Can You Lose Weight By Drinking Lemon Juice With Water?

When life hands you lemons, toss some in your drinking water. That's a common bit of advice when you're trying to lose weight, and many dieters find it helpful. Adding a slice of lemon or a squeeze of lemon juice can make your water more refreshing. It's not a magical weight-loss solution, however.

Claims

Do a quick online search and you'll find that lemon juice is touted as a tonic for everything from curing infections to ridding your body of "toxins." It's also touted as a weight-loss solution. But the National Institutes of Health reminds dieters that there's no real substitute for losing weight by decreasing your calorie intake and increasing your activity level. No food "burns fat," and that goes for lemon juice as well as grapefruit, celery and cabbage soup.

Benefits

Drinking lemon water instead of sugary soda or juice can help you cut calories and lose weight, according to a Harvard School of Public Health report. A 12-oz. can of a sweetened drink usually contains 10-12 teaspoons of sugar and adds at least 150 calories, says the report, which links sugary drinks with the rise of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. If adding lemon helps you enjoy a couple of glasses of water before meals, that also could help with weight loss, the National Institutes of Health says. A 2010 study found that middle-aged-and-older dieters who drank water before meals lost almost 30 percent more pounds than those who did not.

Suggestions

The Harvard School of Public Health suggests that you can cut calories---and save money---by making your own spa-style water or sparkling water using lemons and other flavorings. Lemon juice adds zest, but no calories, to your glass or to a pitcher of cold water in your fridge. For variety, you can add other flavorings, including other citrus fruits, herbs such as mint, ginger or even slices of cucumber.

Warning

As with most things, you can overdo it with lemon juice. Don't assume that if a little in your water is good, a lot of lemon juice is even better. The National Institutes of Health notes that after World War II, when lemons were promoted as a cure for rheumatism, colds and other ailments, Mayo Clinic dentists noticed that too much lemon juice ate away at patients' tooth enamel. The problem, they said, was that teeth were corroded by the high acid content in the juice.

Other Tips

Many dietitians and weight-loss programs urge dieters to drink more water. The fresh, tangy addition of lemon juice can encourage you toward that goal, but that's only part of a sensible effort to take off pounds or keep them off. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises you to aim for a steady loss of 1-2 lbs. per week, cutting calories through a healthful diet and increased physical activity. Better habits---like eating more slowly, exercising most days and cutting fat and sweets---will help you lose weight and become more healthy.