Lemon water to detoxify & lose weight?

Beauty Cred on 9 Oct 2006 at 12:00am
Lemon water to detoxify & lose weight?

Nutritionist Mary Meyer says the secret to natural weight loss is to drink lemon water every day.

Lemons offer unique natural cleansing and detoxifying properties with no unnecessary calories.   

But if lemons are the elixir to natural weight loss, wouldn't Sunkist (the largets grower of lemons) run national ad campaigns touting The Lemon Diet? 

Instead, the Sunkist lemons website calls out the key health benefit of lemons as its ability to enhance flavors and to reduce the need for salt in foods. Additional web resources reference lemons as blood sugar stabilizers that speed the metabolism and keep weight loss moving along.

Drinking lemon water in the morning will stimulate the body's natural cleansing and detoxifying processes.  Lemons are alkalizing (despite being perceived as acidic) in the body, thus bringing your inner chemistry into pH balance. 

Related articles:

Yummy citrus water recipe from the Seattle P-I:

Makes: 16 cups

(1 gallon) water
2 large lemons, sliced
1 large orange, sliced

Combine water with fruit slices in a large pitcher and chill for 1 to 2 hours. Strain out fruit after 2 hours. Pour water into a large glass and serve.

Comments (126)

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Rebekah Tilahun (unregistered guest) 10 Mar 2008

this is all fine and well, but please realize that orange water or grapefruit water would work just as well. as a med proffessional, I can tell you why Citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges, contain a pure concentrated form of citric acid. Citric acid works like bleach on fat. because of it's acidity, and high ph, citric acid is able to actually penetrate and break down fat molecules. When ANYTHING that has been stored in your body begins to break down, it is thrown back into the digestive system and reprocessed, and as a waste, the fat is disposed of. If you want to try something that works, then try this. In the morning, take a one gallon milk jug, or smaller bottle if you don't want to lug it around all day. Add just a tiny bit of molassess. Molasses is a natural way to sweeten while at the same time giving you iron. drinkng water helps your body process toxins and is good for the skin. Most importantly, eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. When you skip a meal, your nbody goes into a starvation mode, thinking it's being punished. then when you eat that late meal, it stores the fat away. also, starving like this makes ytour metabolism plumett, to conserve fat and nutrients. Second, recognize the diff between being hungry and eating cause it tastes good. Also, half hour before each meal, drink 8 onces of water with two tablespoons apple cider vinegar. NO< REGULAR VINEGAR WON'T WORK, YOU HAVE TO BUY APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!!!!! the acid in the apple cider aids in digestion. when your body processes the food better, it doesn't store as much away. Don;t drink regular water before meals. it will dilute stomache acid and make it harder to process. Also, chew your food. it sounds like a cliche, but it's true. Chew each bite at least 20 times. the more you chew, the easier it is for your body to process!


jonreyes (2 posts) 19 Oct 2008
I drink lemon water on a daily basis, usually before bed. and it seems to give me a mor lean feeling. any reason for this. any ideas on times and quantity of lemon water that should be consumed?
jonreyes (2 posts) 19 Oct 2008
I drink lemon water on a daily basis, usually before bed. and it seems to give me a mor lean feeling. any reason for this. any ideas on times and quantity of lemon water that should be consumed?
MissVP (1 post) 14 Jul 2011
Thanks! I agree. Apple cider vinegar with water seems to solve a multitude of sins. I've had a sour taste in my mouth for the past few days (I assume) either from a fever or this dastardly humid NC weather. Yesterday morning I drank the vinegar/water combo and it cleared right up! I mentioned this to a friend who is about to undergo chemo, as we've been advised that it too will impact her taste buds.
KP (unregistered guest) 17 Apr 2008
Beyoncé lost 20 pounds in two weeks with drinking lemonade, maple syrup, cayenne pepperc ie. "The Master Cleanse."
soniaann (1 post) 28 May 2008
Can u tell me how too use BEYONCE master cleanse?.
kuh-san-druh (1 post) 22 Feb 2009
yeah.....but if u try this it hurts like crap! it feels like someone is burning ur insides...i suggest no one does this diet....it works...but its not worth it...try the water and lemon diet..
BreastHealthOnline (35 posts) 25 Apr 2008
We use a recipe we call 'Lemon Tea' every single day to help our patients at BreastHealthOnline. The benefits of lemons are astounding and should be included in any 'top ten' fruits. For our patients the lemon tea (no tea at all - just a mix of lemons and natural sweetener and water) reduces their edema and swelling, thus reducing pain. The Vit C aids in healing and the citric acid/salts are very cleansing. It helps to flush out the anesthesia and other surgery meds. It also helps with PMS bloat and we've had doctors find that it's more effective than chemical laden diuretics. I use it every single morning and it can either be prepared hot like tea or cold like lemonade. I agree with the additions of a good apple cider vinegar (like Braggs) as well as the cayenne pepper. I use some of those daily in my lemon tea as well.
etta (1 post) 5 May 2008
I have been drinking warm lemon and water for a week now. But I have been feeling sluggison and tried. Also this weekend I felt something ball up in my lower part of my stomach. Question this lemon and water have any side effects?
BreastHealthOnline (35 posts) 5 May 2008
Hi Etta, The lemon and water is just that and in itself cannot create a ball or blockage. It is just fluids going through your system. People drink lemonade all throughout the summers - it's a common thing to drink. However, in some it helps to alleviate constipation and it is possible it's moving things along and perhaps this is the discomfort you are experiencing. If you are constipated it can leave you feeling tired and sluggish as you state. You also could have a sensitivity to the citric acid in terms of if you had an ulcerative condition and it might be irritating your stomach, though I doubt that would be causing you to feel sluggish and tired. I can only guess since no one can diagnose you over the internet. It also might not be the lemon at all. As always, check with your doctor if the problem persists, worsens or has you worried. You can always stop drinking lemon and water and see if that helps, or cut down on the strength or frequency and see how that makes you feel. I hope you feel better soon!
Yvette Rubio (2 posts) 13 May 2008
I have been drinking lemon with water throught my work days for over 2 weeks now...but I've been experiencing problems with my gums...very sensitive & also have gotten some stomach problems... I'm not sure if it's the lemon water I'm drinking? I would appreciate some help. Sincerley, Yvette
BreastHealthOnline (35 posts) 13 May 2008
Hi Yvette, Lemon juice is very hard on the teeth and gums. We counsel patients to drink this with a straw, keeping it off teeth and gums as much as possible as well as rinsing your mouth with clear water directly afterwards and NOT brushing for at least an hour or more so that your teeth have a chance to recalcify - or else you will literally brush the enamel right off your teeth. Lemon juice will etch the enamel on your teeth. Rinsing your teeth and gums and not brushing will allow things to return to normal. You might want to cut down on the amt of lemon you're using at a time if it's affecting your tummy as well, or at least make sure you have food on your stomach. I hope these things help.
Yvette Rubio (2 posts) 15 May 2008
Thanks so much for the response back...I appreciate it and will take the helpful advice. Once again thank you for your promt and helpful tips.
karishma (1 post) 14 May 2008
yeah, its true . helps lose wt n as said by one of them has to be "constant".u cant skip it after losin wt. n u can accelarate the process of losin wt by combinin it with walk or cyclin, or .
mahjabeen (1 post) 22 May 2008
i really linked the idea,but i am preparing for pregnancy so please confirm will that be ok to take lemon water daily
BreastHealthOnline (35 posts) 22 May 2008
Mahjabeen, As always, check with your doctor if you are concerned about anything you may be taking or doing during pregnancy. If you are cleared to eat normally, and are not allergic to lemons and can use pure lemon juice (not ReaLemon from the bottle) then there should be no problems with using this common, natural, fresh fruit during your pregnancy. A weight loss program should not be embarked on during pregnancy but the lemon water will detoxify you and move along excess fluids during this time. I would not sweeten it with artificial sweeteners, however. Those are very bad for you and your baby. If you can use regular sugar, pure maple syrup or even Stevia (powder or liquid) those should be good but again, you should always check with your doctor because if you have a blood sugar issue (and some can appear during pregnancy, like Gestational Diabetes) you'd not want to be adding extra sugar to your diet. At that point the Stevia may work best but you would absolutely have to clear that with your doctor. Please know that lemon juice is hard on your teeth. Use a straw and keep it off your teeth. Afterwards, rinse your mouth with clear water so the lemon juice is not sitting on the gum line affecting your teeth. DO NOT brush for at least an hour. The lemon can raise your enamel temporarily and brushing too soon can literally scrub it off your teeth. I hope that helps and good luck with your pregnancy and your new little one!
Fawna (1 post) 9 Jul 2008
Can you use the real lemon juice in a bottle or does it have to be a real lemon in order to work?
BreastHealthOnline (35 posts) 10 Jul 2008
As stated above to Mahjabeen, ReaLemon from the bottle is not recommended. It is filled with preservatives and chemicals and even some ingredients found in floor cleaners. Use pure lemon juice. There is a lot of good and important information about this contained in the posts on the page so please use them to your advantage - it will really help you!
aelong gealang (unregistered guest) 8 Sep 2008
what about limes? do they have the same effect as lemons?
jazmine (1 post) 20 Oct 2008
im not really sure i just do lemons
BreastHealthOnline (35 posts) 9 Sep 2008
Limes are effective. Some people on our site at BreastHealthOnline feel they help reduce scarring (by drinking the juice). For me, I sometimes use lemons and limes together. I like the taste and the two probably both bring unique properties.
Ms. Craig (1 post) 21 Sep 2008
Hello, I was told that drinking lemon and water will help/make you lose weight. Is this true? And if so, how?
Shelli (1 post) 30 Sep 2008
I have been researching how to combat yeast overgrowth (Candida) and in my research have found that yeast thrives in an acidic inviroment. Lemons are Alkaizing to the body. If anyone is felling sluggish or any negative benefits of lemon water, They may have some yeast overgrowth and will feel worse before feeling better. I know this has nothing to do with weightloss, but I thought I would point out the fact that lemons will benefit you in other ways and especially when you are changing the PH of your body. Hang in there and see if in a week or so your symptoms do not go away then stop drinking the lemon water.
BreastHealthOnline (35 posts) 21 Oct 2008
Lemon water, or Lemon tea will help balance your PH, reduce excess water retention, help purify your blood and give you a general cleaner, leaner feel. The juice of one lemon a day is generally sufficient, though our surgery patients use it twice a day sometimes to help with increased swelling due to edema/surgery fluids and meds, etc. Also helpful for PMS bloat. You need to take precautions with your teeth, however, as the acid can etch the enamel. You should gently rinse your mouth with clean, clear water after drinking lemon water or lemon tea (which is just warm water and lemons and sugar, honey or maple syrup) and you should not brush your teeth for at least an hour so the calcium on your teeth has a chance to settle back down (recalcify) or else you will literally brush it off your teeth, causing permanent damage. Rinsing your mouth removes it from settling at the gum line where it can sit and cause damage to your enamel - very important after consuming lemon water or lemon tea.
MelissaRich (4 posts) 24 Oct 2008
how much lemon do you put in the water?

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