Tips for using lemon water with honey without harming your stomach.

Some health benefits of lemon and honey

According to Dr. Do Huy Bich: From a medical perspective, most parts of the lemon, from the peel, seeds, and lemon juice (lemon concentrate), are good remedies in traditional medicine and have been passed down through folk experience. Lemon juice accounts for 23-95% of the fruit's weight and contains citric acid (6.56-7.84%), total sugars (0.26-4.13%), protein, fatty oils, minerals, vitamin B1, and vitamin C.

Lemons are high in vitamin C. The juice of one lemon (48 grams) provides approximately 18 milligrams of vitamin C, which is about 20% of the recommended daily intake for adults.

Vitamin C and other antioxidants in lemons can help boost the immune system against cold and flu viruses. Supplementing with vitamin C from lemons may reduce the incidence of colds and can help shorten the duration of a cold. Mixing lemon juice with hot water and a teaspoon of honey makes a soothing drink for those with coughs or colds.

Honey contains many components such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids, which have antioxidant activity that helps protect you against certain types of cellular damage… and offers many other health benefits. Honey has long been used to heal wounds and burns due to its antibacterial properties.

How should you drink lemon and honey water for optimal health benefits?

Although there is much scientific evidence demonstrating the health benefits of honey and lemon, no sufficiently large studies have been conducted to confirm the effectiveness of combining lemon juice with honey. However, a popular weight-loss method many people use is drinking a glass of lemon juice or lemon juice mixed with honey in the morning.

Note that this method can be disastrous for your stomach if you drink cold lemon water on an empty stomach. It can lead to stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting, resulting in acid reflux due to the acid in the lemon. Therefore, you should mix lemon with warm water, and you can add a few drops of honey if you don't have a stomach ache. If you have a stomach ache, you should not drink lemon water in the morning.

According to Dr. Tran Duc Canh, a specialist in the diagnosis and early intervention of gastrointestinal cancer at the Central Cancer Hospital, lemon juice has a strong acidic activity with a pH of 2, including citric acid (equivalent to vinegar) and ascorbic acid. Continuously drinking lemon juice in the morning before meals can trigger several gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammation, ulcers, or acid reflux. Furthermore, this high acidity can also damage tooth enamel.

Honey provides many vitamins and minerals, but it is a high-energy food. If consumed in large quantities and frequently, it can lead to overweight and obesity, which can worsen the condition of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Lemons are acidic, so drinking lemon water before bed can lead to frequent urination and is not good for people with mouth ulcers. Besides, lemons are highly acidic, and frequent contact can erode tooth enamel, causing teeth to gradually yellow and feel rough to the touch. Therefore, it's best to get into the habit of drinking lemon water through a straw to limit tooth contact with the acid in the lemon. And drink it 2-3 hours before bedtime.

The acid in lemons, when entering the stomach, can irritate the stomach lining, causing increased acid production and leading to heartburn. Those with stomach problems should avoid drinking lemon water in the morning or limit it to 1-2 times per week, using only a few drops of lemon juice each time.

Instead of using a lot of lemon juice, try soaking a few slices of lemon in a large glass of warm water. The lemon flavor will be very mild and basically won't harm your stomach.