Will Lemon Water Kick You Out of Ketosis

author avatar Dr. Eric Berg 08/31/2023

Will drinking lemon water ruin your keto diet? I address your worries in this article.

RELATED: Use Ginger Lemon Water to do Intermittent Fasting Longer   

In this article:

  1. The Importance of Drinking Water While on a Keto Diet
  2. Is Lemon Water Good for You?
  3. Can Lemon Water Detox Help with Ketosis?
  4. How Should You Consume Lemon Water?
  5. How to Make Lemon Water a Part of Your Weight Loss Drink

Drinking Lemon Water on Keto Diet

 

The Importance of Drinking Water While on a Keto Diet

Staying hydrated is crucial, regardless of the type of diet you follow. But, when you're on a low-carb diet, such as keto, hydration is more essential because carbs hold sodium and water in your body. When your body limits carb intake, sodium and water are excreted, which also means you hold less water. This is the reason why drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated when on keto is a priority compared to other diet types.

You may also experience sugar cravings and hunger pangs when on keto, and this is usually because your body lacks water. You can drink water instead to compensate for the cravings and consume lemon water from time to time. Water also aids in burning excess fat faster because when your body breaks down fats, it requires water molecules.

 

Is Lemon Water Good for You?

Young smiling women clinking with glasses of water with lemon | Will Lemon Water Kick You Out of Ketosis

Healthwise, there are several benefits of lemon water you can take advantage of, such as it:

  • Cleanses Your Body of Toxins

Consuming lemon water on an empty stomach cleanses your body of toxins. It helps decrease your uric acid to prevent the development of gout and kidney stones. The citrates in the lemon also help neutralize oxalates from spinach, certain cruciferous vegetables, and other foods. 

  • Helps Freshens Breath

The lemon fruit has a natural citrus scent, and the scent even sticks to your hands if you rub its skin or squeeze the juice. Lemon water helps provide the same effect to your breath, too. You can drink the water first thing in the morning or drink it after meals. The fruit has the ability to stimulate saliva, and water alone prevents having a dry mouth, which is one of the common causes of bad breath.

  • Enhances Skin Quality

Vitamin C in the lemon fruit is full of antioxidant properties that play an important role in making your skin look healthy. The vitamin provides beneficial effects on the skin cells, helping the skin improve its overall quality. Water increases moisture in your skin, and if you don't have enough of this, your skin becomes dry and is prone to wrinkles. Drinking warm or cold lemon water may help bring it back to its normal health.

  • Aids in Digestion

The atomic structure of lemon juice is similar to that of the digestive juices in the intestine. It tricks the liver in creating bile, which is a fluid in the body that supports the smooth movement of food through the stomach. So, the more you drink lemon water, the more efficient your digestion will be. 

  • Boosts Mood and Energy

Drinking lemon water in the morning does wonders in improving your mood and energy, too. The human body naturally gets energy from the molecules and atoms in the foods we eat. The negatively charged ions present in lemons and other types of foods lead to an improvement in energy levels. The scent of the fruit may also help lighten up your mood and lower stress levels. 

Oxalates Definition: Also known as oxalic acid, these bind to minerals in the gut and prevent them from getting absorbed into the body. This can lead to the formation of kidney stones.

 

Can Lemon Water Detox Help with Ketosis?

Lemon water | Will Lemon Water Kick You Out of Ketosis

Since lemon is a fruit, it is likely to have fructose in it. But, does it contain too much sugar to keep you from properly maintaining a keto diet or high-fat diet? Actually, it doesn’t. An ounce of lemon juice contains only 2 grams of carbs. 

You’re allowed to have 20–50 grams of carbohydrates per day when you’re on the ketogenic diet. Two grams of carbs is a very small amount. Even though it may kick you out of ketosis a tiny bit, your body will go right back in. Lemon water can give you the same general benefits it gives to those who aren’t on a keto diet.

RELATED: Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice for the Liver 

 

How Should You Consume Lemon Water?

With its low carbohydrate content, going on a lemon water cleanse actually works well for ketosis but only the unsweetened kind. Unprocessed lemons or raw lemons contain high amounts of vitamin C. The bottled ones you buy have been pasteurized, which means that the vitamin C content has been killed.

Aside from that, the best way to drink it is with warm water. The temperature aids in extracting vitamin C from the fruit, which is what it is rich in. It’s also ideal to drink lemon water when you wake up because your body is dehydrated overnight. Sleep makes your body lose a lot of water because of breathing. This is why you need to replenish the amount of water that was lost when you wake up.  

 

How to Make Lemon Water a Part of Your Weight Loss Drink

Fitness runner woman drinking water or energy drink of a sport bottle | Will Lemon Water Kick You Out of Ketosis

If you’re on a keto diet and trying to lose weight, you can mix together cranberry juice, apple cider vinegar, and unsweetened lemon juice in water. You can use lime as a substitute for lemon if you can’t find the right kind. It is good to consume 5 glasses of this drink in a day. But, don’t force it when you’re not thirsty.

You can also squeeze some fresh lemons in an ice cube tray and freeze them. Pop some ice cubes in your glass of water for a refreshing beverage. If you think the juice is too strong, you can cut the fruit into slices and soak them in your water. 

If you want to add some sweetness to your water recipe, you can mix a little bit of honey in your warm lemon water. This recipe may aid in easing symptoms of the common cold and flu if you drink it every morning. You can use half of the fresh fruit and mix it with one teaspoon of raw honey. 

Adding some minty flavor to your water is also a good option for detoxification. The mint and sour flavors of the main ingredients may help you feel refreshed when you're feeling icky. Just use half of the fruit and mix it with some fresh mint leaves in hot water. You can add raw honey to it, too, if you want to sweeten it up a little. 

There are a lot of benefits to drinking lemon water. It can assist in weight loss and keep your diet on track. So, don’t worry about drinking it during ketosis. Continue to consume your lemon water.

Have you tried drinking lemon water during your keto diet? Share your experience in the comments section below.

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Disclaimer: Our educational content is not meant or intended for medical advice or treatment.

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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