Cucumber lemon water helps hydration and adds a little vitamin C with almost no calories.
What it offers
Cucumber lemon water is plain water with slices of cucumber and lemon. It has almost no calories.
Benefits
- Encourages drinking more water, supporting hydration.
- Small amounts of vitamin C from lemon and vitamin K from cucumber.
- Refreshing alternative to soda.
Not proven
Claims about detox or weight loss have no solid evidence. Your liver and kidneys do the detox.
Dental note
Lemon is acidic and can wear tooth enamel over time. Drink through a straw or rinse after.
Recipe
Slice 1/2 cucumber and 1 lemon into a pitcher with 2 liters of water. Chill 2 hours. Drink within 24 hours.
Storage
Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
What the drink offers
Cucumber lemon water is plain water infused with slices of cucumber and lemon. Infusing adds very little in the way of calories (under 5 per cup) or nutrients, but it makes water more pleasant to drink, which helps people drink more. It has no sugar, no caffeine and no artificial additives.
Real benefits
- Hydration: the main benefit. Adults need roughly 2.7 liters of total fluid per day for women and 3.7 liters for men, including food, according to the National Academies.
- Vitamin C from lemon juice, around 10 to 20 milligrams per squeezed half lemon in a glass.
- Cucumber is about 95% water and has small amounts of vitamin K and potassium.
- A swap for soda or juice, cutting around 150 calories per can.
- Potassium and citrate from lemon may reduce the risk of kidney stones in people prone to them.
Claims that are not proven
Detox, rapid fat burning and “alkalizing” the body are not supported by evidence. The liver and kidneys remove waste, and the body tightly regulates its own pH regardless of diet. Lemon water does not melt belly fat. Weight loss can occur only if it replaces higher calorie drinks.
Dental note
Lemon juice is acidic, with a pH around 2. Sipping it all day can wear down enamel. Use a straw, rinse with plain water afterward, and wait 30 minutes before brushing.
Recipe
- 1 liter of water.
- Half a cucumber, sliced thin.
- 1 lemon, sliced.
- A few mint leaves, if you like.
Combine in a jar or pitcher and chill for 2 to 4 hours. Drink the same day for best flavor.
Variations
Add ginger for spice, berries for color, basil, or a splash of sparkling water. Lime or grapefruit can replace lemon.
Storage
Keep infused water in the fridge and drink it within 24 to 48 hours. Remove the fruit after about 12 hours if you want to avoid bitterness from lemon peel. Wash produce before slicing.
Hydration and nutrition numbers
A tall glass of cucumber lemon water holds roughly 2 to 5 calories, and the nutrients from a few slices add little. The main benefit is hydration. The National Academies suggest total water intake of about 2.7 liters for women and 3.7 liters for men including food, and flavored water can help some people drink more. Lemon juice provides small amounts of vitamin C, about 18.6 mg per ounce of juice, which is around 20 percent of the daily value in a full ounce. Cucumbers are about 96 percent water. Lemon water is acidic, so rinse the mouth afterward and use a straw to protect enamel.
Preparation and storage
Slice one cucumber and one lemon, add to 2 liters of cold water, and chill for 2 to 4 hours. Remove the lemon after 12 hours since the rind turns bitter. The infused water keeps up to 2 days in the fridge in a clean container.
Based on data from the National Academies and the USDA FoodData Central
