Drinking a cup of warm lemon water every morning has become a familiar drink for many people. Some people believe it helps detoxify the body, others think it supports digestion and weight loss. But for those who are living with stomach disease, the question is: is this seemingly healthy habit really safe?
When acid meets the damaged stomach lining
Lemons contain a lot of citric acid. For people with a healthy stomach, this amount of acid usually does not cause significant problems. However, in people with stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, or chronic stomach pain, adding acid can cause the already damaged mucous membrane to be stimulated more strongly.
Dr. Mark Hyman, a functional medicine doctor at Cleveland Clinic (USA), said: "Lemon juice is not a poison, but for people with sensitive stomach lining, citric acid can increase feelings of indigestion, heartburn and epigastric pain if used regularly.
Clinical reality shows that many stomach patients after a period of drinking warm lemon water every morning have developed symptoms such as diarrhea, mild nausea, burning sensation in the epigastric region, especially when drinking on an empty stomach. This makes the disease more difficult to control, even slowing down the recovery process.
How to drink it to avoid "benefits over harms"?
According to nutritionist Dr. Samantha Cassetty, nutrition lecturer at the University of New York (USA), if patients still want to use lemon juice, they need to dilute it very thinly, use very small amounts of lemon and absolutely do not drink it on an empty stomach. “A cup of warm water mixed with a few drops of lemon, drinking it about 30 minutes after breakfast, can be acceptable to some people, as long as it does not cause discomfort,” she said.
In addition, stomach patients should not drink lemon water instead of filtered water every day, and should not use it as a long-term "detoxification" method. Benefits such as supporting digestion or providing vitamin C can be completely achieved through a diet rich in green vegetables, low-acid fruits and regular living.
In summary, stomach patients should not drink warm lemon juice regularly, especially when hungry. If you want to use it, you need to be careful, monitor your body's reactions and consult a doctor.
The information in the article is for reference only, not for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should talk directly with your doctor for accurate and appropriate advice to your health condition.
