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Lemon Water Recipe
This classic lemon water recipe is the ultimate refreshing drink! With just 2 ingredients and a few minutes of prep,…
This classic lemon water recipe is the ultimate refreshing drink! With just 2 ingredients and a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a pitcher of citrus-infused water with no calories or sugar.
Lemon water is taking the world by storm, trending due its supposed health benefits. But in my opinion, the primary reason to drink this infused water? It tastes so refreshing! If you’re looking for a healthy drink that’s easy to make, this recipe is where it’s at.
Alex and I love whipping up a pitcher of lemon water to help us kick our La Croix addiction. My kids reach for it instead of juice boxes, Alex drinks it post-workout, and I’ve even converted my soda-loving mother-in-law. The best part? It takes literally 5 minutes to make a whole pitcher that lasts all day.
How to make lemon water
Why follow a recipe for lemon water? If you’re simply looking to drink a glass of citrus water, you can wing it! But this recipe makes a pitcher of 8 cups of water at a time, perfect for parties or storing in the refrigerator and sipping on all day long.
How much lemon should you put in your water? 1 lemon to 8 cups water. Here’s how to make lemon water:
- Thinly slice a lemon and place it in the bottom of a large pitcher.
- Using a wooden spoon, lightly mash the lemon to release its juices.
- Add 8 cups cold water and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
Cheater tip: The flavor is actually pretty lemony immediately. If you’re in a pinch, feel free to drink right away!
Cucumber lemon water is a fun variation: just add slices from ½ cucumber!
Benefits of drinking lemon water
Does drinking lemon water make you lose weight? Does it help in digestion, or prevent illness? There are lots of sources that claim health benefits, but many of them can become exaggerated.
What’s actually true
Here’s a Reader’s Digest article with a summary of the health benefits: 12 Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water. It states that lemon water:
- Helps with hydration: The flavor encourages you to drink more water
- Vitamin C boost: Lemons are packed with it
- May aid digestion: The citric acid can help break down food
- Freshens breath: Natural antibacterial properties
- Supports immune system: Thanks to that vitamin C
What’s probably exaggerated
Despite what influencers claim, lemon water won’t magically melt away pounds or “detox” your body (your liver does that just fine). But replacing sugary drinks with lemon water? That absolutely can help with weight management and overall health.
We’re not health professionals, so Alex and my main rationale for drinking it is simple: drinking water is fantastic for your body! And the hint of citrus makes it taste so, so refreshing.
Side effects of drinking lemon water
Repeated exposure to your teeth of acids like lemon juice and lime juice over time can start to erode the enamel on your teeth. If you drink citrus water occasionally, this should not be a problem.
If you drink it daily, you may want to consider drinking it through a straw so it doesn’t touch your teeth. Or, try decreasing the amount of lemon in this recipe by half.
Does the flavor of improve over time?
Yes, but to a point! This recipe calls for letting lemon water sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour, which intensifies the tangy flavor. The flavor also intensifies over the next few hours. We’d suggest drinking it within about 1 day though; because after a few days, the water can become bitter. All the more reason to drink lots of water!
Infused water variations
To mix things up, here are a few other infused water recipes you might enjoy:
- This Fruit Infused Water and Strawberry Water have natural sweetness and look absolutely gorgeous
- For Mint Water and Lime Water with Mint, add a handful of mint leaves when you muddle the lemons. It’s like a virgin mojito that you can drink all day long!
- Adding cucumber in Cucumber Water or Cucumber Lemon Water tastes like drinking spa water
Dietary notes
This lemon water recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free, naturally sweet, and refined sugar free.
Lemon Water Recipe
Pin Recipe
Print RecipeThis classic lemon water recipe is the ultimate refreshing drink! With just 2 ingredients and a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a pitcher of citrus-infused water with no calories or sugar.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 cups
- Category: Drink
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- 8 cups (64 ounces) cold water
Instructions
- Wash and thinly slice the lemon.
- Add the lemon slices to bottom of a pitcher. Use a wooden spoon to lightly muddle (mash) them several times to release the juices.
- Add the cold water. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving, more if time. Flavor is best within 1 day.
