Lemons are very acidic, and drinking lemon water frequently cause mineral loss by destroying dental enamel or the outer layer of the teeth.
The American Dental Association claims that dental erosion can increase sensitivity and pain in addition to making teeth more vulnerable to deterioration over time.
Use a straw to reduce the acid in lemon water’s direct contact with your teeth. Additionally, refrain from brushing your teeth right away after consuming lemon water. To lessen the chance of sensitivity, drink enough of plain water in addition to lemon water.
Ulcers and gastrointestinal conditions
Large daily intakes of lemon water can harm the stomach. Its acidity might result in heartburn, nauseousness, and vomiting. Daily consumption of lemon water has some drawbacks, including the possibility of ulceration. Lemons’ acid can damage the linings of the stomach and intestines, which can result in ulcers.
- Acid Reflux and GERD
According to a study, acidic foods can aggravate acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs as a result of the acid in lemons causing irritation to the esophageal inner linings.
Those who are prone to acid reflux should avoid drinking lemon water every day because doing so on an empty stomach can make the problem worse. Acid reflux can cause coughing, exacerbated asthma, and difficulties swallowing.
- RDA: The Recommended Dietary Allowance for adults 19 years and older is 90 mg daily for men and 75 mg for women. For pregnancy and lactation, the amount increases to 85 mg and 120 mg daily, respectively. Smoking can deplete vitamin C levels in the body, so an additional 35 mg beyond the RDA is suggested for smokers.
- UL: The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause harmful effects on health. The UL for vitamin C is 2000 mg daily; taking beyond this amount may promote gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea. Only in specific scenarios, such as under medical supervision or in controlled clinical trials, amounts higher than the UL are sometimes used.
- Megadosing and absorbing vitamin C
The ability of the intestines to absorb vitamin C is confined. According to studies, ingesting more than 1000 mg of vitamin C reduces absorption by less than 50%. Megadoses of vitamin C are not hazardous in typically healthy persons since absorption diminishes once the body’s tissues are saturated with the vitamin and any extra is eliminated in urine.
Although there have been reports of dairrhea, increased kidney stone formation in people with kidney disease or a history of stones, elevated levels of uric acid (a risk factor for gout), and increased iron absorption and overload in people with hemochromatosis, a hereditary condition that results in excessive iron in the body, are all possible side effects with intakes greater than 3000 mg per day.
Although high-dose intravenous vitamin C has not been demonstrated in clinical trials to have any unfavourable side effects, it should only be given under strict supervision and avoided in those with renal disease and genetic diseases including hemochromatosis and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase insufficiency
- Symptoms of a Deficiency
In affluent nations, vitamin C insufficiency is uncommon, but it can happen if you consume fewer than 10 milligrammes of the vitamin each day for a month or more. The highest risk factors for deficiency in hardworking nations are eating a diet low in fruits and vegetables, smoking or prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke, and abusing drugs and alcohol. The most typical indications of a deficit are listed below.
The symptoms of scurvy,
the primary illness associated with severe vitamin C deficiency, are brought on by the loss of collagen, which weakens connective tissues:
Blood vessels that have split open cause bruises and skin patches to appear.
gum inflammation or bleeding, and eventual tooth loss
hair fall
delayed skin wound healing
lethargy, and weary
a low iron intake leading to anemia
