We find out if coffee with lemon really melts fat, protects the skin from the sun and relieves headaches

While both coffee and lemon have been studied individually in terms of health benefits, the question remains about the benefits of combining lemon and coffee combined into one beverage.

People around the world swear that a cup of freshly prepared coffee helps them start the day, while others claim that a glass of water with lemon helps them the most for that purpose. Today’s trends do not bypass those in the diet, so lately, for the beginning of the day, a combination of these two drinks has become popular, which is claimed to melt fat, protect the skin from the sun and relieve headaches.

Coffee and lemon

For many of us, a cup of coffee is a daily ritual. About two billion cups are drunk in the world every morning, which makes the black drink the most popular drink in the world.

Coffee contains caffeine (trimethylxanthine), which is responsible for improving various aspects of brain function, including memory, concentration and energy levels.

Coffee has its good sides, but only if consumed in moderation. And it has its downsides, the use of coffee prevents the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the body, significantly complicates the process of digestion, but also encourages the development of diseases related to lack of vitamins and minerals.

On the other hand, lemon is one of the best-selling citrus fruits in the world. It has been used for centuries because of its healing properties. It is known that both coffee and lemon contain a lot of antioxidants, which protect the body from harmful effects and excessive amounts of free radicals. When combining them, it is recommended to add the juice of one lemon to 240 ml of coffee.

To understand whether coffee with the addition of lemon can bring additional health benefits, it is useful to consider these two things independently of each other.

Health benefits of coffee

There are many studies that talk about the many health benefits of coffee, from protecting the liver to preventing depression.

In one of the largest coffee studies to date, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health found that drinking up to three cups of coffee a day could reduce the risk of death by 16 percent.

The positive effect of caffeine on bronchodilation has been proven in two studies (USA and Italy), where the results indicated that three cups a day led to a significant reduction in asthma attacks. Also, the diuretic effect of caffeine should be mentioned – says Hanna.

Caffeine increases both LDL and HDL (bad and good cholesterol), without changing their relationship, which is very important in terms of the risk of coronary heart disease, so it cannot be considered harmful.

And that, in fact, is not all. When it comes to increasing mental and physical performance, caffeine is one of the most effective supplements.

The benefits include a potential increase in strength, muscular endurance, alertness, reduced rates of perceived effort, which means that you will do the training easier compared to the same exercises without a dose of caffeine – explains the nutritionist.

Health benefits of lemon

Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C and flavanoids, two powerful antioxidants that are associated with a lower risk of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas and breast.

One medium-sized lemon provides 25 mg of vitamin C. Consuming fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, protects the immune system and helps fight infections.

There are several health claims about the benefits of consuming coffee with lemon – says Hana and adds that facts should be separated from misconceptions.

Lemon coffee helps to lose fat – true or false

This claim is not completely unfounded. Some studies show that caffeine can help speed up metabolism, resulting in additional fat burning at rest. It also stimulates the nervous system, which sends direct signals to fat cells, which break down fats. However, this will not affect fat loss unless you are calorie deficient, or if you do not burn more calories than you eat.

Here, coffee could only have an effect on the way you reduce your appetite after drinking coffee, which can lead to lower calorie intake – explains the nutritionist.

When it comes to lemon, Hanna adds that, like most types of fruit, it is healthy, but that there are no special, proven benefits when it comes to fat loss.

So, there is no confirmed evidence that combining coffee and lemon will provide additional benefits in losing fat.

Lemon coffee relieves headaches – true or false

This claim is almost completely unfounded. While some studies have shown that high caffeine consumption can increase the incidence of headaches, other studies have shown just the opposite.

If you have a headache on a daily basis, it may be helpful to experiment with caffeine intake and find out for yourself if and how much suits you best. But there is no evidence that adding lemon to coffee will alleviate the headache – says the nutritionist.

Lemon coffee helps skin health – true or false

It has been proven that healthy and beautiful skin is associated with increased intake of fruits and vegetables. However, the exact component in fruits and vegetables that is responsible for the perceived benefit is not known – explains Hana.

The amount of micronutrients you get from squeezed lemon juice is minimal, so if you want to work on skin health, focus on increasing your total intake of fruits and vegetables – says nutritionist Hanna

Side effects of coffee with lemon

Although there is no evidence that combining coffee and lemon will cause any specific side effects, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Lemon juice is sour and can cause damage to tooth enamel if used for a long time, so it is desirable to rinse your mouth with water after consumption. We should not forget that caffeine lasts for about five hours, which means that it will stay in our body for a long time after drinking a cup of coffee – says Hanna and adds that it is advised to consume caffeine by 3 pm at the latest, because it can adversely affect sleep.