Is drinking water with lemon juice healthy? And does it help with allergies?
Anita Bloemendal
Patricia Schutte, nutritionist
Several health benefits are attributed to drinking water with squeezed lemon juice. It would help with weight loss and boost your immune system. But this has not been scientifically proven. It has also not been proven that drinking lemon juice helps against allergies.
Lemon healthy
Lemon – just like other fruit – contains good nutrients and fits into a healthy diet. Lemon contains potassium, vitamin C and the antioxidant hesperidin. For example, potassium is important for regulating fluid balance and blood pressure in the body. Vitamin C is necessary for maintaining your resistance. And antioxidants such as hesperidin protect your body cells against harmful substances, the so-called free radicals.
Eating fruit instead of drinking lemon juice
A glass of water with fresh lemon juice provides only a tiny amount of these nutrients. Better to eat a piece of fruit. This way you get more healthy nutrients. In addition, the fiber makes you feel more satiated. Our advice is to eat 2 servings of fruit every day.
Lemon juice bad for your teeth
Drinking lemon juice is also not recommended for your teeth. Lemon juice is very acidic and can damage the enamel layer of your teeth. If you want to add lemon flavor to your water, put a slice of lemon in your glass or in the water pitcher. You can also use lemon in the meal. A little lemon juice or lemon zest gives flavor to dishes with, for example, fish and vegetables.
Do you also have a question? Then ask one of our experts. Always go to your doctor with urgent questions, the experts are not the right person for that. They don’t diagnose either. You can find the other conditions here.
Patricia Schutte has been working as an information officer at the Nutrition Center in The Hague for more than 25 years. She answers questions about healthy, sustainable and safe food.
