Drinking Lemon Juice: Cure-All Or Risky?

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Many claim that drinking lemon juice every morning is a disease cure-all remedying ill health and making the body more alkaline. But is that true?

Not entirely.

Though lemon juice contains a lot of immune-boosting vitamins and minerals, it’s possible to consume too much of it.

Lemon juice is very acidic, and it does not make the blood of the body alkaline. It does make the urine a bit more alkaline after drinking and this is likely due to the body compensating for the acidic juice. The kidneys control the body’s blood pH, and a dramatic shift in the pH is all but healthy for you.

Lemon Juice’s Benefits

Lemon juice is high in vitamin C. This vitamin is critical to the immune system, and helps the body build important tissues, such as bones, skin and blood vessels.

Lemon juice also contains potassium, a necessary mineral for muscles, the heart, and for maintaining blood pressure levels.

Lemon Juice’s Drawbacks

1. Tooth damage

The acidity of lemons can wear away tooth enamel, allowing damaging sugars and other foods to harm the tooth, and causing extreme sensitivity to hot or cold beverages and foods. Be sure to dilute the juice of one lemon in one cup of water, and drink through a straw to avoid eroding the enamel of your teeth. If you already have enamel damage, skip lemon juice altogether.

2. Too much lemon juice can cause dehydration

Vitamin C increases urination and defecation, and so it is great if someone is suffering from a urinary infection or needs to remove toxins. However, too much vitamin C can cause frequent dehydration, so ensure you are drinking well-diluted lemon juice and also to up your water intake.

3. It can trigger migraines

Those with serious, chronic migraines note that citrus fruits can bring on a migraine due to the tyramine. This is a protein-like substance that can trigger this sort of headache. If you suffer from migraines, consider cutting out citrus fruits from your diet entirely, and then adding them back in with small amounts. Learn the amount that triggers a migraine and be sure to stay well under that quantity of citrus consumption daily.

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