Does lemon coffee really help burn fat?
Lemon coffee is being promoted by social networks as a simple "fat-burning formula": mix a few drops of lemon juice into a morning cup of coffee and wait for your weight to drop. However, experts believe that this is a trend towards marketing rather than based on scientific evidence.
According to Ayurveda medicine and gut health expert Dimple Jangda, combining two beneficial ingredients separately does not mean creating outstanding weight loss effects. "Coffee can help increase energy and support better exercise, but adding lemon does not magically increase that effect," she emphasized.
A 2023 study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition noted that coffee consumption is associated with reduced total body fat, mainly thanks to caffeine promoting fat metabolism and oxidation. Meanwhile, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition in 2008 showed that lemon can bring certain metabolic benefits. However, there is no reliable scientific evidence to prove that mixing these two ingredients together will accelerate weight loss.
Professor David Katz, a public health expert at the Yale University Center for Preventive Studies, USA, said: "No single food can replace the foundation of a balanced diet and regular exercise. Sustainable weight loss always requires comprehensive lifestyle changes.
Risks with stomach and enamel
Both coffee and lemon are highly acidic. When used together, especially on an empty stomach, they can cause burning, indigestion, and even diarrhea. Dimple Jangda warns against adding lemon to milk coffee because it can worsen digestive discomfort.
Not only the stomach, teeth also face risks. Research in 2015 in the journal PLOS One showed that lemon juice has a higher ability to erode tooth enamel than many other drinks. Frequent exposure to this acid mixture can weaken tooth enamel, especially in people with sensitive teeth.
However, each ingredient still has its own value. Coffee is rich in chlorogenic acid and is considered a rich source of antioxidants according to the journal Antioxidants. Lemon provides about 53 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, supporting immunity and anti-oxidative stress.
Experts recommend enjoying black coffee to increase alertness and drinking lemonade at other times of the day to replenish water, instead of expecting an unproven "miracle formula".
