recent trend focuses on the potential health benefits of drinking coffee with lemon.
Proponents claim that the mix can be nutritious and relieves headaches and diarrhea.
Since coffee and lemon each have multiple proven health effects, you may wonder whether drinking the two together offers any additional benefits.
What is coffee with lemon?
Coffee and lemons are two common ingredients found in almost every kitchen.
Coffee — one of the most consumed beverages worldwide — is made by brewing roasted coffee beans (1).
In fact, about 75% of Americans report drinking it daily, and it’s sought after mainly due to its caffeine content, which stimulates the central nervous system and increases alertness and mood (1, 2Trusted Source).
On the other hand, lemons are a fruit that belongs to the genus Citrus. They’re the world’s third most-produced citrus fruit, after oranges and mandarins (3Trusted Source).
They’re a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants — along with many other beneficial plant compounds — which is why people have used them for their medicinal properties for centuries (3Trusted Source).
The coffee with lemon trend suggests mixing 1 cup (240 milliliters) of coffee with the juice of 1 lemon.
While some may think that it’s an unusual combination, others believe that the benefits outweigh the odd flavor — although science may disagree.
This article reviews the evidence on coffee with lemon to either validate or debunk the claims.
Coffee and lemon are two common ingredients with beneficial effects on your health. While some believe that mixing the two offers impressive benefits, science may disagree.
Coffee and lemons pack multiple health benefits
Both coffee and lemons have many proven health benefits, which are predominantly associated with their high content of antioxidants. These molecules protect your body from the harmful effects of excessive amounts of free radicals (4Trusted Source).
Here’s an overview of the benefits that each has to offer.
Evidence-based benefits of coffee
Roasted coffee beans contain over 1,000 bioactive compounds, but caffeine and chlorogenic acid (CGA) stand out as key active compounds with antioxidant capacity (5Trusted Source).
The two activate pathways that protect against cancer growth, linking coffee to a reduced risk of several types of cancer, including (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source):
liver
prostate
endometrial
breast
gastrointestinal
colorectal
Additionally, coffee has been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart and liver disease, and depression, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (1, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
Lastly, its caffeine content is responsible for the drink’s energy-boosting effect, positive influence on endurance exercise performance, and ability to increase the number of calories you burn (9Trusted Source, 10).
Evidence-based benefits of lemon juice
Lemons are a great source of vitamin C and flavonoids, both of which act as powerful antioxidants (11Trusted Source).
Vitamin C and citrus flavonoids have been linked to a lower risk of some cancers (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).
Also, both compounds offer protection against heart disease, while vitamin C protects your immune system and helps fight infections (11Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
As you can see, coffee and lemons offer a wide range of benefits that protect your body from chronic ailments. Still, mixing the two doesn’t necessarily translate to a more potent drink.
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