Over the last few months, TikTok users have been adding lemon to their coffee, claiming that doing so is a surefire way to lose weight. The so-called #lemoncoffee challenge has gone viral, with millions of views of videos posted of people proudly displaying a used lemon alongside their morning cup of joe. If you’re a coffee-lover, you may think this trend sounds … disgusting, to put it lightly. But does adding a splash of lemon to your coffee actually work for weight loss? According to the experts, not so much. Here’s everything you need to know.
What we know about coffee and lemon for weight loss
“There is little evidence to suggest that drinking lemon-flavored coffee will help with weight loss,” says Cassie Christopher, RD, a registered dietitian and founder of the Stress Less Weight Mastery. It’s unclear where the myth originated, but Christopher believes it might be “a combination of the bulletproof coffee fad and advice to drink lemon water in the morning, both touted to help with weight loss.” There is research that suggests being sufficiently hydrated may boost metabolism. One November 2008 study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition (JCBN) showed a specific polyphenol from lemon may reduce weight gain and the risk of insulin resistance from overeating. However, the study is quite dated, and it was also done on mice. Furthermore, Christopher says that because coffee is a diuretic, lemon-flavored coffee is actually likely to “work against hydration,” and “there is likely not enough lemon in the coffee to have any real impact on health or metabolism.” Kayla Girgen, RD, a registered dietician and the founder of Nutrition Untapped, agrees that there’s “no truth that adding lemon juice to your coffee helps aid weight loss.”
What to know about lemon coffee and acid reflux
She contends that, on its own, coffee can act as a natural appetite suppressant, but “adding lemon juice, if anything, makes an acidic beverage even more acidic.” While it isn’t “dangerous,” per se, she says this could trigger reflux or heartburn. Plus, “you may be spoiling the enjoyment you get from your morning brew.” “I am not entirely sure where the idea of lemon juice in your coffee came from,” Girgen says. “Lemon water is touted for its ‘detox’ benefits by some influencers, but again, there is no scientific evidence. You have a liver and kidneys that help rid your body of excesses and toxins.” Girgen believes that any proposed benefits from adding lemon to your coffee may come from a “placebo effect than any known biochemical advantages.” That makes sense, right? If you’re adding lemon to your coffee in order to lose weight, you’re probably making some other, legitimate moves to shed a few pounds, such as exercising every day and cutting out fast food. “The bottom line is that staying hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids does have metabolic benefits, so overall hydration could be a factor for both the ‘detoxing’ effect of lemon water and coffee with lemon juice for weight loss,” Girgen says. That being said, if you’re enjoying it, there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with adding lemon to your coffee. “If you love the taste, then go for it, food is meant to be enjoyed!” Christopher says. “Beyond potentially curdling your creamer, there is little concern with adding a squeeze of lemon juice to your coffee.” However, if you ever find yourself “forcing” yourself to do anything to lose weight, she recommends using the National Eating Disorder Association screening tool to see if you would benefit from getting some help for your relationship with food or your body. Weight loss should always primarily be a health goal, not an aesthetic one. Next up: 13 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight
Sources
Cassie Christopher, RD, a registered dietitian and founder of the Stress Less Weight MasteryKayla Girgen, RD, a registered dietician and the founder of Nutrition Untapped
