Stop Gulping Too Much Lemon Water Or You May Suffer These Consequences

Lemon water has been praised for its link to many health benefits, including aiding in weight loss and boosting our immune system. However, too much of anything is bad – this means that if you over consume this seemingly magical potion, it can also result in problems.

Upset Stomach

Bear in mind that lemon water greatly affects your gut and because of this, it can also worsen common ailments including acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These maladies are triggered by acidic elements.

Leszek Glasner/Shutterstock Lemon water can trigger GERD

Lemon, which has high vitamin C content, is acidic, which means it can activate heartburn, nausea, and stomachache.

Damaged Teeth

Unfortunately, lemon water can also affect your mouth. As mentioned, this yellow fruit is highly acidic and the American Dental Association explained that too much of it can erode the tooth enamel.

What you can do is to drink lemon water with a straw so that it won’t directly touch your teeth. Moreover, don’t brush your teeth right after drinking a glass of a citrus-infused beverage.

Exacerbate Canker Sores

If you never had canker sores, lucky you! For most of us who did, we know that these are pesky lesions that develop in our mouths, which make eating unimaginably painful and impossible!

Whenever you are suffering from canker sores, it is best that you skip lemon water because it can worsen the lesions. Although this problem will usually go away on its own and doesn’t require a visit to the doctor, drinking lemon water can prolong your agony.

In fact, WebMD reported that citrus fruits, which means highly acidic ones, may be one of the culprits behind canker sores.

May Cause Migraine

Although it still lacks proof, some studies have found that there’s a link between citrus fruits and migraine. Doctors have been on the lookout for their possible association since fruits like lemons can trigger headaches and migraines as reported by patients.

Fizkes/Shutterstock Migraines and lemons may have a link

WebMD explained that this may be because of lemon’s high tyramine content, a monoamine associated with headaches.

Habitat for Germs

We get it: dropping that lemon wedge in your water will make for an Instagrammable snap. However, for hygienic purposes, it is best that you squeeze a slice instead of including the peel in your drink.

Africa Studio/Shutterstock Instead of dropping the entire slice, squeeze the juice out

Especially when you’re at a restaurant, you have no idea how staffers have handled food. It goes without saying that if you see your lemon slices held with hands, it is best to drink plain water instead.

A 2007 study tested over 75 lemon samples from numerous restaurants and found that the lemons had microorganisms. Some of them even had pathogens that cause diseases and infections.