Drink lemon water to detox and aid digestion

It has been said that drinking lemon water can improve digestion and even helpRemove toxins from the bodyAre there any scientific evidence to support these claims? Dr. Wu Jiayan, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist, offers a professional explanation: lemon water can indeed aid digestion by increasing stomach acidity and lowering stomach pH, but it cannot change the pH of the blood. Therefore, the so-called "detoxification" effect is unfounded.

Dr. Wu Jiaen further explained the relationship between stomach pH and digestion: When the stomach is empty and has not eaten, the pH value of the human gastrointestinal environment is about 5 to 6; after eating, the stomach will begin to secrete gastric acid. Usually after 45 minutes, as the food and gastric juice mix, the pH value in the stomach will gradually drop to 3, and the digestion process will officially begin. Common lemon juice and grapefruit juice, whether concentrated or diluted, have pH values of about 2 and 3 respectively, which is close to the acidic environment during stomach digestion. In addition, lemon juice containsVitamin CThe synergistic effect of the two can indeed play a certain auxiliary effect on digestive function.

However, it is important to note that people who have acid reflux problems are not suitable for drinking large amounts of lemon juice. This is because the acidity of lemon juice may further stimulate gastric acid secretion and aggravate stomach discomfort. In addition to lemonade, some sour fruits on the market (such as plums) can also help with digestion after consumption, but these foods not only do not containVitamin C, and may also contain high sugar content. Excessive consumption can easily lead to a "high sugar trap" and cause potential impacts on health.

As for the popular claim that lemon water flushes out toxins, Dr. Wu Jiayan explicitly states that this claim lacks scientific support. According to the human body's metabolic mechanism, lemon water is ultimately excreted through the urinary tract and does not enter the bloodstream to regulate pH. Therefore, it cannot effectively flush out toxins.