Maintaining healthy digestion is a crucial part of keeping your overall wellness in check. Not only does a happy gut keep you feeling as comfortable as possible by avoiding issues like gas and bloating, but it can also promote a healthier body overall. In fact, your gut health can have an impact on everything from your weight to your mental and emotional health. For this reason, making efforts to keep your gut microbiome balanced is always important. And as it turns out, helping your gut cleanse itself and keeping digestion smooth can be as simple as sipping on one ultra-easy beverage: lemon water.
That’s right! While you may be tempted to spend a small fortune on the latest functional beverages promising a healthier gut, experts say that sometimes, plain old water with some lemon squeezed in is really all it takes. That’s what Ellen Postolowski, nutrition-based chef, author, and certified health coach specializing in gut and hormonal health says. We spoke to her, along with nutritionist Lisa Richards, creator of The Candida Diet, to learn all about the benefits of water and lemon for your gut. Find all of their expert insight below.
Lemon water for digestion
According to Postolowski, cleansing your gut and allowing for the "intricate balance of good and bad bacteria" to thrive is ultimately all about fostering a "restorative environment" by implementing healthy habits. In addition to cutting out certain gut-ruining foods, this also includes "hydrating and prepping the colon to properly rid the body of toxins." And it's hard to beat good old water when it comes to hydrating beverages.
"Hydration through plain water is a superb strategy for maintaining gut health due to its fundamental role in supporting digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall well-being," Richards lists. "Water aids in softening and moving food along the digestive tract, facilitating smooth bowel movements and preventing constipation."
She notes that H2O can break down food particles to allow for better nutrient absorption, keep your GI tract moist and functional to avoid irritation and inflammation, and of course help with cleansing. "Water also plays a pivotal role in flushing out toxins and waste products, promoting detoxification," Richards tells us.
And according to Postolowski, adding lemon to the mix can bring your water to the next level. (And it might even help you lose weight).
"A glass of warm lemon water (8 ounces of warm water and a tablespoon of lemon juice) first thing in the morning on an empty stomach not only hydrates but will get the digestive system moving along without overloading it," Postolowski explains.
The benefits of this beverage don't end with digestion. "In addition, increasing motility and priming the body for proper purging come with many other benefits such as favorable kidney functions and preventing cellular oxidation." Incredible!
Ultimately, of course, there are many factors that play into your digestive health; you may need to make a few other changes to your diet and your lifestyle in order to reach optimal balance. However, Postolowski concludes, "Embracing these small changes over time will contribute to bigger impacts on overall well-being."
READ MORE: The One Probiotic-Rich Breakfast Food You Should Add To Your Plate For Better Digestion
