Is Lemon Water Good For Detox?

Is drinking a glass of lemon water in the morning good for detox?

You’ll find the science-based answer in this article.

What does lemon water contain?

Lemon water consists of the juice of lemons (Citrus limon) mixed with water.

Lemon juice, in turn, is rich in^1,2,3,4:

Citric acid (50g/L)
Vitamin C (53mg/L)
Hesperidin (370 mg/L)
Water-soluble pectins (307 mg/L)

Is lemon water good for detox?

We determined if the main components of lemon juice had detoxifying effects on your body, and here’s what we found:

1. Citric acid

Citric acid is a weak organic acid that occurs naturally in citrus fruits.

It is also an intermediate in the Krebs cycle, a series of chemical reactions that generate energy in your body.

Light and heavy metal detox

Citric acid is used in the industry as a chelating agent to remove heavy metals from commercially-available fruit juices, contaminated sewage, and soil^5,6,7.

It also induces the excretion of aluminum and is, therefore, an effective agent for preventing aluminum intoxication⁸.

Citric acid removes the following toxic metals^5,6,7,8:

Aluminum
Cadmium
Copper
Lead
Nickel

Bacterial and fungal toxins removal

Endotoxins are toxins produced by some bacteria.

A study has shown that citric acid detoxifies endotoxins from the brain and liver⁹.

Besides, aflatoxins are cancer-causing toxins produced by molds from the Aspergillus species.

Research has reported that citric acid removes aflatoxins from rice¹⁰.

Kidney stones dissolution

Kidney stones are crystals formed from calcium that accumulate in the kidneys.

They can cause severe pain in the kidneys.

Studies have reported that citric acid dissolves kidney stones^1,11.

Citric acid summary

Thanks to its high citric acid content, lemon water is good for detoxifying toxic metals, bacterial and fungal toxins, and dissolving kidney stones.

2. Vitamin C

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin in fruits and vegetables.

It is essential for the proper functioning of the human body and prevents scurvy.

Moreover, vitamin C has numerous health benefits. It reduces allergic reactions and boosts the immune system, helping to fight off infections¹².

Heavy metal detox

A study has shown that vitamin C accelerates the excretion of lead¹³.

It also detoxifies cadmium and mercury¹⁴.

Indeed, vitamin C is an antioxidant and enzymatic co-factor in the body’s heavy metal detoxification process¹⁴.

Radiation detox

Thanks to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C protects the body against radiation.

It scavenges reactive oxygen species produced after radiation exposure^15,16.

Also, it reduces DNA damage levels after abdominal contrast-enhanced CT examination¹⁷.

Moreover, vitamin C protects against cesium-induced chromosome damage and removes strontium from the body^18,19.

Pollutants detox

Researchers have shown that vitamin C lowers the levels of pollutants, such as pesticides, PCBs, and PBDEs, in the blood of healthy women²⁰.

It detoxifies the following pesticides^20,21,22,23:

Organochlorine pesticides
Deltamethrin
Endosulfan
Quinalphos

Alcohol and drug detox

A study has revealed that vitamin C protects against alcohol-induced toxicity in brain cells²⁴.

Furthermore, it reduces the withdrawal symptoms of heroin addicts²⁵.

Vitamin C summary

Owing to its high vitamin C content, lemon water is good for heavy metals, radiation, pollutants, alcohol, and drug detox.

3. Hesperidin

Hesperidin is a major flavonoid in lemons, sweet oranges, and other fruits and vegetables²⁶.

It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherosclerosis properties²⁶.

Heavy metal detox

Researchers have shown that by scavenging free radicals, hesperidin reduces the toxicity of the following heavy metals^27,28,29,30:

Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead
Mercury
Nickel

Radiation detox

Thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, hesperidin has protective effects against ionizing radiation, including in the following tissues^31,32,33,34:

Lung tissue
Bone marrow
Skin

Chemicals detox

Studies have reported that hesperidin protects against the toxicity of chemicals such as^34,35,36:

Alcohol
Paraquat (a herbicide)
Acrylamide
Tetrachloride
Cyclophosphamide

Hesperidin summary

Given that lemon water contains a high amount of hesperidin, it is good for detoxifying heavy metals, radiation, and chemicals from your body.

4. Pectins

Pectins are water-soluble carbohydrate acids in the cell walls of numerous fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits.

Heavy metal detox

Pectins have the capacity to adsorb heavy metals, such as^37,38:

Cadmium
Cobalt
Copper
Cesium
Lead
Nickel

They also have cytoprotective and antioxidant effects against cadmium and mercury³⁹.

Radiation detox

A study has reported that dietary pectin protects intestinal stem cells from ionizing radiation, promoting their survival⁴⁰.

Also, orange and apple pectin protect against gamma ionizing radiation⁴¹.

Moreover, research revealed that apple pectin reduced radioactive cesium in Chernobyl children⁴².

Pollutant detox

Pectin is an antioxidant that absorbs free radicals⁴³.

Research has shown that pectin reduces the environmental pollutant p,p’-DDE from body tissues⁴⁴.

Pectin summary

Thanks to its high content of soluble pectins, lemon water is good for heavy metal, radiation, and pollutants detox.

Is lemon water good for liver detox?

Lemon water detoxifies heavy metals, pollutants, and radiation from different organs, including the liver.

As a result, lemon detox water boosts energy levels, helps weight loss, lowers blood pressure, and protects the digestive system.

Is lemon water acidic to the body?

Lemon juice is acidic with a pH of 3. However, once ingested, it becomes alkaline, with a pH above 7, and alkalizes your body.

Is the sugar in lemon water bad for health?

The sugar in fruits is not bad for health because it is mixed with fibers, including soluble pectins, which slow down its penetration into your body.

Thus, the intestinal cells consume most of the fructose they absorb, and very little reaches the liver, where it transforms into fat.

Does lemon water damage enamel?

Lemon water can have an erosive effect on your tooth enamel.

When drinking it regularly, it is best to use an eco-friendly straw.

How to make lemon water for detox (Recipe)

To make lemon water for detox, squeeze half a fresh lemon into 8 ounces of warm or cold water.

You can also add mint leaves, cucumber, or ginger juice.

Drink this delicious concoction in the morning on an empty stomach.

Summary: Is lemon water good for detox?

Drinking lemon water is good for detox thanks to its high content of citric acid, vitamin C, hesperidin, and pectin.

Owing to these components, lemon water cleanses heavy metals, pollutants, and radiation from your body.

A lemon water drink can also dissolve kidney stones and detoxify alcohol and drugs, and bacterial and fungal toxins.

As a result, drinking lemon water boosts your energy levels, protects your gastrointestinal tract, clears your skin, and helps you lose weight.