7 Health Concerns About Lemonade
Many people find the taste of plain water unappealing, and to make their drinks more flavorful, they turn to lemons—slicing and making lemon water has become a common choice. Numerous "miraculous claims" circulate about the health benefits of lemon water, and even several famous female celebrities have publicly stated that their radiant skin and slim figures are closely related to their long-term consumption of lemon water. But does lemon water really possess so many incredible benefits?
The following section will scientifically examine seven common health claims about lemon water to help people clarify their doubts and rationally understand the effects of lemon water.
1. Can drinking lemon water help with weight loss?
Chinese actress Zhao Wei once mentioned achieving noticeable results within a week using the lemon water diet; Korean actress Song Hye-kyo also revealed that she drinks 3000cc of lemon water daily, combined with exercise, to maintain her figure. From a scientific perspective, the so-called "lemon water diet" relies on the citric acid in lemons to promote calorie metabolism and accelerate gastrointestinal motility. However, lemon water itself is not a "weight loss weapon," but rather a suitable beverage alternative during weight loss—for example, replacing carbonated drinks or other sugary beverages. Because it is extremely low in calories, it helps reduce total daily calorie intake, thereby…Assisted weight control。
However, this method is not suitable for everyone. Especially for people with weak digestive systems, some have tried drinking lemon water on an empty stomach in pursuit of rapid weight loss, ultimately leading to gastritis. Nutritionists advise that if you choose to drink lemon water on an empty stomach, be sure to control the amount of lemon used to avoid stomach discomfort due to excessive acidity.
II. Can drinking lemon water cure cancer?
There are numerous rumors online claiming that "lemons can kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells." In fact, DNA damage is a major cause of cancer cell mutations, and the flavonoids in lemons (such as naringin) do promote DNA damage repair, potentially protecting normal cells and reducing the risk of cancer to some extent. However, to date, there is insufficient clinical research evidence to support the claim that "lemon water can treat cancer," and the public should not consider it an anti-cancer therapy.
3. Drinking lemon water can accelerate metabolism and detoxification?
Some claim that "drinking a glass of lemon water in the morning can boost metabolism throughout the day," but current scientific research provides no evidence that lemons have such an effect. In contrast, capsaicin in chili peppers can temporarily increase the body's metabolic rate. Lemon water's effects on...metabolismThe indirect help is more about "making water taste better," thereby encouraging people to drink more water, which is beneficial for maintaining normal bodily functions.
As for the claim that "lemon water can remove toxins from the body," this also lacks scientific basis. The human liver and kidneys have their own complete metabolic and detoxification functions and do not need to rely on external food to "assist in cleansing."
IV. Can drinking lemon water prevent disease and slow aging?
The claim that "lemon water can prevent disease" stems from the speculation that "the human body will convert acidic lemon water into alkaline substances." However, most nutrition and medical experts believe that the acidity or alkalinity of food has no significant impact on human health. On the contrary, excessive consumption of lemon water may erode tooth enamel due to its high acidity; therefore, do not brush your teeth immediately after drinking lemon water to avoid accelerating enamel wear.
In addition to lemons containing high-quality antioxidants that help fight free radicals, they cannot reverse the physiological process of aging. To promote collagen production and preservation, besides drinking lemon water in moderation, it is even more important to have a balanced intake of vegetables and animal protein.
5. People with stomach problems should absolutely not drink lemon water?
Because of its high acidity, citric acid can indeed irritate the gastric mucosa. Therefore, people with excessive stomach acid or gastritis, gastric ulcers, or other stomach conditions should drink lemon water with caution. However, not all stomach patients need to completely avoid it—a small amount of citric acid can actually help repair the gastric mucosa. For people with excessive stomach acid, as long as the lemon water is diluted to an appropriate concentration (e.g., reducing the amount of lemon and increasing the amount of water), moderate consumption usually will not cause serious discomfort.
6. Will drinking lemon water during the day make your skin darker?
The rumor that "drinking lemon water during the day causes skin spots and darkening" is only relevant to people with extremely photosensitivity and does not apply to most people. From a scientific perspective, photosensitive substances in food mainly include chlorophyll, riboflavin, and heme. If we followed the logic that "photosensitive foods cause darkening," wouldn't red meat rich in heme and leafy green vegetables containing chlorophyll be "banned"? This claim is clearly unreasonable, and the public need not worry excessively.
7. Does drinking lemon water easily cause kidney stones?
Some people believe that "consuming lemon water with calcium-rich foods will cause calcium to combine with citric acid and precipitate, forming stones in the body," but this is incorrect. In fact, calcium citrate is water-soluble, and the solubility of calcium carbonate in lemon water is extremely low (only 0.02 grams per 100cc), making it very difficult for it to precipitate.
Furthermore, citric acid can promote the body's absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc from food; multiple studies have also confirmed that drinking lemon water in moderation has a positive effect on preventing kidney stones, rather than increasing the risk of stones.
