Lemon Water and Ketosis? You better believe it
Just so we are all on the same pager here… Yes, you need to be drinking lemon water daily if you are on this high fat diet. When you are going keto, your PH balance actually decrease meaning your body is becoming more acidic. This is due to a couple of reasons
Ketones are actually an acid
Some of the food you eat, lead to higher levels of uric acid in the body
Both of which effect your body's PH levels This build up of uric acid can come from a handful of different foods we eat. Uric acid is the byproduct of certain proteins called purines. Some common sources of purines are:
These sources coupled with getting into Ketosis, which also boost uric acid can be a driving force behind elevated uric acid levels.. When uric acid levels get too high in the body, they can crystalize or even turn into gout (sever joint pain)… which is not good for anybody The other reason why lemon water is so important is because it counter acts kidney stones. Eating certain healthy foods… like the ones we generally eat on keto..
Lentils/legumes (not so keto)
..are actually high in oxalates and when combined with calcium in the kidney you can develop kidney stones.. Thankfully the citric acid in lemon (and lime) juice is the remedy for both of these issues. When consumed, lemon juice actually turns into an alkaline substance in the body… …Which not only alkalizes your PH but also neutralizes uric acid crystals as well as dissolves/prevents kidney stones. The reason this is important is because consuming lemon water actually let's you continue to eat all the foods listed above with no issues down the road. Not to mention, lemons are also a fantastic source of vitamin C which play a huge role in the body.. Most importantly strengthening arteries and capillaries which can help prevent strokes long terms. I, for the most drink lemon water every day, I was doing this far before I started keto, just for the health benefits associated with lemons..and let me tell you, there are a ton.
Good source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium
Promotes liver and colon health
Over all, this is a habit that is super beneficial to work into your daily routine whether you are on keto or not. I generally cut a lemon and half and squeeze it into about 12 oz of water and drink in the morning. You can also use organic lemon juice from the grocery store as well. If you go this route, plan on using somewhere between 2 and 4 table spoons in 12 oz of water.