Weight Loss Tip: Be Careful With Lemon Juice And Vinegar For Losing Weight.

For several years now, a "miracle method" has been circulating on the web, according to which all you need to do is drink lemon juice or apple cider vinegar on an empty stomach to stay slim and healthy. But this trick for losing weight or staying in shape is not without danger. We will explain the benefits and risks of this new trend.

Where does this idea come from?

In the world of dietetics, new food trends or fads regularly appear in books and on the web. For several years now, some have recommended drinking lemon juice on an empty stomach in the morning to detoxify the body, feel more energetic, and lose weight. In recent months, another food has replaced lemon juice in this role as a miracle product for maintaining tone and slimness, I am of course talking about apple cider vinegar. In her book "Faites votre glucose révolution," author Jessie Inchauspé recommends drinking a spoonful before each meal. However, let's be clear, there is not a single food or habit that can guarantee you stay slim and healthy. It would be too good to be true. Moreover, even if these two foods may seem harmless and safe for health, consuming them every morning or even before each meal is not without risks.

What are the actual benefits of lemon juice and vinegar?

If you have been following this "dietetic" trend, you may have gotten into the habit of drinking a glass of warm water with the juice of half a freshly squeezed lemon in the morning upon waking up.

This drink, which has the merit of rehydrating you after the night fast, will provide you with antioxidants, vitamin C, and minerals. But unfortunately, it will not change your silhouette or the state of your liver!

If you do not tolerate the acidity of lemon juice well, drinking a glass of water on an empty stomach is just as effective for rehydration without attacking your stomach.
As for the nutrients contained in this fruit, know that eating a whole fruit rich in vitamin C like a clementine, kiwi, or orange provides roughly the same nutritional benefits.

As for apple cider vinegar, it provides no vitamins and has a rather modest mineral content. It is true that some studies have demonstrated its role in regulating blood sugar, but vinegar is not a miracle cure for weight loss.

Why is it ineffective for weight loss?

Drinking lemon juice or apple cider vinegar on an empty stomach has no effect on weight loss. It is false to claim that these two beverages have a fat-burning effect because neither of them acts on adipose tissue.

As for the alleged detox effect of these two products, it is not scientifically proven. Therefore, sticking to drinking lemon or vinegar is pointless, especially since your organs are perfectly capable of detoxifying themselves...

What are the health risks?

Lemon juice and apple cider vinegar not only have in common being two trendy products. They are also two extremely acidic foods that can attack your stomach and teeth with a pH close to 5. In sensitive individuals, these two products can trigger heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux. Taking lemon or vinegar on an empty stomach is therefore totally contraindicated for all patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux or gastritis or who have a history of ulcers. Even if you have no problems in this regard, you risk triggering stomach pain if you adopt this new trend every morning. This pseudo-nutritional recommendation also annoys dentists because lemon juice and vinegar can cause demineralization of tooth enamel. Due to their acidity, these two foods can cause micro-holes and promote the formation of cavities, especially if you take them every day or, worse, before each meal! The risk of these foods for your oral health should not be minimized because enamel does not grow back. Dental erosion has two other major drawbacks: it increases sensitivity to cold and hot and makes teeth appear more yellow because the dental tissue located under the enamel is yellow...

How to consume these two foods safely?

If you love lemon juice, it is recommended to always:
• dilute it in water to reduce its acidity
• drink it through a straw to reduce contact with teeth
• rinse your mouth with clear water after drinking it.

Attention: never brush your teeth immediately after drinking lemon juice as brushing could damage the enamel of the already weakened teeth due to acidity. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.

As for vinegar, you don't have to completely give it up if you digest it well. You can simply use it to season your composed salads during meals. Adding a light vinaigrette to raw vegetables is a much simpler and achievable way to enjoy the real or supposed benefits of vinegar.