The trend of drinking lemon juice to "cure all diseases" - The benefits do not outweigh the harm

Recently, on social networks, there have been many shares about the trend of drinking pure lemon juice in the morning to "cleanse the body", "increase resistance", and even being praised as being able to cure "all diseases" such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, stomach pain... and many people have also started to apply this method in the hope of improving their health quickly. However, in reality, not everyone gets the results, some people even experience adverse effects, seriously affecting their health.

Just by typing the keyword phrase “drink lemon juice to cure diseases” on platforms like TikTok, Facebook or YouTube, social media users will easily come across hundreds of videos and articles sharing personal experiences, encouraging others to drink pure lemon juice every morning. Many people believe that after just a few weeks of applying this remedy, symptoms such as pain, fatigue, poor digestion, etc. will be significantly reduced.

Many social media accounts share the "cure-all" benefits of using lemon juice early in the morning.

There is even a “rumor” that terminally ill people who drink 4 liters of water mixed with lemon every day will live healthy for many years without treatment. The incident has reached a climax, showing that the phenomenon of spreading unverified information on social networks is quite complicated, creating a form of collective belief.

In addition to the "believers" who firmly reject the advice of doctors and nutritionists, the majority of netizens have reacted strongly to this unscientific way of using lemon.

Ms. NTB, Dong Tam ward, Vinh Yen city shared: "I saw on Facebook that many people shared that drinking lemon juice every morning helps lose weight and treat high blood fat, so I tried it.

The first few days, I squeezed 2 lemons to get the juice and drank it early in the morning when I woke up before eating anything. At first, I felt alert and refreshed. But after just over 10 days, I started to experience symptoms such as stomach upset, heartburn, and bloating. After going to the doctor, he diagnosed me with acute gastritis. It's true that I didn't see any benefits, but I accidentally brought more diseases to my body."

Similar to Ms. B, Mr. PVH, Kim Long town, Tam Duong district, who had mild gout, heard from friends that he should drink lemon juice to "alkalize the blood and reduce uric acid".

“Hearing from many people about the benefits of drinking pure lemon juice to prevent many diseases, I tried this method by drinking it early in the morning before eating anything. However, after nearly a month, I felt more severe pain in my knee joints, had to go to the doctor and was hospitalized for treatment. The doctor said I had a metabolic disorder, drinking lemon in the wrong way and in the wrong dosage would make the disease worse” - Mr. H shared.

Referring to this trend, some nutrition experts say that a medium-sized lemon (about 48g) contains 10.6 kcal of energy; 18.6mg (milligrams) of vitamin C; 9.6mcg (micrograms) of vitamin B9 (Folate); 49.4mg of potassium; 0.01mcg of vitamin B1; 0.01mcg of vitamin B2 and 0.06mcg of vitamin B3.

So it can be seen that lemon is a fruit with very few calories but rich in vitamin C. In particular, a lemon has up to 18.6mg of vitamin C - about 21% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C. Lemon has the effect of supporting digestion and increasing resistance. However, the use must depend on each person's physical condition, especially should not be drunk pure or on an empty stomach.

There have been many cases of people having to be hospitalized after using lemon juice for a while.

Nutritionists recommend that lemon juice contains citric acid – if consumed frequently, especially before breakfast, it will increase the acid concentration in the stomach, leading to ulcers and esophageal reflux. People with a history of gastritis, low blood pressure, tooth enamel disease or chronic diseases should not use it on their own.

Many people mistakenly believe that citric acid can “alkalize the blood,” but this is a medically incorrect explanation. “Neutralizing acid” in the body is a very complex self-regulating mechanism of the body, which cannot be intervened by just a single food like lemon.

Lemons also contain the amino acid tyramine. Therefore, drinking too much lemon juice will cause excess of this acid and cause blood to suddenly rush to the brain, causing migraines.

Therefore, everyone should follow the recommendations and advice of nutritionists and doctors, such as creating a daily exercise habit and having a healthy lifestyle.

For the use of lemon, healthy people can mix ½ lemon with 200ml of warm water, drink 30 minutes after breakfast; should not drink pure lemon, especially on an empty stomach if there is a history of stomach disease; people with chronic diseases, who are taking medication should consult a doctor before applying any folk remedies; should only use 2-3 times/week, not as a substitute for medication or other medical indications.

The trend of drinking lemon juice to cure “all diseases” is being exaggerated by social networks and baseless word of mouth. The health benefits of lemon are real, but if used incorrectly, it will be counterproductive, causing serious damage to health. Instead of following the trend, each person needs to be alert, carefully research information and consult a doctor before applying any health care method.

Article and photos: Huyen Linh

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/127803/Trao-luu-uong-nuoc-cot-chanh-“chua-bach-benh”---Loi-bat-cap-hai