Although lemon has antibacterial, digestive, antioxidant and heart-protective properties , it is not advisable to consume it in excess, since its same compounds could generate imbalances in the body . Keep reading so you know what happens to you if you drink a lot of lemon.
The taste of this fruit is quite acidic and it is unlikely that you will ingest so many per day as to trigger toxic results; However, the idea is that you know what are the safe levels of intake and the adverse effects of uncontrolled consumption.
Consequences of drinking a lot of lemon
Stomach damage
Lemon activates a substance in the stomach that helps break down food, pepsin; When it is present in excess and comes into contact with the rest of the gastric juices, it can trigger heartburn, irritation in the esophagus and even stomach ulcers .
There may also be episodes of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain .
Take into consideration that although lemon is water soluble and is rapidly excreted in the urine, its acidity is such that it can cause internal damage. If you are already presenting these problems, stop the consumption of citrus and start eating pear , which is effective for intestinal health.
Headaches
The acidic composition of this fruit promotes a deficit of diamine oxidase, which is responsible for metabolizing the substance histamine in the central nervous system. Then, an imbalance occurs that triggers severe headaches.
Increased sensitivity to the sun
Lemons and any citrus fruit contain an element called psolarene, which reduces the skin’s tolerance to sunlight and, on the contrary, increases sensitivity. In that sense, it is plausible that there is a greater risk of developing skin cancer .
Dental erosions
Acidic PH is abrasive and could create tooth erosion or weakening. In other words, when consuming juices of this type be sure to brush your teeth.
Dehydration
An exacerbated consumption could lead to dehydration since it would lead to uncontrolled urination , expelling at the same time the sodium and electrolytes that the body needs.
How much lemon to consume
A quantity of 120 ml of lemon dissolved in water is acceptable to ingest daily . No matter how you use it, be it as a tea, juice, dessert or a dressing, never go beyond the recommendation.
In fact, those people who consume lemon water as an alternative natural treatment, it is advisable not to exceed three cups a day for three weeks. Then you must rest for the same period of time.
As for vitamin C, which is one of the most predominant active ingredients in citrus fruits, the World Health Organization indicates that the maximum amount accepted for daily consumption by adults is 2 thousand milligrams.
As you can see, it is not only necessary to know what happens to you if you drink a lot of lemon, but how the daily intake should be according to the recommended values.
Who should not eat lemon
First of all, we will mention people who have or have suffered from stomach ulcers or gastritis , as the acid in this fruit could continue to erode the intestinal flora and increase the risk of new ulcers or worsen the existing one.
Then we have pregnant women, who must carry out a prenatal check-up to make sure, according to their health conditions, what are the vitamins, proteins and minerals that they can consume.
In the child population , who likes lemon juice so much to refresh themselves, you must control the intake to avoid imbalances in their system that is just developing, especially due to the amount of sugar added to the lemonade.
Of course there are other foods with more harmful repercussions for the body, such as fast food, processed foods, fried foods or excess salt. Your responsibility is to know what benefits or hurts you and apply it to your diet.
