Is lemon water safe to drink while pregnant? The answer is yes. If you use it in moderation, including lemon juice in your diet is safe. Overconsumption, however, can cause you to detox too quickly, which is bad for both you and your baby. As with anything in life, moderation is key, but also be sure to check with your OB/GYN before deciding to start including it in your diet. For more information, view our blog about lemon water.
Drinking Lemon Water While Pregnant
To avoid the possibility of consuming harmful bacteria, be sure to buy fresh lemons and wash them first. Then, cut it in half and squeeze the half into a glass by hand or using a citrus juice extractor. Add warm, cold or hot water. Drink your lemon water immediately after making it. You can squeeze the other half of the lemon into the same glass for a stronger flavor or store it in the fridge for another drink later. The juice you get from half a lemon contains roughly eight calories and provides you with 20% of your daily vitamin C needs.
Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water While Pregnant
- Alkalize the Body – When your body’s pH levels are imbalanced and become too acidic, it will help to take some of the alkaline properties from your teeth and bones to restore balance. While you may think lemon water would be acidic, it is alkaline in your body, helping to reduce the symptoms of acidosis.
- Bone and Baby Health – Lemon water contains magnesium and calcium, both of which help with bone health and development. It also contains potassium which nourishes brain cells, nerves and helps with fetal bone development. By drinking lemon water, you not only experience the benefits yourself, but also pass them to your baby.
- Boost Immunity – Lemons are known for their health benefits as they contain high levels of vitamin C. This helps to improve your immune system, preventing infections like colds and fevers.
- Hydration – Staying hydrated while pregnant is important to prevent symptoms like nausea, headache, dizziness, cramping and edema.
- Maintain Blood Pressure – The vitamins found in lemons help to strengthen your blood vessels, keeping them flexible and soft. This helps to prevent any internal bleeding and can reduce both your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels.
- Prevent Urogenital Infections – Lemon water is a diuretic, supporting healthy kidney function and preventing urogenital infections in pregnant women.
- Relieve Constipation – Many pregnant women experience constipation. One glass of lemon water each day can help to prevent this, as it stimulates your liver and bowels to help eliminate waste more easily and effectively.
- Treat Indigestion – Lemon water helps keep your digestive system running well, alleviating indigestion.
- Treat Morning Sickness – While there is no concrete scientific evidence, lemons have been shown to reduce the nauseous feelings experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy. It acts as a freshener for your mouth as well, which can help with being nauseated. It can also help to decrease the amount of phlegm and bile that accumulate in your digestive tract.
- Treat Swollen Feet – Swelling of the feet, also known as edema is fairly common among pregnant women. It can be painful and uncomfortable and often unhealthy. Lemon water can help ease the pain of edema and reduce the symptoms.
Potential Side Effects of Drinking Lemon Water While Pregnant
- Avoid Ice-Cold Lemon Water – Cold lemon water can occasionally lead to a cough or cold. Be sure you drink it at room temperature or slightly warmer, particularly during the winter months.
- Dental Problems – During pregnancy, your body will try to take calcium from your bones and teeth. The citric acid in lemons can damage the enamel of your teeth, causing dental problems. If you notice your teeth changing in color or feeling, avoid lemon water or drink through a straw.
- Heartburn or Internal Discomfort – The acidity of lemon water can aggravate or trigger symptoms of heartburn that you may already be experiencing. Avoid lemons until these symptoms subside.
Being conscious of what you consume while pregnant is important. If you’re looking for a way to learn about natural benefits during pregnancy, consider enrolling in a naturopathic nutrition course at the Edison Institute of Nutrition and earn a holistic nutritionist degree. We strive to provide you with the knowledge for you and your family to live well and stay healthy.
We are an internationally recognized school offering nutrition classes online. If you’d like to learn more about any of our programs, call us today at or contact us online.
