thinking that this week it’s lemon water, next week it’ll be Tabasco in coffee. The nice thing about drinking lemon and water is that it’s inexpensive. In fact, it’s one of the few recipes that costs more when you make it at home compared to ordering it at a restaurant. A lemon usually costs around 50 cents. UFV’s AfterMath serves water for free. If you ask the server for a slice of lemon on the side, they provide it without charge. Total win for the nutrient-deprived student.
As for the health benefits, I’ve been drinking lemon in my water for a little over two weeks now and have noticed a significant change in my energy levels. I’ve even considered replacing my morning coffee with warm lemon water (crazy, I know). Coffee causes a crash-and-burn effect in the early afternoon, whereas if I swap it out for my new favourite beverage, I’m energized until late evening.
According to one health blog (Reboot with Joe), lemon juice “relieves symptoms such as heartburn, belching, and bloating.” The blog suggests drinking an eight-ounce cup of water with the juice of one whole lemon on an empty stomach if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms. “While lemon juice itself is acidic,” the blog claims, “it’s actually one of the most alkaline foods available.”
Another interesting effect I’ve noticed is clearer skin. Chocolate is usually a suspect when random pimples break out. It’s nice to know lemon water will clear up the spotty mess on my face after I’ve indulged.
Medical Daily also mentions that since lemon is an antiseptic, it detoxes the body. However, it also claims that organic lemons should be used. I’ve been using non-organic. I don’t know what that means for me, and I’m not sure whether Aftermath uses organic lemons.
But there you have it. A budget-friendly, beneficial alternative to boring water. Happy drinking.
