Even if you can’t cite the specific health benefits of drinking hot water with lemon, most people drink it blindly because ‘it’s good for you’ is sufficient enough.
So what are the real benefits you’re getting from your hot water and lemon?
For starters, lemon contains a flavonoid compound that helps boost immunity, protecting you from cardiovascular disease and cancer, says Sue Mah, a registered dietitian and founder of Nutrition Solutions. Hot water can enhance the effects of this flavonoid compound.
“Research shows that hot water can actually extract this beneficial flavonoid, which makes it easier for your body to absorb the lemon’s flavonoid compound even better,” she explains.
Related: Can lemon water help you lose weight?
The best way to make hot water with lemon
In order to get the full benefits of hot water with lemon, Mah recommends letting the lemon soak in boiling water for at least half an hour.
To make it an easy part of your daily routine, try making the hot water with lemon in the morning while you’re getting ready for work, like making it as soon as you get out of bed alongside your breakfast and coffee. Once you’re done, your lemon water should be sufficiently steeped to reap the full benefits.
If you’re not a fan of lemon water, you can try adding a slice of the tart yellow fruit to your green tea. The lemon will help you absorb the antioxidants in green tea, according to a 2014 review published in the Journal of Food Processing and Technology.
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