Does Lemon Water Break a Fast?
Hydration during a diet is very important, particularly when practicing intermittent fasting. But does lemon water break a fast? The short answer is no – there are not enough calories or carbohydrates in a small lemon juice serving to break your fast.
Plus, adding lemon to your water glass helps you drink more fluids and stay hydrated, which is also important for weight loss. So, for more information about lemon water, keep on reading!
Does Lemon Water Break a Fast? What You Need to Know
No, it wont break your fast so you can drink it without a doubt. Because of the low calorie and carb count that lemon water has, it does not break a fast when you drink it. Lemon water is a great addition to your intermittent fasting plan, which is great news.
Just make sure that when you drink lemon water, it’s made with the natural juice alone.
Adding sugar or honey might make it taste better, but the increase in calories will undoubtedly break your fast and knock your body out of the metabolic process that burns fat.
Lemon Water Calories and Nutrition
In general, water is a crucial part of intermittent fasting, and dieting as a whole. Staying hydrated is important not only for your health and safety but also to help you keep feeling fuller for longer.
And while plain water has a plethora of benefits, adding some lemon juice to the mix can really enhance the taste and spur you to drink more throughout the day.
Citrus fruits are high in vitamins and antioxidants that are great for your body and metabolism, but what are the calories and nutrients of lemon water?
It might not surprise you to find out that a serving of lemon water with just the juice has very few calories or carbs. A glass of lemon water contains just over 5 calories and only 4g of carbs when calculating for 32 ounces.
Lemonade and fasting
Though a tall glass of lemonade can be tempting to consume, it’s not a good idea to have it while practicing intermittent fasting. Lemonade manufacturers add sugar, which spikes insulin responses and turns the body away from fat burning and staying in ketosis.
So, if you are craving the taste of lemon, make sure to stick with just the fruit. Though lemon slices do contain natural fructose that helps sweeten the taste, the flavor might still take some time to get used to, but don’t give up!
Risks and Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water
Lemon juice is perfectly natural and healthy for people to drink, but adding it to your water can have both advantages and downsides, so keep these in mind before raising the glass to your lips!
Pro: Helps weight loss
Lemon water contains polyphenols and antioxidants that can help metabolize fats stored in the body quicker, as well as the feeling of fullness that comes with drinking water.
Pro: Improves skin health
Hydration is one of the best ways to make your complexion glow. Plus, the vitamin C in lemon water is great for creating collagen and younger-looking, dewy skin.
Con: An upset stomach
Similarly, the acid in lemons might upset your GI tract, leading to acid reflux, increased heartburn, and even nausea. Prevent this from happening by alternating lemon water with a regular glass of water and cutting back on the amount of juice in the cup.
Con: Bad for your tooth enamel
Lemons contain citric acid, a substance that can damage the enamel on your teeth if ingested regularly. To avoid this, make sure to brush your teeth after.
What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is one of the most popular ways to change your life, lose weight, and achieve better overall health and wellness. And it’s surprisingly easy to start and maintain through intuitive, time-restricted eating patterns.
By using a fasting period cycle that is balanced by windows of eating, intermittent fasting can help enhance weight loss, boost metabolism, and even regulate your blood sugar, among many other health benefits.
An intermittent fasting meal plan promotes the energy breakdown necessary to burn fat instead of glucose within the body, melting away areas where fat storage is kept.
This happens when the body produces ketones and enters the metabolic process, as proven by scientific evidence. The body’s entire process is then transformed into a fat-burning machine over a surprisingly short time period!
With benefits such as a better digestive tract, heightened immune system, lower insulin levels, and an overall energy boost, it’s no wonder intermittent fasting has become so popular as a diet and lifestyle.
So, with that being said, let’s dive into taking lemon water during a fasting period.
A Word From Our RD
Part of successful intermittent fasting is to stay hydrated, and lemon water is a great way to do so. Simply fill your glass, add ice if you like, and squeeze in some fresh lemon to reap the health advantages.
Or, if you are feeling adventurous, try some lime juice for a slightly different flavor. Alternatively, add lemon to a cup of morning green tea, a drink that also helps suppress hunger pangs.
You can expect to feel fuller for longer after drinking enough water, as well as better digestion, increased blood flow, and more energy. And with the metabolic boost that lemon water provides, you can even enhance fat burning as you keep hydrated – it’s a win-win!
Conclusion
From vitamins to antioxidants, lemons are a beneficial addition to your hydration routine. Plus, drinking lemon water during calorie restriction periods does not break your fast because of the low amount of calories and carbs it contains.
With the myriad of health benefits associated with lemon water fast, from lowered blood sugar to enhanced weight loss, you can experience many advantages to making lemon water a habit.