Lemon juice: how much to consume it, who to avoid it and how often to take it

In recent years, with the boom in healthy diets and superfoods, there has been a particular drink that has gained a large number of followers, a lot of popularity and to which more and more benefits are attributed. This is the lemon juice. Or, in simple words, lemon juice diluted in waterfall.

And despite this juice It is usually associated with numerous benefits for the body (such as helping to burn fat, “clean” the liver or regulate pH and alkalize the blood), the truth is that, although it offers benefits for the bodythese are not all the “miracles” granted.

In this note the true virtues of lemon juice and everything you need to know about it: from how often to consume it to who should avoid it.

Lemon juice

The proposal is very simple and it is best to always do it on an empty stomach, as the first drink of the day. You just have to squeeze the juice of 1 lemon (novices can use half a lemon to avoid giving it a too acidic sensation), dilute it in a glass of hot water and drink it within 5 minutes after cutting the lemon, so that the vitamins do not start to oxidize. Of course, you don’t need to add sugar.

That’s how quick and easy it is to incorporate a healthy routine with a good dose of benefits for the body. Of course, like everything, for the benefits to become visible, you will have to maintain this routine for several weeks.

But then what are theThe real benefits of drinking lemon juice?

From her YouTube channel, Simple Blending, Spanish dietitian, nutritionist and food technologist Mónica Acha explains that the main benefit of drinking water with lemon in the morning is the hydration it offers.

“Thanks to the increase in hydration generated by the regular consumption of water and lemon, the hydration of our cells improves. When our cells, in general, throughout the body, are well hydrated, they function better. That is to say, indirectly, it helps us to have a better state of health thanks to greater hydration.”

And what about diet? Here is the reality: “What science says is this It’s a myth that lemon water helps lose weight or lose fat. “Lemon water does not affect fat deposits in our body.” Mónica Acha clarifies.

But don’t be discouraged, because even if it is not a “magical” drink, it is exactly like that provides valuable vitamins and antioxidants to the body: C vitaminB, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and enzymes.

We must not forget that the C vitamin It is essential for the good functioning of the body as it helps to strengthen the immune system, it is essential for good healing of the skin and good absorption of iron.

From here we can deduce this List of benefits of drinking lemon juice:

• It generates greater hydration and vitamin C supply and, consequently, better iron absorption.
• Being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C prevents damage from the famous free radicals produced during metabolism. It therefore has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, which prevents cellular aging. Keep in mind that the juice of half a lemon provides about 20% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin C.
• Like the rest of citrus fruits, lemon provides flavonoids, the consumption of which brings health benefits. Furthermore, by generating greater water consumption, it promotes digestion, improves intestinal transit and hydrates the colon.
• Drunk with warm water on an empty stomach, it helps constipation. Furthermore, by combining the citric acid in lemon with calcium, the formation of kidney stones is prevented.

On the other hand, nutrition graduate Rocío Runca provides key information: “Water with lemon helps control satiety and appetite. This happens thanks to the action of the pectin fiber present in lemon. Hence the myth of its power to lose weight. In this regard, it must be taken into account that to take advantage of this effect it is necessary to follow a healthy diet. There are no magic products!”

In the list of cons What can lemon juice have, it should be noted that:

• It can be counterproductive for people who suffer from heartburn.
• Being an acid (citric), lemon can damage tooth enamel. Therefore, to avoid tooth erosion, it is recommended to drink through a straw or rinse with water and avoid brushing your teeth immediately after ingestion.
• In some people, the acidity of lemon can cause stomach problems.

Therefore, before starting a new diet or eating habit, you should always cConsult your family doctor first and follow the specialist’s guidelines.