FAQ - Can I have lemon juice in hot water in the morning?

Q) I was just wondering if it would be okay to have a fresh squeezed lemon in hot water in the morning. I have read that this is very good for getting your metabolism going, I just wonder what you think about it, do you think it is beneficial? I've read your books and can see the
extensive research you have done and value your opinion.

A) This is a question I haven't had before! They're always my favourites! The simple answer to your question is - yes it is OK, unless you care about the enamel of your teeth, as lemon juice in the mouth (let alone warm lemon juice!) is really not good for your teeth. Teeth aside, in
terms of is it beneficial or not, I can't see any real benefit. The key thing to get your metabolism going in the morning is to 'break' the 'fast' i.e. to have breakfast/eat something. The body won't register that anything has changed if you drink plain water and I can't see that a tiny bit of lemon juice added is going to 'wake the body up' in any significant way. You're so much better off just getting your bowl of porridge down you soon after waking!

I found the article below (from the Daily Mail Dec 2007) about the idea of lemon being of benefit to digestion. I can't buy into this at all....

The mouth is alkaline (a good environment for teeth) and the stomach is highly acidic. So, 1) you don't need lemon juice to make the stomach even more acidic (it may just give you tummy ache) 2) you don't want to turn the mouth acidic instead of alkaline a) for teeth and b) because
the alkaline state of the mouth is perfect for carbs to start being digested. Hence, if you have your lemon juice and then porridge while the mouth may still be acidic, you will be trying to digest a carb in the wrong environment.

The bottom line would be - if you really enjoy it and your teeth are not a worry then it won't do too much harm but I can't see it doing any good!
Hope this helps
All the best - Zoe

Lose weight for Christmas with the Lemon Juice Diet (extract from The Daily Mail)

By LOUISE ATKINSON
Last updated at 15:54 11 December 2007

Drink lemon juice with warm water every morning to stimulate your digestive system.

Hoping to lose a few pounds before Christmas but gloomy about your chances of success with conventional diets? Then lemons could be the answer.

In a new book, The Lemon Juice Diet, leading health writer Theresa Cheung suggests that the reason so many of us battle with our weight is because our digestive systems are not working properly - and that the conventional dieting process tends to exacerbate that.

However, including lemons in your diet - both juice and peel - will boost your digestion and, if you also eat healthily and exercise, can help you lose weight.

"Research seems to show that if your digestive system is not working correctly, healthy weight-loss is almost impossible," says Cheung. "The problem is that poor digestion can stop your body getting the nutrients it needs to burn fat. It can also cause a build-up of toxins in your body, leaving you feeling sluggish and depressed.

"This, in turn, slows down your metabolism, making any weight-loss goals unattainable."

The solution is lemons. "When it comes to boosting the body's digestive and detox systems, lemon is a natural powerhouse," says Cheung.

Zoe Harcombe: The Harcombe Diet