(Dr. Joseph D. Lim Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim)
LEMON water won’t prevent COVID infection. Nor would it detox, destress or energize.
Such is social media that word has been going around for years and years about the benefits of water mixed with a dash or more of lemon. Preferably with the rind included.
“Water and lemon juice on their own are healthy,” says Evangeline Mantzioris, the Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of South Australia. “But if you combine them, do they become healthier? The really quick answer is, no!”
Lemon water, however, may affect the body in many other ways, she writes in The Conversation.
For example, lemon water is acidic. And there have been some concerns about its ability to erode tooth enamel. “This is a problem for any acidic beverages, including fizzy drinks and orange juice.”
To minimize the risk of acid erosion, she says that some dentists recommend measures including rinsing out your mouth with tap water after drinking lemon water; chewing sugar-free gum afterwards to stimulate saliva production; and avoid brushing your teeth immediately after drinking lemon water.
Drinking via a straw to avoid contact with the teeth also helps.
Could drinking lemon water do you any long-lasting harm? It’s unlikely, says Ms. Mantzioris.
Lemon juice contains vitamin C, a vital nutrient that prevents scurvy.
“If your intake of vitamin C is low, drinking lemon water may help,” says Ms. Mantzioris. “Vitamin C starts to degrade at 30-40℃, which would have a small impact on levels in your warm lemon water, but nothing too concerning.”
If you have enough vitamin C in your diet, anything extra will be excreted as either vitamin C or oxalate via your urine.
Lemon juice may have other benefits, but research so far has been mixed. Researchers suggest the acidity of lemon juice inhibits a particular enzyme in your saliva (salivary amylase), which usually starts to break down starch in your mouth.
“So it takes longer for starch to break down to glucose lower in the gut and transported across the intestine wall into your blood,” says Ms. Mantzioris. “For people with diabetes, this may lead to a reduction in the spikes of blood sugar levels, but it has not as yet been tested.”
Other studies indicate there are other nutrients in lemon that may be beneficial for protecting against developing diabetes.
But it is likely you can get the same benefits by adding lemon juice to your food.
The body already detoxes without the added “help” of lemon water. It breaks down toxins or excess nutrients in the liver and eliminates those molecules via the kidneys and out into the toilet in your urine.
“There is no evidence vitamin C helps this,” says Ms. Mantzioris. “So any claims lemon water detoxes you are untrue. If you really need a detox, you probably need a liver transplant.”
Does lemon juice energize? “Aside from the placebo effect of drinking something you feel is good for you, the short answer is no,” says Ms. Mantzioris. “However, like most nutrients, if you’re not getting enough of them, you could feel sapped of energy.
So, should I drink lemon water? “If you enjoy drinking lemon water, drink it! But if you don’t like drinking it, you’re not missing out,” says Ms. Mantzioris.
“You can get your vitamin C from other citrus fruits, as well as other fruit and vegetables. You can also squeeze some lemon juice on your meat, salads or vegetables.”
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
