What is lemon water?
Lemon water is a medicinal solution made by simply mixing the juice of lemons mixed with water. The amount of lemon juice in lemon water depends on the person’s preference. People may drink it cold or hot. Some people also choose to add lemon rind, mint leaf, honey, turmeric, or other ingredients.
Lemon water has become a popular morning beverage, with people using it as a refreshing pick-me-up due to claims that it can boost energy levels and metabolism. Many restaurants serve it routinely, and some people start their day with lemon water instead of coffee or tea. There are no doubt lemons are great for adding citrus flavor to food and drinks, but are there any benefits to adding lemon juice to your water?
Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. In fact, one squeezed lemon provides around 21% of a person’s daily value (DV).
Like other citrus fruits — including oranges, grapefruit, and limes — lemons are rich in flavonoids. These are compounds that help boost health and fight disease. Aside from that, lemons contain few nutrients. Lemon water contains very little protein, fat, carbohydrate, or sugar, and it contains only trace amounts of other vitamins and minerals, including potassium, folate, and some B vitamins.
According to the United States Department for Agriculture database, the nutrient breakdown for lemon water containing one 48 gram (g) squeezed lemonTrusted Source is as follows:
- 10.6 calories
- 18.6 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, or 21% DV
- 9.6 micrograms (mcg) of folate, or 2% DV
- 49.4 mg of potassium, or 1% DV
- 0.01 mg of vitamin B-1, or 1% DV
- 0.01 mg of vitamin B-2, or 1% DV
- 0.06 mg of vitamin B-5, or 1% DV
Although a single glass does not seem to provide a lot of nutrients, lemon water is a healthful, low calorie, and low sugar beverage that can boost a person’s vitamin C intake.
For comparison, replacing the lemon with the juice of half an orange (weighing 43 g) would provide almost twice as many calories, about three times as much sugar, and 24% DV of vitamin C. The nutritional value of each glass of lemon water depends on how much lemon juice it contains, as well as any other ingredients.
However, much of the evidence supporting lemon water’s health benefits is anecdotal.
Disadvantages of drinking Lemon water daily
There are several disadvantages of drinking Lemon water daily, they include:
Damage to teeth
One of the major disadvantages of drinking Lemon water daily is damage to teeth. Like many fruit juices, is acidic. This means when we drink Lemon water daily, it can cause enamel erosion on our teeth. In fact, the tart substance has a pH level of 2-3, putting it firmly in the realm of acidic drinks. Liquids with a pH level under four have been proven to negatively impact our oral health.
Avoid brushing your teeth for at least one hour after drinking lemon water as this will only rub the acid around your teeth and cause more erosion.
Stomach Upset
Another disadvantage of drinking Lemon water daily is stomach issues. Lemon has excess citric acid, consuming lemon daily might lead to gastric problems. Drinking lemon water daily can cause GERD, a digestive disorder that affects the small ring of muscle between the esophagus (the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach) and the stomach, known as the lower esophageal sphincter. In it, acid from the stomach moves back up into the esophagus, irritating its lining. The most common symptom of this disease is heartburn (a burning sensation in the chest), but more severe cases can cause nausea and vomiting. GERD symptoms are triggered by consuming acidic foods such as lemon juice.
If you feel any burning sensation in the stomach, food pipe, or in the diaphragm, then have two glasses of buttermilk. If still the pain persists, you can have antacid syrup or tablet, or consult your doctor.
Risk of consuming Germs
In a 2007 study from the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers tested 76 lemon samples from 21 different restaurants during 43 visits and found that many of the lemons contained microorganisms, including some pathogenic ones that may cause diseases. To minimize your risk a bit, squeeze the lemon into your drink instead of dropping the whole wedge in.
Risk of migraine headaches
Migraine is a concern if you are drinking Lemon water daily. While eating lots of fresh fruit is a great way to avoid attacks (and stay healthy!), you might want to be careful with citrus fruits, because oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes can trigger headaches in some people.
Tyramine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is found in a variety of foods, including lemons. A study conducted by WebMD in 2010 found that 18 percent of people who experienced migraines reported that certain foods were likely to trigger an attack. The foods most commonly noted were ones that were high in tyramine.
