Being pregnant is one of the most crucial stages of a woman’s life and she is extra cautious about trying anything new, especially concerning her diet habits. Pregnancy is a very delicate phase, and foods rich in nutrients don’t need to be safe to consume. It is therefore always advisable to be properly informed about what you are eating and what precautions you should take. One such controversial food item, which is a topic of dilemma for many pregnant women is – lemon water in pregnancy (1).
Lemon is a wonderful fruit with many health benefits; however, before consuming it, you must be aware of the pros and cons to make a balanced choice. Here is a quick guide that can help you decide the pros and cons of consuming lemon water during pregnancy.
Drinking Lemon Water During Pregnancy – Is It Safe?
Yes, it is safe to drink lemon water during pregnancy in moderation. A glass of lemon water is a quick way to quench your thirst and boost your mood. To avoid consuming harmful bacteria, buy fresh lemons and wash them cleanly first. Then, cut the lemon in half and squeeze the half into a glass by hand or using a lemon juice extractor. Add warm, cold, or hot water to it. After making it drink your lemon water in pregnancy immediately. You can squeeze the other half of the lemon into the same glass for a stronger flavor or store it in the fridge for a drink after. The water gets from lemon half contains nearly eight calories and gives you 20% of your daily vitamin C needs to you.
Benefits Of Taking Lemon Water During Pregnancy
Lemon water, a simple yet effective beverage, offers numerous benefits for pregnant women. Pregnant women can benefit from eating lemons in numerous ways.
Prevents Fetal Low Birth Weight
Lemon water is a low-calorie drink that can help you avoid excessive weight gain and prevents low birth weight in fetus.
Good source of Nutrition
Lemons are an almost complete source of all essential vitamins, minerals that are needed during pregnancy. Apart from being a rich source of vitamin C, lemon is also a rich in flavonoids, B-complex vitamin, vitamin A, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, niacin, vitamin E and riboflavin, all of which are vital nutrients for the growth and development of your unborn baby. Eating lemons during pregnancy may be an effective way of ensuring that you are getting these nutrients
Relieves Morning Sickness
Some women find that drinking lemon water can help alleviate nausea and vomiting, which are common symptoms of morning sickness when used in moderation (2). However, if you have severe nausea, you must not just rely on lemons, but seek medical advice.
Hydration
Lemon water is a great way to stay hydrated, which is crucial during pregnancy. Fatigue, lightheadedness, and other health problems can result from dehydration.
Vitamin C Boost
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps strengthen the immune system and aids in iron absorption. This is especially important for pregnant women, as their bodies require more iron to support both themselves and the growing fetus.
Aids Digestion and relieves constipation
Lemon water aids in digestion and helps in relieving constipation which is the most common problem as lemon water in pregnancy increases the peristalsis movements in the bowels and thus helps in eliminating the waste from your body.
Safeguard Against Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is very common during pregnancy. Lemon water with your meals can help you combat anemia by boosting iron absorption from plant-based foods.
Boosts Immunity
It’s important to stay fit and healthy during pregnancy, and lemon water prevents you from most common diseases like fever, common cold and flu. Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C and thus is loaded with health benefiting nutrient that improves the body’s natural defence mechanism and helps it to fight against virus and bacteria. Lemon also helps in thinning mucus, reducing phlegm and clearing the chocked respiratory system
Good for Bones
Lemon water is a great source of calcium and magnesium, thus helping in building bones and improving bone health. The potassium in lemon water nourishes the nerves and the brain cells.
Prevents urinal- genital Infections
Lemon water is rich in diuretic properties and is very beneficial for maintaining healthy kidney functions and thus prevents urinogenital infections in expecting mothers.
Lowers Hypertension
Consuming lemons can also help you in reducing your blood pressure (3). Basically, lemons help in keeping blood vessels soft and pliable; it removes any rigidity present there and thus reduces the condition of high blood pressure in many pregnant women. It is also thought to help in reducing cholesterol.
Side Effects Of Drinking Lemon Water During Pregnancy
While fresh lemon water is often touted as a healthy beverage, exercising caution during pregnancy is essential. Here are some key points to consider to avoid any adverse side effects of drinking lemon water during pregnancy:
Acid Reflux
The acidity in lemon water can exacerbate heartburn and acid reflux, which are common symptoms during pregnancy.
Tooth Enamel Erosion
The citric acid in lemon water can erode tooth enamel, especially if consumed in excess or without proper oral care during pregnancy (4).
Added Sugar
Some pregnant women may not enjoy fresh lemon water and instead prefer lemonade, containing a lot of sugar to improve its flavor. Excess amount of sugar calories may cause undesired weight gain during pregnancy.
Never drink ice-cold Lemon Water
Drinking ice-cold water with lemon in the morning can make you susceptible to colds. It is suggested to have lemon water at room temperature only. If you like, you can have the water slightly warm, especially in colder areas and months
Gargle and Rinse
Own to its acidic nature, and lemon water can cause the tooth enamel to weaken off. Hence after consuming lemon water, gargling and rinsing should be done so as to minimize the risk of dental problems.
Precautions to Take While Drinking Lemon Water During Pregnancy:
Before making any major dietary changes during pregnancy, always get advice from your healthcare provider. Here are a few precautions to take while drinking lemon water during pregnancy:
- Although drinking lemon water has its advantages, too much and too frequent consumption of lemon water can aggravate acidity in the stomach. Drink it moderately.
- Avoid drinking lemon water if you already have episodes of acid reflux or heartburn. Drink it with some snacks or after meals.
- If you have a history of allergies or sensitivities, proceed with caution when taking lemon water to avoid any problems.
- Do not add too much salt in lemon water if you have uncontrolled blood pressure during pregnancy. Better to avoid excess sugar in view of keeping calories under check.
Best Lemon Recipes For Pregnant Women
Drinking lemon juice can be refreshing in pregnancy time, especially if you have a pregnancy during summer. But don’t drink lemon juice available in cans with preserve and loads of sugar added into it. It would be best if you drink fresh lemon water in pregnancy. So here are two recipes of it –
1. Fresh Lemon Juice
How you can make lemon juice are given below.
- Take the fresh lemon and Cut it into half.
- Squeeze or use lemon extractor and take the half lemon and collect the juice in a bowl.
- Take a glass of clear water and add the lemon juice and mix it well.
- If you want, you can add some natural sweeteners like honey and drink it.
2. Lemon and Ginger Tea
Ginger and lemon tea can help with nausea and morning sickness also. It is one of the good health drink to have in pregnancy time.
- Take a glass of drinking water and boil the water.
- Take an inch of ginger and grate it and cut the lemon into slices.
- Now, Add ginger and two slices of lemon into the boiled water.
- Let it keep for ten minutes. Strain the mixture, and now you can consume the tea.
3. Lemon-Tulsi-Cucumber infused water:
If you’re looking to add a little more lemon to your diet, consider this thirst-quenching treat.
- Add 2 thin lemon slices (with seeds removed), 5-6 thin cucumber slices and a few tulsi leaves into a jar of water.
- Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours before enjoying this refreshing treat.
- Better to take room-temperature lemon water to avoid any health issues.
4. Lemon-Ginger-Turmeric water:
This turmeric, lemon, and ginger drink is a great pick-me-up for a winter health boost.
- Take a glass of drinking water and boil the water.
- Take an inch of ginger, grate it, and cut the lemon into slices.
- Now, add ginger, two slices of lemon and 1 tsp turmeric to the boiled water.
- Let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Strain the mixture, and now you can consume this soothing sip.
Safety Tips While Consuming Lemon Water During Pregnancy
- The lemon acidic nature can affect your teeth enamel. So, after drinking lemon water, you should gargle and rinse your oral cavity to avoid some dental problems.
- When you start taking lemon water in the pregnancy diet, you should begin with little amounts of lemon to check if you are facing any discomforts like heartburn or gastrointestinal.
- You use fresh lemon and freshly exact lemon juice only.
It is better to ask your doctor before taking lemon water in your regular diet. Lemons are known for their wide range of nutritional benefits, but while drinking it during pregnancy, it is very important to start with small or moderate amounts of lemon water. This will help you discover how lemon affects your body. All in all, lemon water is a great drink to have during pregnancy which can keep you hydrated while providing you with all the essential nutrients. Just make sure to use fresh lemons and always prepare fresh lemon water before consuming it.
FAQ’s
1. Can Lemon Water Help With Morning Sickness?
Yes, it can. it is refreshing in taste and very nutritious too. Perfect to sip on when suffering from morning sickness.
2. Can Lemon Water Create Acidity When Pregnant?
Yes, lemon is acidic. Ensure you do not over consume. If you have reactions to lemon water, it is best to avoid for a while.
3. Can I Have Lemon Water to get Relief From Constipation, During Pregnancy?
Yes, you can. It can improve bowel movements. Thus providing relief from constipation, which is common during pregnancy.
4. Can Lemon Water Provide Relief From UTIs?
Yes, it can. it has diuretic properties. This can improve kidney function, thus preventing UTIs.
5. Can I Drink Lemon Water Everyday During Pregnancy?
Yes, you can drink a glass of lemon water every day during pregnancy. However, make sure to take it in diluted form and eat something with it.
6. What is the Best Time to Drink Lemon Water?
The best time to drink lemon water is around your snack-time and after your meals.
Read Also: Falooda During Pregnancy
References
- Khorasani, F., Aryan, H., Sobhi, A., Aryan, R., Abavi-Sani, A., Ghazanfarpour, M., Saeidi, M., & Rajab Dizavandi, F. (2020). A systematic review of the efficacy of alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 40(1), 10–19.- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31215276/#
- Astuti, M., Djamilus, F., Nurfurqoni, F., & Rahayu, E. (2023). The Effect of Lemon Ginger Candy on Emesis Complaints in Pregnant Women at the First Trimester. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 5(2), 327-334 – https://jurnal.globalhealthsciencegroup.com/index.php/IJGHR/article/view/1695#
- AN EVALUATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEMON JUICE ON PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION AMONG ANTENATAL MOTHERS IN DOMMASANDRA PHC, BANGALORE. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 6 (Jan). 1402-1407] (ISSN 2320-5407) – https://www.journalijar.com/article/21695/an-evaluative-study-to-assess-the-effectiveness-of-lemon-juice-on-pregnancy-induced-hypertension-among-antenatal-mothers-in-dommasandra-phc,-bangalore/#
- Zimmer S, Kirchner G, Bizhang M, Benedix M. Influence of various acidic beverages on tooth erosion. Evaluation by a new method. PLoS One. 2015 Jun – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4452714/#
