Lemon water is well-known for its nutritional benefits, especially its beauty benefits, which make it popular among female friends. Some people also believe that drinking lemon water can help relieve cold symptoms. As the weather turns cooler in autumn and the temperature difference between day and night is large, it is now the peak season for catching colds. So, can you drink lemon water when you have a cold?
Nutritional value of lemon water
Lemons are highly alkaline and have the effects of relieving cough, resolving phlegm, and promoting saliva production and spleen health. They also have beneficial effects on blood circulation and calcium absorption. Lemon juice is the juice obtained by squeezing fresh lemons, which is highly acidic and has a slight bitter and fragrant taste. Lemon juice contains sugars, vitamin C, vitamin B1, B2, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients. Especially, it is rich in vitamin C, which can help increase immunity, whiten the skin, lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, slow down aging, and also help alleviate diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, colds, osteoporosis, and other conditions.
Can you drink lemon water when you have a cold?
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which has various effects such as antimicrobial, immune-boosting, and assisting collagen synthesis. Drinking lemon water regularly can supplement vitamin C. When you have a cold, drinking 500 to 1000 ml of lemon water per day can effectively alleviate cold symptoms. It is worth mentioning that lemon has excellent expectorant effects. Drinking lemon juice mixed with warm water and a pinch of salt can help cough up thick phlegm in the throat. In the early stage of a cold, drinking lemon water with honey can effectively relieve sore throat and other discomfort.
How to drink lemon water to treat a cold
1. Salty lemon water: Mix lemon juice and a tablespoon of sea salt with warm water and drink it. It can kill bacteria and prevent the flu.
2. Honey lemon water: In the early stage of a cold, drink lemon water with honey to effectively alleviate throat pain and dryness.
How to make lemon water
Wash a fresh lemon and dry it with a paper towel. Put it in the refrigerator for two hours, then take it out and slice it thinly. One lemon can be sliced into about 15 to 20 slices. Put the slices in a container and drizzle with some honey. Put it in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. When you want to drink it, take out a slice and steep it in warm or cold water. Do not use boiling water, as it can easily dilute the fragrance of the lemon and cause loss of nutrients.
Other benefits of drinking lemon water
1. Detoxification and relieving constipation: Lemon water is rich in vitamin C. Drinking a glass of lemon honey water on an empty stomach in the morning can effectively remove intestinal toxins and relieve the pain of constipation.
2. Freshening breath: Lemon water has excellent antibacterial effects, especially in killing harmful bacteria in the oral cavity, helping to maintain oral hygiene and freshen breath.
3. Improving blood circulation: Lemon water is rich in potassium and vitamin P, which can help control blood pressure, enhance capillary elasticity, and improve blood circulation.
4. Suppressing appetite and controlling weight: Lemon water contains soluble fiber pectin, which helps enhance the feeling of fullness and thereby control appetite, leading to weight control.
5. Whitening and anti-aging: Supplementing the body with vitamin C helps with skin whitening. Combined with the antioxidant effects of lemon water, it helps protect against damage caused by free radicals and delays aging. Vitamin C also helps in the synthesis of amino acids and collagen, protecting the skin.
Precautions for drinking lemon water
1. Drink lemon water in moderation. Excessive consumption can harm the stomach. It is not advisable to drink more than 1000 ml of lemon water per day.
2. Lemons are acidic fruits with a pH value lower than 2.5. People with excessive stomach acid and gastric ulcer patients should not drink lemon water to avoid causing more serious harm to the stomach.
