Drinking lemon water has become trendy lately. People claim that it helps detoxify the body and get rid of toxins. Various other benefits of drinking lemon water have been cited such as boosting metabolism, improving digestion, good source of vitamin C, and helping treat kidney stones.

However, some studies also suggest that drinking too much lemon juice is a cause stomach upset and contributes towards tooth erosion. So, how useful is lemon water and does the regular practice of drinking it provide any long terms gain?

In this post we will dive deeper to investigate this question and discuss if the positives outweigh the negatives. Ready? let’s go…

 

What is Lemon Water and When to Drink

Lemon water is a simple drink that consists of fresh squeezed lemons mixed with filtered water.

The quantity of lemon extract or juice in lemon water really depends on a person’s preference. Some sources suggest half to one lemon in 8 ounces of water. Usually, people drink it at normal room temperature while others may prefer it a bit warm. Additionally, people often choose to add mint leaves, honey, turmeric, and other ingredients. It is common to have lemon water in the morning after waking up on an empty stomach due to claims that it boosts energy and body metabolism.

Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

There are various health benefits associated with drinking lemon water, common ones include….

Detoxification: It is believed that drinking lemon water can help you cleanse your system from toxins. This is because lemon contains citric acid which aids in breaking down fats and proteins. Citric acid is also known for its ability to remove heavy metals from the body.

Boosts Metabolism: It is claimed that drinking lemon water helps boost metabolism by increasing the flow of blood through the liver. The citric acid present in lemon helps break down fat cells and thus increase the rate of metabolism.

Good Source of Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin, bones, teeth, and immune system. It is found naturally in citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, and lemons.

Treats Kidney Stones: Some research suggests that drinking lemon water can be beneficial in treating kidney stones. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.

Promotes Digestion: It is said that drinking lemon water improves digestion by stimulating the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Improves Skin Health: Lemon being a natural source of vitamin C, helps to maintain the integrity and elasticity of the skin. Lemon juice also contains citric acid, which aids in exfoliation by dissolving dead cells on the surface of the skin.

Some Myths

There are many other health claims around lemon water, but most don’t have any scientific evidence to back them up. Some of these are –

• Lemon water helps you lose weight
• You can drink it to prevent cancer
• It prevents heart disease
• It improves digestion

And there are even claims that drinking it makes you smarter 😊

 

Negative Effects of Lemon Water

Side effects from drinking lemon water have also been reported notably erosion of teeth enamel, nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting. There are some who believe that drinking too much of lemon water can cause dehydration. Again, these claims lack scientific evidence and are based on personal experiences.

The effect on enamel erosion or tooth decay because of the acid in the citrus fruit is widely reported though. So, this is something that’s worth a consideration before you make lemon water as part of your water drinking routine.

 

The Discussion

We highlighted many of the benefits. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it’s good for you, it’s healthy, it tastes great. Potential damage to teeth due to the citric nature is also acknowledged. While it’s true that lemons do contain citric acid, it’s quite weak compared to many other foods. And unless you drink gallons of lemonade each day, there’s no real reason to worry about the potential harm. So, we’d encourage you to try drinking lemon water and monitor the results for yourself.

There are still a couple of reasons why it might be better to stick to regular water rather than lemon water. Plain water that is made antioxidant, alkaline and enriched with minerals is one choice. We at AOX specialize in just that, get in touch with our friendly staff to learn more!

Stay Healthy, Choose AOX

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