Can lemon water help with weight loss?
She also warns to ‘Take into consideration the effects of the acid from the lemon on your teeth – as with anything, consume in moderation’. Though this is of no great concern if you’re only enjoying the odd slice in your water, if you’re particularly wary of enjoying the citrus treat then rinse your mouth with normal water afterwards.
Lemon water for weight loss: final thoughts
Lemon water has long been praised as a miracle health drink, with many choosing to swap their morning coffee in favour of some flavoured water. With claims including lemon water’s ability to boost your metabolism, clear up skin and help with weight loss, it all sounds far too good to be true.
So does adding a squeeze of lemon to your water really do anything beyond making your water taste of citrus? We asked an expert to dispel the rumours and get the final verdict once and for all.
Can lemon water help with weight loss?
Let’s get right to the point: ‘There is no evidence that drinking lemon water can aid weight loss’ says registered dietitian Jennifer Low.
However, as lemon water is such a low-calorie drink, trading in your usual sugary tea or fruit juice for lemon water means that you are consuming fewer calories and therefore cutting down your overall calorie intake.
Is lemon water better than normal water?
Water is considered by many to be a natural appetite suppressant, with a study carried out on 50 overweight females finding that participants reported a decrease in their appetite after having 500ml of water 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This is typically attributed to the fact that drinking more water can create a feeling of fullness, therefore helping to reduce further calorie consumption. So while drinking lemon water might help to suppress appetite, this is the result of drinking more water – lemon or not.
More Are there other benefits to drinking lemon water?
While drinking lemon water is beneficial in that it is low in calories, boosts hydration, and can promote a feeling of fullness, these are all benefits of drinking non-flavoured water as well.
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‘Of course if you enjoy drinking it, then as a way to get enough fluid in the hot weather, it can be useful,’ says a health specialist. So if you’re someone who otherwise doesn’t enjoy drinking plain water, adding a squeeze of lemon is a simple way to help encourage hydration.
However, beyond that, she adds that while ‘It’s often purported to be a way to "cleanse" the liver, there is no science to back this up, and the liver does not need "cleansing",’
Lemon water for weight loss: final thoughts
‘In terms of weight loss, there is sadly no magic potion you can drink– it really is a case of eating healthily, consistently, enjoying some exercise and listening to your body.’ says Low.
In short, drinking lemon water won’t revolutionise your weight loss journey, however there’s no harm in giving your water an upgrade with a squeeze now and then. If it encourages you to drink more water, it’s certainly not a bad thing, though it won’t directly help with weight loss