In recent years, lemon water has often been considered a popular detox drink, believed to help purify the body and improve kidney function.
However, to accurately assess this effect, it is necessary to look at it based on science, not just on folk concepts.
First of all, lemon water contains a lot of citric acid, vitamin C and antioxidants - ingredients that are beneficial to overall health, especially the urinary system. Research shows that citric acid in lemons helps increase citrate levels in urine, thereby preventing the formation of kidney stones - a common cause of damage and reduced kidney filtering function.
When the citrate content in urine is higher, it combines with calcium, reducing the deposition of calcium oxalate - one of the main crystals that make up kidney stones.
Drinking diluted lemon water also helps increase the amount of excretion, contributing to supporting the process of removing soluble waste in water, thereby reducing the burden on the kidneys.
The antioxidants in lemons, especially vitamin C and flavonoids, also have the ability to reduce inflammation and protect kidney cells from oxidative damage. This is a factor related to chronic kidney disease.
However, it should be emphasized that the phrase "dialysis" is often misunderstood. In modern medicine, the kidneys are an organ with the function of self-filtration and natural detoxification, so there is no food that can "wash" the kidneys in the absolute sense.
Lemon juice does not directly eliminate toxins but only supports indirectly by increasing urine output, improving urine pH and reducing the risk of stone formation.
In addition, using lemon juice too thick or too often can cause tooth enzyme erosion and stomach irritation. People with chronic kidney disease or metabolic disorders should consult a doctor before applying.
Lemon juice does not have the effect of detoxifying the kidneys in the sense of eliminating toxins, but it plays a role in supporting kidney protection thanks to its antioxidant properties, enhancing urine excretion and preventing kidney stones.
Drinking diluted lemon water every day combined with a healthy and salt-restricted diet is a natural way to maintain effective and safe kidney health.