The internet is full of quick weight loss tips: make this diet change and you’ll magically lose 10 pounds!
Lemon water ended up in this category. Headlines, Instagram posts and TikTok videos tout the drink as an easy “fat-burning” diet. But these types of positions are missing an important element: qualified experts.
“Lemon water is hydrating and naturally acidic — qualities that might prompt you to go to the bathroom after drinking it,” Caroline Thomason, a Virginia-based dietitian and diabetes educator, told USA TODAY. “If you weigh yourself before and after going to the bathroom, sure, you may find that you’ve lost weight. However, it’s not a loss by magically drinking lemon water in the morning. “
Here’s what certified nutrition experts really think about the idea of drinking lemon water for weight loss.
Does lemon water help with weight loss?
The short answer: no.
“As a dietitian, I’m not sure where this myth comes from, but there is no magic food or drink that can help you lose body fat,” says Thomason. “Unfortunately, the boring basics still work for weight loss: diet and exercise are the two most important factors you can change to lose weight.”
Drinking lemon water could still provide you with benefits, including providing vitamin C and potassium, and helping you stay hydrated.
Although some research suggests that drinking water before eating a meal can help consumers feel full and eat less, experts say there is nothing specific about adding lemon to water that would make someone lose weight.
For those looking to lose weight, Thomason recommends starting with the following daily lifestyle adjustments:
- Exercise: Walk, strength train a few times a week, and increase cardio to 150 minutes a week
- Diet: Focus on “protein, increase your fruit and vegetable intake, replace refined grains with whole grains, and incorporate healthy fats into your diet”
- Food tracking “to get a better idea of the calories you consume per day”: While some experts worry that focusing too much on tracking daily calories can lead to eating disorders, Thomason notes that it can also be beneficial by creating a “basic awareness of your eating habits and clearly helping you to see where you can make changes to lose weight. “.
Benefits of drinking lemon water:Healthy, Hydrating Drink Options
Who Should Not Drink Lemon Water?
An acidic drink like lemon water can cause heartburn, especially in people prone to acid reflux. Some research also suggests that citric acid, found in lemons, could also erode tooth enamel if consumed regularly over a long period of time.
The fastest way to lose weight?Let’s change perspective.
News Source : www.usatoday.com
Gn Health
