Lemon is a natural source of vitamin C and citrate. Some studies show that these two ingredients can contribute to increasing uric acid excretion through urine and reducing the risk of urate crystal formation.
The point to note is that honey still contains a significant amount of single sugars, including fructose and glucose.
Fructose when consumed in large quantities can increase the process of uric acid production in the body. This is also the reason why sugary soft drinks and drinks high in fructose are considered factors that increase the risk of increased uric acid and gout.
Analysis shows that consuming a lot of sugary drinks is associated with higher blood uric acid levels.
However, this does not mean that honey must be completely eliminated. Honey, when used in moderation in the diet, does not show obvious adverse effects on uric acid in the majority of healthy people. The main problem is consuming too much free sugar from all sources, including honey.
Therefore, each glass of lemon juice should only be added with about 1 teaspoon of honey (about 5–7 g). Do not add too much because it both increases sugar intake and increases the total energy of the serving.
To limit the effect on uric acid, experts recommend brewing a cup of about 250–300 ml of warm water, adding juice from 1/4–1/2 lemon and 1 teaspoon of pure honey.
Do not use water that is too hot because high temperatures can reduce part of the beneficial compounds in honey. At the same time, avoid adding sugar, syrup or other sweeteners.
For people with high uric acid, the most important factor is to maintain enough water every day.
Drinking enough water helps increase urine volume, supporting the kidneys to eliminate uric acid more effectively. Lemon and honey water should only be considered part of daily water intake, not completely replacing filtered water.
In addition, do not drink many times a day. One cup in the morning or mid-morning is sufficient for most adults.
Patients still need to maintain a diet low in purine-rich foods such as animal organs, limit alcohol and sugary drinks, control their weight reasonably, and use medication according to the doctor's instructions if they have been diagnosed with increased uric acid or gout.
