Most probably, you may have heard that what you do in the morning largely determines how the rest of your day transpires.
While most of us wake up rushing to work without paying attention to what we give to our bodies.
According to studies, when we wake up, our bodies need hydration in order to get rid of toxins and as well as rejuvenate our cells.
But given the fact that most of us don’t like the tasteless nature of water, we find it appealing to add a few drops of lemon juice to water.
Besides adding flavour to water, lemon juice is full of essential nutrients that are essential to our bodies. Lemon is very beneficial and in very few instances does it hurt our bodies.
In most cases, these side effects are caused by having too much lemon juice. Here are a few side effects of drinking lemon juice daily.
1. It can damage your teeth
Although adding lemon juice in warm water seems harmless, it can affect your teeth. This is because lemon is highly acidic and frequent use can erode your tooth enamel. Therefore, drinking lemon water every day for a long time is not very good.
2. Frequent urination and dehydration
In most cases, adding large amounts of lemon juice to your water can cause a diuretic effect. However, in very rare cases will a considerate amount of lemon juice create a diuretic impact. According to research, lemon juice is high in ascorbic acid or vitamin C which is diuretic. It encourages urine production in the kidneys, therefore, helping the body to get rid of excess salt and fluids more quickly.
3. Effects on the bones
Further research is needed to back up the claim that there exist side effects of lemon water on bone. However, it is said that if you take large amounts of lemon juice every morning, it may have adverse effects on your bones. Lemon is said to absorb the oil in the joints slowly which can cause bone issues at a future date.
4. It can upset your stomach
Just like anything else, too much of lemon juice is harmful. Though studies have not ascertained that the acidic nature of lemon worsens stomach-related complications, there is some evidence that too much lemon can cause heartburn.
5. Heartburn
Drinking lemon water daily can trigger heartburn or make it worse especially if you experience heartburn regularly. Heartburn, also known as Acid Reflux happens when the esophagus sphincter fails to function properly allowing the acid in the stomach to move back up to the esophagus in a process called reflux. Common symptoms of heartburn include pain and severe burning in the chest. If you experience heartburn, reduce the number of acidic foods and drink in your diet including lemon.
6. GERD and ulcers
GERD also referred to as the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder, is usually triggered by spicy, fatty, and acidic foods such as lemons. Common symptoms include heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
Additionally, if you have ulcers, taking too many acidic foods or drinks can irritate your stop lining which can as well hinder the healing process. While lemon water gives a wide range of health benefits, be careful not to use too much lemon juice in order to avoid causing or worsening health problems such as ulcers, heartburn, and GERD.
7. Can increase iron content
Lemon is rich in vitamin C which is responsible for increasing the absorption of the non-heme iron in the body. If you have the hemochromatosis condition that causes your body to store excessive iron, it means you should be careful when taking lemon. According to research, excess iron in the body can damage your organs.
