Lemon and lime are citrus fruits that some people sometimes interchange based on their intended use. They share many nutritional and health benefits. A good example of this is when infusing water with citrus fruits. It begs the question, which is better, lime water or lemon water?
We’ll explore the benefits of lime water vs. lemon water for the skin and weight loss!
Table of Contents
Benefits of Lime Water vs. Lemon Water
Lime and lemon carry common benefits, but they also have quite a few differences. Both citrus fruits are utilized in different ways to extract the most health benefits. They have become a staple in different industries such as food, cosmetics, and medicine. In this section, we will focus on the debate of whether lemon water is better than lime water or if they are the same.
Lime Water Benefits
Water is essential for maintaining good health, but some detest it. Infusing water with lime can help liven up your water and make it more refreshing. Not only that, but your infused water can also give you a nutritional boost.
Consuming too many sweetened beverages is linked to diabetes, obesity, and other diseases. [1] Lime water is a great alternative to sugary drinks. It’s still a flavored drink, but it won’t lead to illnesses. Reducing your consumption of sweetened drinks can improve your daily diet. [2]
Lime water is great for aiding digestion as well due to the nutrients of limes. Additionally, it contains acid, which helps break down food. Limes are rich in potassium and magnesium as well. These elements can help maintain a healthy heart, reduce blood pressure, and improve blood flow.
The most known component of citrus fruits, such as limes, is Vitamin C. This component alone already provides a lot of benefits, such as acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. [3] Vitamin C also helps in lowering your blood sugar, especially during the morning and after meals. Drinking some lime water after eating is a huge help to control your sugar levels.
Lemon Water Benefits
Infusing water with lemon has been all the rage for several years now. It is even an option in many restaurants around the world. Lemon has also been used to infuse other drinks like tea, showing its popularity, especially among health buffs.
As mentioned before, some just don’t want to drink something tasteless like water. Infusing it with lemon can entice the naysayers since the water becomes flavored. You can even have it cold or hot, depending on your preference.
Lemons contain two times more Vitamin C than limes and offer a bit more nutrients, minerals, proteins, and fats. [4] It can be a better choice if you’re serious about detox. Having sufficient Vitamin C in your body can reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. It can also be very helpful if you’re hypertensive and trying to lower your blood pressure.
Lemon water is also a good alternative to treat or reduce the risk of kidney stones. The compounds that create kidney stones can be broken down using citrate. Since lemon water contains a high amount of citrate, the calcium is prevented from binding with other compounds.
Some Other Shared Benefits:
- Improves Skin Quality
- Supports Weight Loss
- Provided Oxidation
- Helps Immune System
- Great Refreshment
Lime Water vs. Lemon Water for Skin
Drinking enough water can already have a positive impact on your skin. Adding lemons or limes to your water can enhance that benefit due to their mineral and vitamin content. A few subtle differences will determine which fruit you should use to infuse your water.
Both are used interchangeably sometimes, considering the closely similar taste and benefits. They also have been used as an ingredient for cosmetic products. Both are rich in Vitamin C, which increases collagen production. [5] An increase in collagen can fight off those wrinkles on the face.
Vitamin C can also help fight the signs of aging as improves the skin’s texture and firmness. It promotes skin tissue growth as well, which might aid in lightening the acne scars. It can also help prevent acne breakouts if consumed regularly. Lemons also have components that can help reduce inflammation and decrease oil on the skin.
Drinking lime water or lemon water is great for rejuvenating your skin. The components found in those fruits are also found in skincare products. Absorbing those ingredients internally through your infused water is also beneficial. The natural components of limes and lemons can act as antioxidants as well.
You can drink either, considering the differences between the two fruits are very subtle. The most glaring difference is the amount of Vitamin C is higher in lemons than lime. Aside from that, the components and their amounts are pretty much the same.
Is It Good To Have Lemon Water or Lime Water Before Bed?
Drinking water infused with lemons or limes before bed has been beneficial to those who practice it. Scientific data for a specific study are scarce and some conclusions can be drawn based only on the fruits themselves, not the act of drinking the infused water before bed. Some also based their data on the benefits of water itself.
Adding infused water to your bedtime routine can enhance the already amazing benefits your body receives. It’s usually consumed hot as opposed to room temperature or cold to help soothe your system as it shuts down for the night. By doing so, you can relieve stress and fall asleep faster. The scent of lemon alone can already be relaxing for some.
The infused water can stimulate the digestion process and detoxify your body while you sleep. It will have you waking up feeling refreshed and ready for the day. The water can work wonders for your immune system as well. There is no harm in trying to drink it before bed. It takes no effort to make, and if it works, you’ll reap a lot of benefits.
Weight Loss Impact of Lime and Lemon Water
Lemons and limes are citrus fruits, hence, they are rich in citric acids. They increase metabolism, which reduces fat storage and burns more calories in a shorter amount of time. If you drink lemon or lime water, it can make you feel full, enabling you to consume fewer calories. Additionally, it’s a great way to detoxify and get rid of toxins from your body.
Drinking water before a meal can reduce the number of calories consumed. [6] It can also decrease your feeling of hunger. Of course, consuming your infused water is just a small way to lose weight. For weight loss, daily exercises and a healthy diet are still necessary.
Which Is Better for You?
As previously mentioned, lemons and limes share almost the same nutrients and components. They both contain flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, among other things. The studies regarding flavonoids are in the early stages, but the results so far are promising.
Both of them contain antioxidants, which help prevent cell damage. Vitamin C is also found in both fruits, which is amazing for the immune system. In comparison to limes, lemons have a greater amount of Vitamin C. Limes, however, are not any less healthy.
In terms of taste, they’re fairly the same. They’re both tart and acidic and will give you a puckered expression if eaten alone. However, lemons are generally on the sweeter side, while limes are more bitter.
The choice will really depend on your preference. Infusing your water with either will give you benefits regardless of which one you choose. It might also depend on the availability of your market. It is unlikely you will lose out regardless of your choice.
Bottomline: Lime Water vs. Lemon Water
Infusing water with limes or lemons has been a very popular practice in the world. It is already beneficial to drink enough water, but infusing it with those two fruits would boost those effects. You can consume it cold, hot, or warm depending on what you prefer.
Lime water and lemon water are great alternatives for those who don’t like the “tasteless” normal water. The fact that they are healthier also makes them perfect replacements for sugary flavored drinks. Those two fruits, when added to water, will add tons of nutrients and vitamins. There is no harm in trying this, and it takes very little effort to make.
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your own healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022a, April 11). Sugar Sweetened Beverage Intake. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/sugar-sweetened-beverages-intake.html#:%7E:text=Frequently%20drinking%20sugar%2Dsweetened%20beverages,gout%2C%20a%20type%20of%20arthritis.
- An, R., & McCaffrey, J. (2016). Plain water consumption in relation to energy intake and diet quality among US adults, 2005–2012. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 29(5), 624–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12368
- Linus Pauling Institute. (2022, January 3). Inflammation. Retrieved August 20, 2022, from https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/inflammation
- Determination of Vitamin C concentration in some citrus and non-citrus fruits by titration and high performing liquid chromatography (HPLC) Methods. (2022). Humanitarian and Natural Sciences Journal, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.53796/hnsj3241
- Darias-Rosales, J., Rubio, C., Gutiérrez, Á. J., Paz, S., & Hardisson, A. (2020). Risk assessment of iodine intake from the consumption of red seaweeds (Palmaria palmata and Chondrus crispus). Environmental science and pollution research international, 27(36), 45737–45741. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10478-9
- Davy, B. M., Dennis, E. A., Dengo, A. L., Wilson, K. L., & Davy, K. P. (2008). Water consumption reduces energy intake at a breakfast meal in obese older adults. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 108(7), 1236–1239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.04.013