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Coffee with Lemon: What Benefits Does It Have?

A recent trend focuses on the potential health benefits of drinking coffee with lemon.

Advocates claim that the mixture can be nutritious and relieve headaches and diarrhea.

Since both coffee and lemon have multiple proven health effects, you might wonder if drinking them together offers any additional benefits.

This article reviews the evidence on coffee with lemon to validate or discredit these claims.

What is Coffee with Lemon?

Coffee and lemons are two common ingredients found in almost every kitchen.

Coffee, one of the most consumed beverages worldwide, can be purchased as whole beans, ground coffee, or coffee capsules.

In fact, a large portion of the population drinks it daily, mainly due to its caffeine content, which stimulates the central nervous system and increases alertness and mood.

On the other hand, lemons are a fruit belonging to the Citrus genus. They are the third most produced citrus fruit in the world, after oranges and mandarins.

They are a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants, along with many other beneficial plant compounds, which is why people have used them for their medicinal properties for centuries.

The coffee with lemon trend suggests mixing 1 cup (240 milliliters) of coffee with the juice of 1 lemon.

While some might think it is an unusual combination, others believe the benefits outweigh the strange taste, although science might disagree.

Coffee with Lemon: Multiple Benefits

Both coffee and lemons offer many proven health benefits, predominantly associated with their high antioxidant content. These molecules protect your body from the harmful effects of excessive free radicals.

Here is an overview of the benefits each has to offer.

Benefits of Coffee

Roasted coffee beans contain over 1000 bioactive compounds, but caffeine and chlorogenic acid (CGA) stand out as key active compounds with antioxidant properties.

Both activate pathways that protect against cancer growth, linking coffee with a reduced risk of several types of cancer, including:

  • Liver
  • Prostate
  • Endometrial
  • Breast
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Colorectal

Additionally, coffee has been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and depression, as well as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Lastly, its caffeine content is responsible for the energy-boosting effect of the drink, its positive influence on endurance exercise performance, and its ability to increase the number of calories burned.

Benefits of Lemon Juice

lemon juice

Lemons are a great source of vitamin C and flavonoids, which act as powerful antioxidants.

Vitamin C and citrus flavonoids have been linked to a reduced risk of some types of cancer.

Additionally, both compounds offer protection against heart disease, while vitamin C supports your immune system and helps fight infections.

As you can see, coffee and lemons offer a wide range of benefits that protect your body from chronic ailments. Still, mixing the two does not necessarily result in a more potent drink.

Popular Beliefs About Drinking Coffee with Lemon

Helps Eliminate Fat

This notion prevails among various trends involving lemon, but ultimately, neither lemon nor coffee can eliminate fat.

The only way to get rid of unwanted fat is by consuming fewer calories or burning more. Therefore, this claim is false.

However, studies show that coffee can help with weight loss, so some people might experience a slight reduction in weight when consuming the drink.

Recent research has found that caffeine can stimulate brown adipose tissue, a type of metabolically active fat tissue that decreases with age and can metabolize carbohydrates and fats.

One study determined that caffeine from a standard 240 ml cup of coffee can increase brown adipose tissue activity, leading to an increase in metabolic rate.

Similarly, studies suggest that caffeine may enhance the effects of exercise.

That said, any potential weight loss effect might be due to the caffeine in coffee, not the coffee-lemon mix.

Relieves Headaches

Headaches and migraine attacks have been classified globally as major contributors to disability in people under 50.

Thus, it is common to find multiple home remedies for treating them. Still, research is highly divided on using coffee for this purpose.

One hypothesis suggests that the caffeine in coffee has a vasoconstrictor effect, meaning it constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the head and relieving pain.

Research also suggests that caffeine may amplify the effects of headache and migraine medications.

However, another hypothesis believes that caffeine may act as a headache trigger for some, along with other beverages and foods such as chocolate, alcohol, and citrus fruits like lemons.

Therefore, drinking coffee with lemon may either relieve or worsen headaches, depending on the individual. And if it helps reduce pain, it would again be due to the caffeine in coffee, not the coffee-lemon drink itself.

What Are the Disadvantages?

If you decide to try the coffee and lemon trend, the best thing you can do for your health is to drink in moderation and maintain a nutrient-rich diet.

Remember always that too much coffee and lemon can harm your health. So, everything is good in moderation.

  • The caffeine in coffee triggers the release of adrenaline, the "fight or flight" hormone. In high doses, this can make you feel jittery.
  • It also blocks adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine promotes sleep and gradually accumulates in the body throughout the day, making us feel sleepy as night approaches. If the receptors are blocked, we struggle to sleep. Caffeine can also interfere with our natural sleep-wake cycle: the circadian rhythm.
  • Lemon contains citric acid, which has the potential to damage tooth enamel. You should avoid brushing your teeth immediately after consumption, as it softens tooth enamel (demineralization), making it easier to remove some of the protective enamel.

With moderate consumption of coffee with lemon, you should not worry about its disadvantages, so enjoy this combination!

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