Green tea is rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) - a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce hepatitis and prevent the formation of excess fat in liver cells.
However, EGCG is easily broken down in the stomach acid environment. The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry said that adding a few drops of lemon juice helps stabilize the EGCG structure, increasing the absorption capacity by 4 times compared to pure green tea.
A study by Purdue University (2024) recorded: a group of people who drank 300 ml of green tea mixed with the juice of half a lemon per day for 6 weeks had a 5-fold increase in catechin levels in their blood and an average reduction of liver enzymes ALT of 18%.
This proves the co-operative effect of the two components in protecting liver cells from oxidative stress, the main cause of impaired liver function.
According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, catechin in green tea activates the enzyme AMPK - a biological " switch" that helps the body increase energy expenditure and prevent visceral fat from accumulating around the liver, kidneys and intestines.
When combined with vitamin C in lemon, the body increases the synthesis of carnitine, a compound that carries fatty acids into the body to burn energy faster.
According to the Journal of Hepatology Research, the combination of polyphenols in green tea and citric acid from lemons helps increase the activity of glutathione peroxidase - a key enzyme in the liver detoxification process.
At the same time, citric acid also has the effect of alkalimizing urine, helping to prevent oxalate and urate crystallization, reducing the risk of kidney stones and increasing uric acid in the blood.
A study at Seoul National University said that the group of people who drank 400 ml of lemon green tea per day for 6 weeks had a 4% increase in renal globular filtering (eGFR) and a slight decrease in creatinine levels, showing that the kidneys work more effectively in filtering toxins.
To effectively detoxify and reduce visceral fat, you should:
Drink lemon green tea after breakfast or lunch for 30 minutes, when the liver is in the stage of strong metabolism.
Use 200-300 ml at a time, warm water 60-70°C to avoid destroying vitamin C.
You can add a few slices of ginger or mint to increase digestive efficiency.
Do not drink it on an empty stomach or immediately after eating to avoid increasing stomach acid.
