How Can Adding Lemon Juice to Water Make the Water Alkaline?

Last Updated: Oct 21, 2013 | By Jodi Geigle

Photo Caption Fresh-squeezed lemon juice Photo Credit Martin Poole/Digital Vision/Getty Images

To function properly, your blood requires healthy acid versus alkaline, or pH, levels. Systems in your body carefully maintain normal blood pH levels, which fall between 7.35 and 7.45, regardless of your diet. While water with lemon juice may alter the pH of your urine, it won't likely
influence the overall acidity of your body. Learning more about the tangy beverage and your body's pH system may inspire you to make wise dietary decisions.

Acidic Yet Alkalizing?

On the pH scale, a score of 7 is considered neutral. Anything measuring 6.9 or below is considered an acid, and anything rating 7.1 and above is considered an alkali. While water has a pH of 7, lemons are acidic, measuring at 2 to 3. The popular belief that lemons become alkaline during digestion isn't upheld by science. Under no circumstances can an acidic food alkalize your blood, said Kat Day, a chemist and science blogger in Oxfordshire, England. Because foods are not known to alter the pH of your blood or body, lemons won't acidify you either. Drinking lemon juice with water may increase the acid level of your urine, however, which is a sign that your kidneys are doing their job -- ridding you of excess acid.

An Alkalizing Diet

A modern diet, rich in unhealthy fats, refined grains and added sugars, increases urinary acid levels, according to Tanis Fenton, a registered dietitian, epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta. If you tend to dine on fast food and grab more packaged snacks than whole foods, shifting your eating habits to emphasize nutritious fare will not only reduce your urine's acidity, but bolster your wellness. To alkalize your urine and gain everything from improved energy levels and weight control to a reduced risk for chronic disease, focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, such as fish and legumes, and healthy fat sources, like nuts and seeds.

Benefits of Lemon Juice

Lemon juice may not do much for your pH control, but it can provide other benefits. Its high concentration of vitamin C promotes immune system strength, increasing your body's ability to fight off illness and disease. One ounce of lemon juice provides 23 percent of adults' daily need for vitamin C. Lemon juice also provides a nutritious, low-calorie way to add flavor to your water. Choosing water with a splash of lemon juice instead of a 20-ounce soda saves you up to 18 teaspoons of sugar and 240 calories. Because sugary fare causes your body to excrete excess acid, doing so will also produce less acidic urine.

What About Alkaline Water?

Filtered water manufacturers claim that alkaline water, which has a pH higher than tap water, can neutralize acid in your blood, boost energy, speed metabolism and even slow the aging process. Most of these claims are unproven, though limited research has shown that alkaline water may reduce bone loss in pre-menopausal women, according to the health department at Columbia University. This is because your body draws calcium from your bones to regulate your pH level, bringing it back to a normal range after eating unhealthy foods. For a sure way to improve your bone health and maintain healthy pH levels, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, along with plenty of calcium and vitamin D sources, such as fortified milk and salmon.

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