Serious side effects of drinking too much lemon juice

1. Causes sunburn:Some studies have shown that drinking lemon juice and going out in the sun can cause blisters and dark spots on the skin. The culprit is chemicals in lemon juice called psoralens, which interact with sunlight and cause sunburn. Another report from Brown University says that people who drink a lot of lemon juice and other citrus juices may have a higher risk of developing melanoma, or skin cancer.

2. Iron overload:Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron in the body. And too much vitamin C can lead to increased iron levels in the blood. Too much iron in the body can be dangerous, excess iron in the blood can also damage internal organs.

3. Migraine:Many studies have shown that consuming a significant amount of lemon can lead to migraines. The culprit is the amino acid tyramine, which is found in large amounts in lemons. Excess of this amino acid causes blood to rush to the brain, causing migraines.

4. Damaged tooth enamel, tooth decay:According to a study published by the American Dental Research Institute, drinking too much lemon juice can be harmful to teeth because lemon is highly acidic, eroding tooth enamel.

5. Mouth ulcers get worse:These are shallow ulcers inside the mouth (or on the gums), and they are made more painful by drinking lemon juice. The citric acid in lemons can make the ulcers worse and even more painful. Therefore, do not consume lemons (or any citrus fruit) if you have a canker sore until it is completely healed.

6. Aggravates heartburn and stomach ulcers:According to research, lemon juice can trigger or even worsen heartburn by activating pepsin, an enzyme in the stomach that breaks down protein. The reflux of digestive juices in the stomach can activate pepsin molecules in the esophagus and throat, leading to heartburn. Lemon juice can also aggravate peptic ulcers because it is too acidic.

7. May cause nausea and vomiting:Although lemon juice is full of vitamin C, it is important to note that too much vitamin C can cause nausea and, in some cases, even vomiting. Drinking too much lemon juice (more than 2 lemons or 3 glasses of diluted lemon juice) can lead to a vitamin C overdose. While this does not pose any serious threat, as your body tries to get rid of the excess vitamin C, vomiting can occur.

8. Frequent urination:Lemon water, especially warm lemon water, can act as a diuretic. It can increase urine output, and if this happens in excess, you can even become dehydrated. Acidic fruits like lemons can also irritate the bladder, leading to more frequent urination. Drinking too much lemon water has also been linked to potassium deficiency.