Table of contents:
- Why does drinking lemon water worsen ulcer symptoms?
- What must be considered before drinking lemon water during an ulcer
Not a few people believe that drinking lemon water can help relieve ulcer symptoms, even though the taste tends to be sour. He said, lemon water has an alkalizing effect or can neutralize stomach acid. Unfortunately, researchers recently revealed the opposite fact, namely the effect of lemon water can exacerbate ulcer symptoms.
Why does drinking lemon water worsen ulcer symptoms?
Acidic foods and drinks are the biggest enemy for ulcer sufferers. Keep in mind that lemon is one of the fruits that taste sour, so it should be avoided by those of you who have ulcers.
Musgrave, a lecturer in pharmacy at the University of Adelaide, told the Huffington Post that no research has yet proven that lemon water can reduce heartburn symptoms. In fact, the acid content in lemons can worsen acid reflux.
There are many causes for indigestion, ranging from stomach acid reflux (GERD), stomach irritation, or gallstones. Of the many causes of indigestion, in fact almost all of them start from rising stomach acid.
Lemon has a pH of 3 which means it is very acidic, while water has a pH of 7, aka neutral. When you drink lemon water, this means you add acid to the stomach.
The higher the acid level in the stomach, then this actually makes the stomach acid rise faster. This can erode the already thin lining of the stomach and worsen irritation. Instead of relieving symptoms, this can actually worsen the symptoms of an ulcer.
What must be considered before drinking lemon water during an ulcer
Ulcer sufferers are not recommended to drink lemon water so that their stomach acid does not rise and gets worse. However, if you want to try drinking lemon water, there are a few rules that you should pay attention to, including:
- Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice in a glass of water. This aims to reduce the acid level of lemon before drinking.
- Take one sip slowly and preview your digestive reaction. If the stomach starts to feel sore, stop immediately and drink lots of water to neutralize stomach acid.
- Use a straw when drinking lemon water, as the acid content can erode tooth enamel.
If your ulcer symptoms get worse after drinking lemon water, you should consult a doctor and switch to medical or other natural ulcer drugs that are safer.
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