Does Drinking Water With Lemon Juice Help Lose Weight Fast?

Drinking lemon juice and water to lose weight is not just a popular fad diet. Lemon juice reduces acids that can lead to digestive ills. Ann Louise Gittleman, author of "The Fast Track One Day Diet," claims that lemon juice detoxifies the body and can aid weight loss. However, how lemon juice influences weight loss is not easily understood, and it can pose health risks.

Vitamin C

Lemon juice is a rich source of vitamin C, which is also called asorbic acid. This acid thins and removes bile from the liver, which is a key organ in weight control. Removing bile and cleansing the liver allows it to metabolize fat more efficiently, explains Gittleman. Vitamin C also triggers the production of glutathione, an antioxidant the liver needs for detoxification.

Lemon Juice and Appetite Suppression

The Lemon Juice Diet relies on studies that lemon juice aids in digestion and appetite suppression. Theresa Cheung, author of the diet, says the lemon's acidity helps break down food in the system and decreases hunger. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, supports the claims about appetite suppression. Pectin found in lemon and other citrus fruits helped Army recruits feel fuller longer. Recruits who drank orange juice with pectin as part of their meals felt full for four hours, compared to recruits who were full for one hour after meals.

How to Consume Lemon Juice

Bruce Krahn, author of "The Fat-Fighter Diet," recommends beginning the day by drinking a glass of water with lemon juice on an empty stomach. For an additional weight loss benefit, warm the water before adding the lemon juice. In a 2003 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, water had increased the thermogenetic -- or calorie burning ability -- benefit and was boosted when warmed by 15 degrees Celsius or 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

Facts about Weight Loss

Lemon juice has properties that can assist weight loss, but it can not cause weight loss on its own. Healthy weight loss programs focus on consuming a variety of healthy foods in the right portions according to one's lifestyle. Regular exercise is also needed in weight loss. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends exercising for 30 to 60 minutes five days a week to lose weight and keep it off.

Warning

Some people do not tolerate acidic foods well and may experience discomfort when taking lemon juice. Lemon juice may trigger flares in people with interstitial cystitis and it is listed as a top forbidden food by the Interstitial Cystitis Network. Speak to your doctor before adding lemon juice to your daily diet if you have any medical condition that can be aggravated by acidic foods.