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Is lemon water good for hangovers? If you’re asking this question, chances are you’ve tried most hangover cure remedies in the past, but nothing’s worked well.
Well, you’re not alone. With so many hangover cure myths out there it’s hard to separate the truth from the health fads.
Now you’ve heard that lemon water can help reduce symptoms, you’re wondering if the same is true for this hangover remedy.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the benefits of lemon water before moving onto whether it’s for a hangover.
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What's in lemon water
So, before we can answer the question about whether Lemon water is good for a hangover, it’s first important to make sure that we have the same definition of what it is.
Some people consider Lemon water as simply being a few slices of lemon in a glass of water. However, others would also consider lemon water as squeezed fresh lemon in water.
Other than the fact that lemon water (like plain water) is a source of hydration, lemons also contain vitamin C and antioxidants.
And squeezing a fresh lemon into water will naturally provide higher amounts of these nutrients compared to just sliced lemons.
Causes of a hangover
Before we get into whether lemon water is good for hangovers, we first need to go over the causes of a hangover. In truth, the science of hangovers is complicated and not fully understood. But scientists agree that the following play a part:
- Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes your kidneys flush out more water. Over the course of a night out, this can lead to dehydration.
- Inflammation: Alcohol is broken down in your liver into acetaldehyde (toxic) before being converted to acetic acid (harmless). Unfortunately, the middle step of this process causes problems because acetaldehyde reacts with your cells causing inflammation.
- Sleep disturbance: alcohol blocks your brain from reaching the REM stage of sleep. Getting enough REM sleep is essential for a fully rested mind.
In summary, hangovers are caused by a combination of the above-mentioned damaging effects of alcohol.
Is lemon water good for hangovers?
Lemon water isn’t a hangover cure, but it can be a refreshing and hydrating option. While it contains small amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants, these nutrients are minimal and unlikely to significantly alleviate hangover symptoms.
Lemon water is essentially water with a hint of natural flavoring, making it easier for some people to drink when hungover.
Staying hydrated is crucial for hangover recovery, and if lemon water is more palatable to you than plain water, it can encourage better hydration.
Although lemon water contains trace amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants, these are not present in high enough quantities to have a noticeable impact on your body’s recovery.
It’s best to focus on hydration, light meals, and rest for effective hangover relief. Lemon water can complement these efforts but shouldn’t be relied on for significant benefits.
Is lemon water a hangover cure?
You’ve probably guessed the answer to this question already. Lemon water is not a hangover cure.
In fact, a real hangover cure doesn’t exist.
You may find that certain vitamins and herbal extracts can potentially support recovery, but nothing will be a “cure”.
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Are there any negatives?
Lemons, like other citrus fruits, contain citric acid. Acids are acidic, obviously.
The bottom line is that for some people, drinking lemon water can bring about indigestion. Therefore, lemon water may exacerbate hangover heartburn.
Anything else to consider?
Hangovers are a sign from your body that you’ve been drinking too much alcohol for it to handle. Drinking lemon water for a hangover is the wrong approach.
When it comes to hangovers, the best cure is to prevent getting one in the first place. And all that’s required is to drink less alcohol, drink plenty of water and make sure not to drink on an empty stomach.
In addition, you may want to consider sticking to lighter-colored drinks that have fewer congeners. That’s because darker-colored drinks that have more congeners are known to make hangovers more severe.
Lemon water for hangovers – Final verdict
That brings us to the end of our look at lemon water for hangovers.
We’ve walked you through some of the basic things you need to know about why alcohol causes hangovers and the nutritional benefit of lemon water.
Unfortunately, it’s very unlikely that lemon water is going to have any particular benefit for hangovers. Aside from the fact it will rehydrate you.
Other than that, for some people, it’s a more palatable drink than plain water when hungover. And if that’s the case for you, lemon water is a good hangover drink option for you.