She has also had 16 wellness books published by major publishers including the bestselling Easy GI Diet, The Macro Method, Quit Alcohol (For a Month) and Eat 5. Her books have sold over one million copies.
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It’s often claimed to be a magic cure for detoxing your body—but not only is that garbage, starting your day with hot water and lemon could at best, be pointless, and at worst, do more harm than good.
Okay, first up, this post isn’t aiming to see you shunning hot water and lemon forever. I drink it sometimes, it’s nice! But, what it is aiming to do is dispel the idea that it’s this miracle product that will change everything if you start your day with it.
That’s not true; in fact, first thing in the morning can be the worst time to drink it. And here’s why…
1. It’s Bad For Your Teeth
Lemon water and your teeth are not friends – particularly if you’re going to brush them in the hour after you drink it – as you well might if you’re consuming it first thing in the morning.
In one UK study , people who drank hot water and lemon (or fruity herbal teas) were found to be at 11 times more risk of severe acid erosion than those who didn’t – and that leads to thinner, darker and more sensitive teeth.
If you want to try hot water and lemon, have it with your breakfast, which the study found reduces the damage, or drink it through a straw so it doesn’t touch your teeth.
If you drink it normally, wait at least an hour after consuming it to brush your teeth, so you don’t speed up erosion.
2. It Can Mess with Your Stomach
While lemon water is said to help with digestion, the acidity can sometimes irritate your stomach, especially if you’re drinking it first thing when you haven’t eaten yet. Some people find that the citric acid in lemon can lead to heartburn, acid reflux, or stomach discomfort.
For those with sensitive stomachs or conditions like GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), starting the day with a hefty dose of acid isn’t necessary the health boost you might think it is.
3. It’s Not the Metabolism Booster You Think It Is
Many people believe that starting their day with hot water and lemon can help kickstart their metabolism, but that’s not proven.
Sure, dehydration can cause a drop in your metabolism, but you can correct that just as efficiently with any liquid (as we discuss in our hydration challenge), there’s nothing magic about hot water and lemon.
Also, while drinking hot water and lemon adds some vitamin C to your morning routine, it doesn’t contain much and it’s certainly not a magic metabolism-boosting elixir.
4. Lemon Water Isn’t a “Detox” Cure-All
Perhaps the most common misconception is that lemon water is a detoxifying miracle drink. Spoiler alert: your body already has a powerful detox system in place—your liver and kidneys! These organs do a stellar job of filtering out toxins all on their own.
Nor does it change the PH of your body.
Drinking hot water with lemon won’t “flush out toxins” or cleanse your system in any magical way.
If you’re trying intermittent fasting you might be wondering if lemon water might break your fast – the good news is, it doesn’t. Find out why in our longer article on lemon water and IF.
Conclusion: Time to Rethink Your Morning Routine
While hot water with lemon might be a refreshing way to start the day, it’s not the magic health-promoting drink you might have been told.
If you like it, and, it doesn’t irritate your stomach, keep drinking it (using the teeth-protecting tips we mention above) but, don’t think you’re giving yourself a huge health boost by doing so.
Especially if you’re consuming it instead of the coffee you’d actually like. Coffee is nowhere near as unhealthy as you might think (even the instant version).
What to Read Next
Drinking lemon water is one of the seven mistakes you can make in your morning route. Click here to find out what the others might be.
Did you know that getting a morning anthem can completely change the way you see your day? Find out more in our guide to why you need a wake up song.
