A recent trend focuses on the weight loss benefits of drinking coffee with lemon.
Proponents claim that drinking the mixture is nutritious and melts fat.
Both coffee and lemon have a number of proven health effects, so advocates believe that drinking the two together offers some additional benefits.
This article examines the evidence on drinking coffee with lemon for weight loss to confirm or disprove the claim.
Coffee with lemon
Both coffee and lemons are well known in our country, as they are common ingredients in almost every kitchen.
Coffee – one of the most consumed beverages worldwide – is made by boiling roasted coffee beans. (1)
The bitter drink is made from the roasted seeds of several species of evergreen shrubs from the genus Coffea, and the history of coffee is interesting.
Many people drink it every day because of its caffeine content, which stimulates the central nervous system and increases mood and alertness. ( 2 )
On the other hand, lemons are a fruit that belongs to the citrus family. They are the third most produced citrus fruits in the world after oranges and tangerines. ( 3 )
They are an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants – along with many other beneficial plant compounds – and have been used by humans for centuries for their medicinal properties.
The trend of drinking coffee with lemon involves mixing 1 cup of coffee with the juice of 1 lemon.
While some think it’s an odd combination, others think the benefits outweigh the weird taste—though science may disagree.
Coffee and lemons have many health benefits
Both coffee and lemons have a number of proven health benefits, mostly attributed to their high antioxidant content. These protect you from the harmful effects of excessive amounts of free radicals. ( 4 )
Here is an overview of the benefits of coffee and lemons.
Evidence for the benefits of coffee
Roasted coffee beans contain more than 1,000 bioactive compounds, but caffeine and chlorogenic acid (CGA) stand out as key active compounds with antioxidant capacity. (5)
Both activate pathways that protect against cancer growth, linking coffee to a reduced risk of several types of cancer, including: ( 6 )( 7 )( 8 )
- liver
- prostate
- endometrium
- chest
- gastrointestinal tract
- colorectal
In addition, coffee is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart and liver disease, and depression, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Finally, the caffeine content is responsible for the drink’s energy-boosting effect, its positive impact on endurance exercise, and its ability to increase the number of calories burned. (9) (10)
Evidence for the benefits of lemon juice
Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C and flavonoids, which act as powerful antioxidants. ( 11 )
Vitamin C and citrus flavonoids are associated with a lower risk of certain cancers. ( 12 )
In addition, both compounds offer protection against heart disease, while vitamin C protects your immune system and helps fight infection. ( 13 )
As you can see, coffee and lemons offer a wide range of benefits that protect your body from chronic diseases. Still, mixing the two doesn’t necessarily make for a stronger drink.
Does drinking coffee with lemon help you lose weight?
This belief prevails among various trends involving the use of lemon, but after all, neither lemon nor coffee can melt fat.
The only way to get rid of unwanted fat is to eat fewer calories or burn more calories. Therefore, this statement is false.
However, studies show that coffee can help with weight loss, so some people may lose some weight after consuming the drink.
Recent studies have shown that caffeine can stimulate brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of metabolically active adipose tissue that decreases with age and can metabolize carbohydrates and fats.
One test-tube and human study found that caffeine from a cup of coffee can increase BAT activity, resulting in an increase in metabolic rate.
Similarly, studies suggest that caffeine can enhance the effects of exercise, although more studies are needed. ( 14 )
However, the potential weight loss effect may be due to the caffeine in the coffee rather than drinking the lemon coffee blend for weight loss.
Disadvantages of coffee with lemon drink
The disadvantages of drinking coffee with lemon as well as the benefits are related to each of the two ingredients.
For example, evidence suggests that heavy coffee drinkers can become addicted to caffeine, which the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes as a clinical disease. ( 15 )
Additional studies also show that regular caffeine consumption is associated with sleep disturbances and associated daytime sleepiness, increased risk of miscarriage, and heartburn. (16) (17)
As for lemons, although they are generally healthy, some people may be allergic to the juice, seeds, or peels of citrus fruits. ( 30 )
In addition, lemons contain citric acid, which is a known factor in tooth erosion. ( 31 )
Conclusion
Coffee and lemons offer many health benefits, mainly due to their antioxidant content.
However, there is no evidence to support the claim that drinking coffee with lemon leads to fat melting and desired weight loss.
As for the other claims about the benefits of the mixture, you can get them by drinking coffee or lemon juice separately. So no need to mix the two, oats if you don’t feel like it.