Lemon and Water

[Moonhead]

Some of the girls in work have now started <BR>drinking a mug of hot water with a squeeze <BR>of lemon in it in the mornings instead of <BR>a cup of tea or coffee.<BR>They reckon that it's good for "detox" and <BR>that it also aids digestion throught the <BR>rest of the day.<BR>Can anyone tell me if there's much truth in <BR>this please?Obviously drinking only water with a splash <BR>of lemon has to be healthier then sugar <BR>laden caffine-full tea and coffee, but is <BR>it actually beneficial?Thanks.

[Octavius]

I think this comes from the You Are What You Eat book and Channel 4 programme, in which Doctor Gill said the very same thing.  I think it is beneficial in terms of a substitute for tea and coffee.

[Scarlett]

Yes, absolutely! It is supposed to help with water retention, contains vitamin C, aids digestion, plus water is far better for you than coffee or tea. There's no caffeine so it won't interfere with your heart rate!

[kaz35]

It most certainly is good for you!  I've done this for quite sometime, and the benefits are countless - lemon's have vitamin c, good for your hair and skin, and it does act as a purifyer for your liver and kidneys. As Scarlett said, it's a brilliant diuretic, making you want to pass water quite frequently (well, it does me, anyway!) and therefore helps with water retention.  Aside from the benefits of lemon juice, warm water alone is good for the system by helping to 'work the bowell!'  (Keeps you regular!)

[country_boy]

Sounds good to me, I'm probably being thick here, but how does passing water help with water retention?

[MORELLO]

country_boy - it doesn't. If you drink glasses of water, of course your going to want to pass it. It won't help pass any extra, retained water in the body. Your dealing with a female issue/fad here! The warm water bit aiding the bowel is correct, as is the no caffiene obviously, but other than that it just 'sounds nice' for those who wish to believe...

[natalie_1982]

Morello and Country_boy - I read that by drinking more water you do pass more water more frequently as your body does not need to retain it.  If you do not drink enough water then your body holds back more than it normally would.

 

I was told to drink warm water with a slice of lemon in it (as opposed to a squeeze) I don't suppose it makes too much difference, but again, it is good for your digestive system which in turn makes the rest of you feel good and gives you clearer skin and shinier hair :)

[polly1]

i call it a 'Mick Jagger' - apparently that's what he drinks every morning - at look at him!?!?!?!?!?!

[arthurstace]

Gillian McKeith got her PhD from a non-accredited correspondence school in America and has never published any properly evaluated scientific research.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1370339,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,12980,1285600,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,,1374213,00.html

[country_boy]

Hi MORELLO - my question was based on Kaz35's statement: "...making you want to pass water quite frequently (well, it does me, anyway!) and therefore helps with water retention." - still confused!!!

[MORELLO]

country_boy - passing water frequently will help with water retention in that, if it is 'passed' it is no longer in the body and therefore not 'retained'. My point was that drinking a glass of modified water isn't going to make you pass any more than you've consumed, and therefore doesn't help with water already retained in the body, ie. it can't be classed as a diuretic as such.

[jimmer]

that's quite right Morello. having a glass of warm lemon in the morrow will not act as a diauretic. it does have a small health benefit (vit c) but then again so does coffee ( makes you poo) . the problem with all detox things and diets is that they are fads. deliberate commercial post christmas marketing opportunities to wring a little more cash from us. if science can teach us one thing it is that the best way to stay healthy is a good balanced diet and some exercise.

 

jim

[kaz35]

Country-boy - regarding water retaention - the more water that you drink, the more hydrated you are, and then your body doesn't ' feel the need ' to retain any water.  Just realised, Natalie-1982 said the same thing in her post, sorry for the repetition! xx:)

[country_boy]

Thanks for clearing that up for me folks!