Recently, a new trend has emerged focusing on the potential health benefits of combining coffee with lemon. Many believe this drink can burn fat, effectively aid weight loss, and improve diarrhea. In fact, both coffee and lemon are ingredients with many scientifically proven health benefits; however, is combining them truly beneficial?
1. A drink with two common ingredients
Almost every family’s kitchen can easily contain two ingredients: coffee and lemon. This demonstrates how important they are in people’s daily lives.
Coffee is made from brewing roasted coffee beans , resulting in a beverage that is the most popular and widely consumed in the world. According to research, approximately 75% of Americans consume coffee daily. This is because coffee contains…caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, helps the body stay alert and improves the mood of the drinker.
Meanwhile, lemons are a type of citrus fruit. They are a sour, citrusy fruit, the third most produced in the world, after oranges and tangerines. Lemons are an excellent source of vitamins and are also rich in antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds. This is why many people prefer to use this fruit. It has been a part of people’s lives for centuries, possessing useful medicinal properties.
Currently, many people prepare a coffee and lemon drink as a daily beverage: one cup (240ml) of coffee mixed with the juice of one lemon. However, there are dissenting opinions that this is an unusual combination and may not offer many health benefits. So what is the truth about this matter?
2. Coffee and lemon offer many health benefits.
Researchers have shown that both coffee and lemon offer significant benefits to overall human health, primarily due to their high antioxidant content. These are molecules that work wonders in protecting the body from damage caused by free radicals. Below is an overview of the health benefits each ingredient provides:
2.1 Health benefits of coffee
Roasted coffee beans contain over 1000 bioactive compounds; however, the main compounds with high antioxidant properties in coffee are caffeine and chlorogenic acid (CGA). Both of these substances protect the body from various cancers, such as…prostate cancer liver, breast,endometrial tissue, colorectal cancer and gastrointestinal cancer.
In addition, coffee also helps reduce the risk of liver disease. Type 2 diabetes heart disease, illness Alzheimer and Parkinson or disease depression. Furthermore, the caffeine content in coffee helps boost the beverage’s energy, positively impacting performance during endurance training, burning calories, and thus effectively aiding weight loss.
2.2 Health Benefits of Lemons
Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C and flavonoids , both of which are excellent antioxidants. They also significantly reduce the risk of various cancers, including stomach , esophageal, breast , and pancreatic cancer . Furthermore, both compounds can help combat cardiovascular problems, and vitamin C supports and strengthens the immune system, helping the body fight infections. Thus, it can be seen that both coffee and lemon offer different health benefits, especially in protecting the body from chronic diseases or cancer. However, mixing these two ingredients together doesn’t necessarily create a more potent beverage.
3. Claims about the benefits of drinking coffee with lemon.
Here are four key claims about the health benefits of drinking coffee with lemon. Specifically:
3.1 First statement: Melt away fat
Using lemons may help reduce fat and promote weight loss; however, the reality is that neither coffee nor lemon can burn fat as effectively as you might think. The only way to eliminate excess body fat is to consume fewer calories or try to burn more fat. Therefore, the above statement is incorrect.
However, some studies suggest that drinking coffee may aid in weight loss, leading many to choose this beverage as a way to regain their figure. Caffeine can stimulate brown adipose tissue (BAT), a metabolically active fat tissue that decreases with age and helps metabolize carbs and fats in the body.
Researchers also added that the caffeine in a standard 8-ounce (240 ml) cup of coffee can boost BAT activity, leading to an increased metabolic rate and potentially aiding weight loss. This means the potential weight loss benefits may stem from the caffeine in the coffee itself, rather than the coffee and lemon mixture.
3.2 Second statement: Reduces headaches
Currently, an increasing number of people under 50 are experiencing headaches or migraines. Therefore, finding convenient home remedies is becoming increasingly important. However, there are conflicting opinions from scientists regarding the use of coffee to alleviate headaches.
One theory suggests that caffeine in coffee may alleviate headaches by reducing blood flow to the head, thanks to its vasoconstrictive effect (meaning it constricts blood vessels ). Additionally, caffeine may amplify the effects of headache or migraine medications.
However, some argue that caffeine is the trigger for headaches in certain cases, especially when combined with other foods or drinks such as lemon, chocolate, or alcohol.
Therefore, if you drink coffee with lemon and feel a slight reduction in your headache, this is due to the caffeine in the coffee, not from the combination of coffee and lemon.
3.3 Third statement: Reduce diarrhea
When experiencing diarrhea, some people have tried drinking ground coffee with lemon instead of drinking it. However, there is currently no concrete evidence to support the use of lemon to treat diarrhea or the claim that coffee stimulates the colon and increases the urge to defecate.
In addition, when you have diarrhea, your body loses a certain amount of water (dehydration), and coffee has a diuretic effect. This can worsen diarrhea.
3.4 Fourth Statement: Skincare
Researchers say that the abundant antioxidants in lemons and coffee offer many benefits for your skin. But is combining coffee and lemon really good for your skin?
Coffee contains CGA, which is believed to improve blood flow and hydration in the skin. Supplementing with CGA can help reduce skin dullness, increase smoothness, and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier.
Additionally, lemons provide a good amount of vitamin C, which stimulates the body to produce collagen , a protein that helps maintain the health and elasticity of the skin, while also reducing skin damage caused by harmful effects of sunlight.
Although there is no evidence to suggest that a coffee and lemon mixture will benefit the skin, you can certainly use them separately for your beauty purposes.
4. Some disadvantages of drinking coffee with lemon.
The drawbacks of combining coffee with lemon stem from the inherent limitations of these two ingredients.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people who regularly drink coffee may become addicted to caffeine and develop several clinical disorders. Other studies have also shown that consuming large amounts of caffeine can disrupt sleep, such as difficulty falling asleep at night and daytime sleepiness. Additionally, it may increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women.
Regarding lemons, some people may be allergic to the seeds, juice, or peel of this fruit. However, this is very rare.