Why you should NOT drink lemon water
Side effects of drinking too much lemon water
For many people, drinking lemon water is part of their lives. Some people can drink up to eight glasses of lemon water daily. Some put lemon in their water to give it a little bit of extra flavour. Drinking lemon with water is also a common approach taken during detoxification diets or as part of weight loss plans. Lemon with water contains nutrients your body needs, such as vitamin C, potassium and fibre.
However, this beverage may also cause side effects if you drink too much of it. Consult your doctor before drinking lemon water for medical reasons.
Side effects of drinking too much lemon with water
1. Tooth erosion
Drinking too much lemon water can erode the enamel on your teeth.Consuming too many acidic foods or beverages, such as many glasses of lemon water per day, causes your teeth to have a constant amount of acid washing over them. This will erode tooth enamel and make your teeth extra sensitive to hot or cold foods. To protect your teeth, drink acidic beverages through a straw. If you’re already experiencing tooth erosion, consult a dentist who can recommend treatments such as bonding or sealers.
2. Heartburn
Drinking too much lemon with water may trigger heartburn or make this condition worse if you’re used to experiencing it. Heartburn occurs when the oesophageal sphincter, between your oesophagus and stomach doesn’t function properly, and acid from your stomach moves back up into your oesophagus, in a process known as reflux. (Heartburn is also referred to as acid reflux.) Heartburn causes severe burning and pain in your chest. Cutting back on acidic foods and drinks helps to prevent and relieve heartburn symptoms.
3. Frequent urination and dehydration
In rare cases, lemon water might have a diuretic effect. Lemons have a high content of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. This nutrient is well-known for its diuretic properties, which means it increases urine production in the kidneys thereby helping your body to eliminate excess fluid and sodium more quickly. While regular lemon water made with a moderate amount of lemon juice or by adding lemon slices to water is acceptable, loading your water with large amounts of lemon juice might have a diuretic effect. If you start feeling dehydrated after drinking large quantities of lemon water, consider cutting back on the amount of lemon juice you add to your drink.
In conclusion
Don’t drink lemon with water to treat any medical problem without the advice of your doctor. If you experience any side effects from drinking this beverage, stop drinking it. If side effects persist, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Source: https://www.livestrong.com
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