Does hot lemon water have health benefits?

It is a hydrating drink, but it is not the cure-all that influencers promise

- Isobel Whitcomb

I have heard that drinking hot lemon water first thing in the morning can have various health benefits. Is that true? In a video on TikTok, a woman has a lemon in one hand and a mug in the other as she espouses the benefits of her beverage. Within a week of drinking hot lemon water daily, she said, you can expect to burn more calories; become more hydrated; harbour fewer toxins; and have a boosted immune system, better digestion, less bloating, smoother skin, and more energy and focus.

Across social media, there are countless videos like it. But while sipping warm lemon water can be a refreshing and healthy way to start the day, the evidence for many of its benefits does not hold up, said professor of nutrition Emily Ho, who is also the director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

Here are a few of the main claims associated with hot lemon water, and whether there is research to back them.

HYDRATION

Hot lemon water's main nutritional asset is that it is hydrating, Prof Ho said. That is especially beneficial first thing in the morning, she added, when "you haven't had anything to drink all night" The body needs to be hydrated to maintain its temperature, lubricate and cushion the joints, and remove waste through processes like sweating and urination.