One of the most acidic fruits on the market.
It’s a habit for many people: drinking lemon juice every day, for example in the morning to start the day off right. Lemon has gained popularity in recent years thanks to its many health benefits. Its juice is rich in vitamin C which gives it an anti-infectious and antioxidant action. “but you shouldn’t heat it too much because vitamin C is volatile” warns Dr. Karen Elbaz, doctor of pharmacy, nutritherapist and micronutritionist.
“There are also other compounds in lemon juice that we don’t think about” she adds. Citrates for example which re-alkalize the body. “When we do sport more or less intensely, we tend to acidify the body. Drinking lemon juice after a session added, for example, to a little honey and ginger is very interesting.” Thanks to its richness in citrates, lemon juice is also recommended in cases of oxalate stones. “with medical supervision” recalls our interlocutor. Lemon juice also contains effective probiotics for the balance of intestinal flora and the health of the microbiota. “And the healthier my microbiota, the more optimal immunity I will have.”
All these benefits support the regular intake of lemon juice but it is also one of the most acidic fruits so can we drink it every day without danger? According to our specialist, “Yes” unless you suffer from gastritis “because contact with something acidic can be irritating”. In this case, it is better to wait for the gastritis to heal. In all other cases, if the pure juice is a little difficult to drink, especially on an empty stomach in the morning, it can be diluted in water “without altering its properties”. And to avoid the risk of damaging tooth enamel because of its acidity, it is advisable to drink it through a straw.
Finally, as always in nutrition “We recommend a varied, diversified and balanced diet. Drink lemon juice but also try other fruits and vegetables. The more different polyphenols you have in your diet, the better it will be for your health. concludes Karen Elbaz.