Coffee and lemon – the two ingredients are not just widely consumed, but also carry multiple health benefits.
Coffee and lemon both are rich in antioxidants, which effectively neutralizes free radicals. Coffee is a popular beverage made using roasted coffee beans, and when consumed moderately, it offers several health benefits such as, reduces risks of cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson disease, lowers the risk of cardiovascular and total mortality, and others.
Lemon, which is rich in Vitamin C and flavonoids, helps in lowering blood pressure levels, reduces the risk of ischemic stroke (reference) alongside providing several other health benefits.
Knowing that coffee and lemon offer several health benefits, you cannot help but think the concoction of these two ingredients will increase those numbers.
Although there are many claims to the benefits of adding lemon to the coffee, we have gathered information that rather discredits them.
Let’s break down whether the popular claims about the benefits of adding lemon juice to your morning coffee are accurate or not.
1. Helps with weight loss:
The most popular claim associated with adding lemon to morning coffee is that it helps in weight loss. A study found that caffeine stimulates brown adipose tissue (BAT), resulting in weight loss. Another study published in a Health Day news article suggested that just 4 cups of coffee a day helps melt off fat.
Lemon, a citrus fruit that is high in Vitamin C and antioxidants, promotes good digestion. Thanks to its diuretic properties, which helps detoxify the body, the consumption of lemon can help with weight loss.
In 2008, a study performed to learn the effects of dietary lemon polyphenols on mice noted that the body weight gain, significantly suppressed because of the component. Yet, there is no specific evidence to claim that lemon helps in weight loss.
Overall, it is still unfounded to claim that the mixture of coffee and lemon helps in weight loss. However, if this concoction does help in weight loss, it is mainly because of the caffeine in the drink.
2. Helps ease headache/ Helps with migraine
Migraine is a neurological condition that causes throbbing pain or pulsing sensation at one side of the head. According to the NHS, migraine is a common health condition found in 1 in every 5 women and 1 in every 15 men.
Studies suggest that the “vasoconstrictive” properties of caffeine can help with easing headaches. Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of the blood vessels resulting in restricting the blood flow, which is why, when consumed, coffee can help relieve head pain. (Source)
On the contrary, researchers noted that an individual’s dependency on caffeine may develop a tolerance for the drug and if not taken, it might result in withdrawal syndrome, which includes headache as a prominent symptom. (Reference)
Lemon is rich in tyramine, and high levels of it can cause blood vessels to tighten, which increases blood pressure. According to a WebMD article, if you are sensitive to tyramine, the consumption of lemon juice may trigger migraine headaches.
Thus, there is no proper evidence that backs the claim that the mixture of coffee and lemon may help with migraine headaches.
3. Provides skin care benefits
Both lemon and coffee are high in antioxidants. According to FamilyDoctor.org, antioxidants can protect and reverse skin damage.
According to ScienceDirect, a study indicated that the CGA (chlorogenic acid) present in coffee makes it a potential preventive agent against premature skin ageing caused by UV radiation.
Lemon is rich in Vitamin C – essential to produce collagen, which helps give firmness and strength to the skin. It has been used as the remedy for scurvy since its discovery in the 1930s.
Then again, the claim that the coffee and lemon mixture offer skincare benefits is still unsubstantiated. Since both lemon and coffee are abundant in antioxidants, their separate use can bring multiple skincare benefits.
4.Helps with diarrhea
Although this claim might be correct to some extent, further studies are required to establish whether or not the mixture of coffee and lemon helps with diarrhea.
Coffee stimulates the distal colon, which helps to improve bowel activity. According to a study published on WebMD, heavy consumption of caffeine can worsen diarrhoea.
On the other hand, the acidic nature of lemon does not favour it to be used as a remedy for diarrhoea.
Conclusion
Coffee is a healthy beverage, and when consumed in moderation, it can provide multiple health benefits. In contrast, the overconsumption of caffeine may result in the experiencing of several adverse effects. Experts advise a moderate consumption of caffeine (400 mg) regularly.
Furthermore, due to its acidic nature, the excessive consumption of lemon, gradually impairs the tooth enamel.
In conclusion, there is still no proper evidence to support the claim that adding lemon to coffee provides mentioned or other benefits. However, when consumed separately, both coffee and lemon offer several health benefits.
Although coffee offers a host of health benefits, we at Don Carlos acknowledge that it can come with a few downsides, especially when you use low-quality beans for your brew. Being an Italian coffee connoisseur, we work hard to offer our customers the highest quality. The care that goes into growing, shipping, and roasting the beans to meet a premium Italian coffee standard is reflected in the quality of the finished product.
Buy premium quality Italian roasted coffee beans at the Don Carlos store. We have a wide range of coffee products such as Nespresso and Dolce gusto compatible capsules, ground coffee and pods, to fulfil the different needs of the customers.
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