Easy warm Lemon Water Recipe is a refreshing way to stay hydrated! There are so many benefits in learning how to make this healthy drink. It’s low calorie, contains no sugar, tastes amazing, and is good for you.
For more healthy ideas to start your day, check out this green smoothie, chia pudding and almond flour banana muffins.
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I do not think drinking water with lemon is a cure for everything, but I still think this citrus water is pretty powerful. Just like learning how to make kombucha tea or eating borscht.
So, while I don’t think lemon water recipe is “a miracle pill”, there are definitely health benefits from drinking it in the morning.
Chances are you wouldn’t eat half a lemon on its own each day, so adding some to water is a great alternative. It’s just good for you and your immune system!
How to Make Lemon Water
Water with lemon is simple to make, so why follow a recipe? Quite frankly, you can totally wing it! Following my tips though will ensure complete success for the perfect glass of warm lemon water detox.
All you need is ‘regular’ lemons and water. I like to choose organic lemons to avoid pesticides.
- Squeeze lemon juice into a glass. Both hand held lemon reamer and glass lemon juicer reamer work well. It’s a matter of personal preference. The only difference I have found is that the glass one catches the seeds.
- Add warm water. To make water warm, I mix boiling water with cold filtered water. Another option is to turn off kettle before water reaches boiling (you just have to wait by the kettle).
- Stir and enjoy: With a spoon and drink while warm.
Health Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water
I started drinking warm water with lemon first thing in the morning a few years ago. You can read more about the full benefits in this article from Food Matters titled health benefits of drinking warm lemon water.
I am not a doctor, but I do realize that to reap the most benefits from drinking water with lemon is that you have to drink it first thing in the morning. And it has to be warm.
Water infused with lemon is full of immune boosting vitamin C! A lemon water detox also aids your digestion, flushes out toxins, and cleanses the liver. It may also help reduce pain in your knees and joints.
Lemons and Your Teeth
A reader brought to my attention that water with citrus (lemons, limes, grapefruits and apple cider water) can damage your teeth enamel with time. Dr. Sara Solomon addresses this in her article hot lemon water and enamel erosion.
If you are consuming a water with lemon daily, it’s best to dilute lemon juice in at least 8 oz. of water, drink it through a straw and rinse right after drinking.
Also avoid brushing teeth for 60 minutes, use a soft toothbrush, and avoid aggressive brushing.
To dilute your water with lemon, I would do 1/2 cup + 3 tbsp boiling water + rest cold water.
Variations
The recipe for lemon with water listed here is for consumption right away, it must be drank warm! That being said, serving water with lemon for a party or drinking citrus water throughout the day is a refreshing way to stay hydrated.
How to make lemon water that is infused is easy! Juice lemon and add to a pitcher with filtered water. Add variation of choice and let sit in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. Serve cold and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Lemon ginger water: Add 1 tsp or more to taste of chopped fresh ginger to a your cup. Steep for about 2 minutes.
- Honey lemon water: Add 1 tbsp honey and stir until dissolved.
- Cucumber lemon water: Add a few slices of cucumber for a refreshing taste.
- Cayenne and lemon: Add a dash of cayenne.
- Lemon and herb: Add a few sprigs of rosemary and basil.
- Lemon, strawberry and mint: A few frozen strawberries and mint leaves.
- Other citrus plus lemon: Grapefruit, lime and orange slices.
Does Water with Lemon Make You Lose Weight?
Lemon juice itself doesn’t have fat burning properties. Despite popular belief it will not speed up your metabolism.
But it can help with weight loss if you are drinking this instead of pop or juice. Otherwise, lemon water recipe doesn’t make you lose weight on its own.
I believe it is about cooking healthy dinner at home and leading a healthy lifestyle overall.
Does Lemon Water Detox Your Body?
Because it increases urine production, it will offer certain water detox benefits. Remember drink this water first thing in the morning.
More FAQs
Bottled lemon juice contains sulphites (preservative) and tastes weird. I would not recommend to use bottled lemon juice. It offers no health benefits compared to fresh lemon juice.
Lemon is an alkaline food. It is acidic on its own but inside your body it becomes alkaline.
Too much of anything is not good. Even too much of baked chicken breast can cause liver issues. Everything in moderation.
This article is for information purposes only and is not a medical advice. Please consult your physician.
More Healthy Recipes
- Cauliflower pizza crust
- Banana bread with applesauce
- Healthy Instant Pot recipes
- Almond flour banana bread
- Healthy banana muffins
More Lemon Recipes
- Healthy lemon cookies
- Healthy lemon bars
- Healthy lemon poppy seed muffins
- Healthy lemon zucchini bread
- Lemon muffins
Lemon Water Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/3 cup boiling water
Instructions
- In a glass, squeeze lemon juice with hand held lemon reamer or glass lemon juicer reamer. Discard seeds if necessary.
- Add water, stir and drink while warm.
Video
Notes
- Store: This warm lemon water recipe is meant to drink immediately. See post for cold variations that can be stored in the refrigerator.
- To make warm water: I usually mix boiling water from a kettle and fridge filtered water. Another option is to turn off kettle before water reaches boiling. You just have to wait by the kettle and turn it off on time.
- Type of lemon: Regular organic lemons found commonly in the supermarket. Avoid Meyer lemons or bottled lemon juice.
Can i add sugar in warm lemon juice…
Technically yes but not sure how helpful in terms of health benefits it would be…
Try organic maple syrup. Maple syrup has a lot of benefits as well
Could I just use lemon juice from the bottle? I normally use a real lemon, but I will be back on campus soon and it is challenging to get lemons whenever I need them.
I understand but the answer is “no”. Typical ingredients in bottled lemon juice: Lemon juice from concentrate ( water, lemon juice concentrate), sodium bisulfite (preservative), sodium benzoate (preservative), lemon oil. It is only damaging your health!!!
My mom blends lemons and refrigerates them in a jar. Then mixes with cold water. She lives in a remote area. I tried it, not bad. Health benefits for sure. It will refrigerate for a week or a bit more.
I started drinking lemon water this past spring. I LOVE it. I did not see any detox or weight loss benefits. I DID notice that I had more energy than I have had in years! Also my pain levels dropped significantly! I drink it first thing in the morning before my coffee and I feel ready to take on my day almost immediately.
After I drink the lemon water for a few days the Uvula gets sore and my voice gets husky. So I stop drinking the lemon water because i don’t know it I am doing any harm to it.
The idea sounds great but I also do oil pulling in the morning so which should come first? Normally I swish as soon as I get out of bed and then brush my teeth.
I have no idea what oil pulling is so can’t be of any help to you. Maybe I should do it?!:) I’m sure you can Google your question.:)
Janice, I would do your oil pulling after consuming the lemon water. (just my opinion and that’s how I would do it) And Olena, oil pulling is great (even though I don’t do it everyday)…you should research it! It helps with ALL kinds of things like oral health, heart health because they say that dentists can tell a lot about our overall health from our oral health.
I love drinking lemon water in the morning. But my dentist told me it is destroys teeth enamel. I only drink it twice a week now, sadly.
That is a good point. I found some information and have added above how to prevent enamel erosion. Thanks for bringing it up!
Sounds yummy, I’ll be adopting this for the New Year, thanks!
I have also been doing this for years and think it’s great; however, i use room temperature water. i feel anything too cold, or too hot, first thing in the morning would be an unnecessary shock to the system. Either way, it’s a great way to start the day!
That’s what I use too – I mix cold with hot water to make warm water.:)
Yes, and too hot destroys the antioxidant value to vitamins – namely Vit C here. Room temp or slightly warm (add the 3 T of hot water *after the 8 oz H20 and juice mixed first if necessary).
I used to drink hot water and lemon in the morning for years, but I have got out of the habit lately. Your post is good reminder to get back into it . I’m convinced it is good for health, and skin, etc, (even though most people think it’s a little weird!).
Most people think drinking green smoothies, making chia seed jam and drinking loose leaf green tea instead of latte is weird. Who cares?! I haven’t met any single person yet who thinks I don’t eat weird things LOL. Majority of people do not have an open mind when it comes to food, especially healthy food. I learnt to take care of myself without worrying what others are thinking. If my quinoa doesn’t look tasty, it’s mine and not theirs. Eat your pizza and buy pills later.
Husband and his family are always trying to get me to put lemon in things. Guess I will try it your way. 🙂 Happy new year!
For a good reason! Happy New Year, Rachel!