Q: Hi Doc. Please, is taking lemon water good for a woman trying to conceive? Thanks

A: Another variant of this question that I get often is whether lemon helps weight loss. I’ll discuss both.
Lemon is chock full of Vitamin C, an anti-oxidant and thus by extension could have some anti-cancer properties. Lemons are low in calories…perhaps that’s where their weight loss claim came from 😉 However, I don’t know how many people would have lemons for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Way too tart and sour! Most people add some lemon (slices or squeeze some of its juice) into water. This is okay provided that the amount of lemon juice is not overly much. Lemon juice contains ascorbic acid which could cause erosion of the enamel (the protective covering of the teeth), leaving one open to dental problems. Thus, it’s important to rinse out the mouth after taking lemon water drinks or lemons.

Now to pregnancy, I loved lemons during my pregnancies. They were the one thing guaranteed to ‘wake up’ my mouth and chase nausea far away. I also had a particular brand of very tart bubble gum, I indulged in 😀 These were key for me because, though I didn’t have the real bad case of morning sickness that sent you to the hospital, brushing my teeth in the morning always sent me into a bout of retching/vomitting. So, I always had a ready supply of the gum or lemon/lime to pop into my mouth once I was done brushing/retching! Not a very pleasant memory ;D

So, if lemons work for you to prevent nausea, go for it. Remember that moderation is key. A few drops (one or two) in a glass of water are enough to provide that tart kick that sends nausea far away. There is a catch here though…remember the heart burn associated with pregnancy. The acid content of lemon might make the heart burn and any pre-existing gastro-esophageal (stomach and esophagus/gullet) problems worse. So, this is all the more reason to be very moderate or stop if it exacerbates an already bad case of heart burn. Wherever and whenever in doubt, please be sure to see your doctor.

So, pregnant or not (including those trying to conceive) lemon water is fine in moderation as described above.

Please click on the links below for related topics:

Daily Health Tips: Weight Loss (The Role Of Lemons And Exercise)

Daily Health Tips: Can I Lose Weight By Taking Hot Drink And Lemon?

I hope you’ve all had a great day? Have an even better night 😀