Drink lemon water without getting sick? Can I drink it every day? Nutritionist Cai Yusi breaks down 4 myths about lemonade

Although lemons are small, they have big health benefits! However, if you eat the wrong lemon, it may still have the opposite effect. Some people mistakenly believe that drinking lemon water can change an acidic body constitution into a weakly alkaline body constitution, making it less likely to get sick. Nutritionist Cai Yusi said that drinking lemon water does not change the body's acidic and alkaline constitution. She debunked four common myths about lemon water and reminded people not to believe in online rumors.

Lemon peel contains flavonoids and polyphenols, which have antioxidant effects

Nutritionist Cai Yusi from the Nantou Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare said that lemons contain vitamin C, organic acids, phytonutrients, etc. When making lemon water, cut it into thin slices with the skin on. The aroma components in the lemon peel will be easier to soak out. Lemon peel also contains limonin and rich flavonoids, polyphenols and phytochemicals. Among them, flavonoids have antioxidant effects and can remove free radicals in the body. Although lemons are highly nutritious, drinking lemon water incorrectly may harm your body. Here we clarify four common myths about drinking lemon water.

Myth 1: Can drinking lemon water change the body's pH?

Lemon is an alkaline food. Although lemon water contains citric acid, citric acid can be completely metabolized in the body to produce carbon dioxide and water. As carbon dioxide is exhaled out of the body, the acidity is reduced. However, the pH value of human blood is constant and will not change due to eating more alkaline foods. It should follow the principles of balance and diversity to be helpful.

Myth 2: Is it better to make lemon water with hot water?

The vitamin C in lemon is afraid of heat and light and is easily destroyed by high temperature and sunlight. Lemon slice water is best brewed with 40-degree water. A large slice of lemon with skin can make a pot of about 800C.C. It is recommended to drink it immediately after brewing. Do not soak it for a long time or place it in direct sunlight.

Myth 3: Lemon water has many benefits, can I drink it every day?

Since the organic acid components in lemon juice are irritating to the human gastrointestinal tract, it is not suitable for drinking every day. The best time to drink lemon water is after a meal. In addition, it should not be used if you have a history of gastric ulcer, acid reflux, gastrointestinal surgery, or if you have symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. in addition to colds and sore throats.

Since the organic acid components in lemon juice are irritating to the human gastrointestinal tract, it is not suitable for drinking every day. The best time to drink lemon water is after a meal.

Myth 4: Will your skin become darker if you drink lemon water during the day?

Drinking lemon water will not make your skin darker, but since lemon is a photosensitive food, if you use lemon peel to rub your body or apply it on your face, and the lemon water touches the human skin and is then exposed to the sun, the fruit acid on the peel has a strong photosensitivity and will cause post-inflammatory melanin deposition, which usually forms slowly on the second day after contact and will get darker and darker. To avoid this phenomenon, just remember to wash off the remaining juice after squeezing the lemon or applying it on your face.

Can’t use up all the lemon slices? Wrap in plastic wrap and put in refrigerator

I can’t use up all the lemons for making lemonade. How can I preserve them? Nutritionists recommend that you wrap the lemon in plastic wrap or a bag to prevent it from coming into contact with the odor of other foods in the refrigerator and store it for 2 to 3 days. In addition, you can also add guava and citrus fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges and tangerines to lemon water to increase the vitamin C content in the water.

In addition, you can also add guava and citrus fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges and tangerines to lemon water to increase the vitamin C content in the water.

[Nutritionist's Tips]:

Every 100 grams of lemon contains about 34 mg of vitamin C, while the same amount of guava contains 126 mg of vitamin C, which is more than three times more than lemon. Other fruits and vegetables are also rich in nutritional value. It is recommended that people should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables instead of just single foods such as lemons, and maintain a balanced diet according to the daily dietary guidelines to stay healthy.