What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Lemon Water

Lemon water adds flavor that may encourage you to drink more water, leading to several health benefits. These include staying hydrated, preventing kidney stones, and, in some cases, losing weight.

1. It Helps You Stay Hydrated

Lemon water can be a great way to stay hydrated. Experts recommend water flavored with lemon as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks.

Adequate water intake is essential for your body to function properly. The human body is approximately 55%–60% water. It helps dissolve nutrients that the blood carries, and removing waste from the body helps.

2. It Provides Vitamin C

Adding lemon to your water might help ensure your vitamin C intake reaches the recommended amount. On average, a lemon (56 grams or about 2 ounces) contains 34 milligrams of vitamin C.

Vitamin C is essential in multiple body functions, including:

3. It May Help Prevent Kidney Stones

Evidence suggests that adding lemon (and other citrus fruits) to water may help prevent or treat certain types of kidney stones. Citrate, a salt in citric acid, binds to calcium, helping to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

If you have kidney stones, a healthcare provider typically collects and analyzes their contents to recommend the most effective dietary changes and treatments.

Adequate water intake and regular urination are also mainstays of kidney stone prevention and treatment. If the flavor of lemon water helps you drink enough fluids, it may help prevent future kidney stones.

4. It Can Improve Digestion

Some research shows that lemon water can help improve digestion. Lemons contain citrus flavanones, plant-based compounds that help decrease inflammation and improve gastrointestinal function. The citric acid in lemon juice can also increase digestive fluids that break down food in the stomach.

5. It Can Support Weight Loss

Drinking water may help people feel fuller and result in consuming fewer calories, which could lead to weight loss over time. Some mixed studies have found that drinking water may be helpful in weight loss, but lemon water has not been specifically studied

Water may help with weight loss when:

• Your total daily water intake increases.
• Water replaces other high-calorie drinks.
• You consume water before meals.

Some studies suggest that drinking water can help raise metabolism through thermogenesis, a process in which the body generates heat to raise its internal temperature. However, other research found no evidence that drinking water burns off significant calories or raises metabolism.

Misconceptions About Lemon Water and Your Health

In addition to weight loss, claims have been made that lemon water helps eliminate belly fat. While some animal studies show evidence, research for humans is lacking.

There have also been claims that lemon water “alkalinizes” the body (makes it less acidic). Many mechanisms in the body exist to keep the internal pH level in a narrow range, regardless of the pH of our food and drinks.

Take any claims you read or hear about specific foods with caution. Contact a healthcare provider if you have concerns about health conditions or what to eat.

Risks and Side Effects

Lemon is a citrus fruit that many people can consume safely. However, there are also some potential side effects or risks, including:

• Medication interactions: Research studies show interactions between grapefruit juice, lime juice, and lemon juice and certain medications. Speak with a healthcare provider about possible interactions with any prescribed medications.
• Dental issues: Lemon juice contains citric acid, which can damage tooth enamel over time. Drinking lemon water through a straw and rinsing with plain water afterward may help to offset these risks.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): The citric acid in lemons can increase acid reflux after you consume them. Research shows that consuming citrus fruits and juices (including lemon) increases the risk of developing GERD. If you struggle with GERD, you may want to decrease your intake of acidic foods to see if that helps your symptoms.