A doctor has shared the benefits that come with adding one fruit to a glass of water every day, which he claims will boost hydration and digestion.

Water plays a vital role in our diet, essential for human survival. Yet, remembering to drink an adequate amount every day can be challenging. While beverages like coffee and tea contribute to daily water intake, they might also lead to dehydration.

To address this, Dr. Saurabh Seth, a Harvard-trained gut specialist, advises incorporating just one fruit into a glass of water daily. This not only enhances hydration but also offers various other health advantages.

“As a gut doctor, here are eight things you probably didn’t know about lemon water,” he shared in an introductory image on his Instagram post before detailing his insights.

He explained that although lemon water is excessively touted online with claims of detoxification—which it does not provide—it still has numerous health benefits.

Boosted hydration

Dr. Sethi noted that about 75% of adults suffer from chronic dehydration. To assess your hydration, examine your urine; it should appear pale yellow or nearly clear. Another method is the skin turgor test—pinch the skin on the back of your hand, and if it promptly returns to its position, you’re likely well-hydrated. If it remains tented, you might be dehydrated.

Preventing dehydration necessitates sufficient water intake. The NHS suggests consuming 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluids a day, amounting to roughly 1.5 to 2.5 litres.

Dr Sethi went on to explain: “Lemon makes water more appealing, which helps digestion, energy, and focus.”

Good for vitamin C

Next up, Dr Sethi went on to say that lemon is a great, natural source of vitamin C, which helps the body in supporting the immune system, aiding in tissue growth and repair, and acting as a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage.

He then revealed one lemon contains about 35mg of vitamin C, which is about 40% for an adult’s daily need. This also helps the absorption of iron, while boosting and supporting skin health and collagen production.

Supports digestion

As stated earlier, adding a lemon into your daily water intake could also help with your overall digestion, especially if you have low stomach acid levels.

“The mild acidity may stimulate gastric juices and bile flow,” he said, which has lead to some people reporting having better digestion before meals when drinking lemon water.

Soothing

It’s no secret that drinking hot lemon water, often with honey, can feel soothing, especially if you’re running a cold or feeling under the weather.

But Dr Sethi shared that vitamin C starts breaking down if it gets hotter than 70C, which means it won’t be as effective than when having it cold.

This is why he urges people to let the hot water cool down a bit before mixing in the lemon, as it will have a better overall effect on your body.

Be cautious

While it seems like a great idea overall to add lemon to your water every day, Dr Sethi also warned to be cautious about it if you already suffer from acid reflux. He went on to share up to 20% of people say their Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) gets worse when drinking lemony water.

Because of this, he urges people to avoid drinking it on an empty stomach if you start notice you get bloated or burning symptoms.

Lemon juice is also very acidic, which means it’s extra important to take care of your teeth when drinking it. Dr Sethi recommends drinking it through a straw and rinsing your mouth with normal water after having had lemon water in order to keep your enamel healthy.