Does lemon water help acid reflux?

Q: Does lemon water help acid reflux?

Often a trigger. Despite popular claims, there is no good evidence that lemon water helps reflux. Lemon juice is very acidic and is more likely to sting a sensitive oesophagus.

Common trigger

Despite popular claims, there is no good evidence that lemon water helps reflux. Lemon juice is very acidic and is more likely to sting a sensitive oesophagus.

Tips

If you like it, keep it very dilute and drink it with food.

Try instead

Plain water or cucumber water

Is it a trigger for you?

Reactions vary a lot between people. Log lemon and lemon water in the symptom diary for two weeks: it shows how often each food is followed by symptoms. Then try two weeks without it and compare.

Read the full diet guide →

Sources

Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(1):27-56.
NICE. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia in adults: investigation and management (CG184). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2014, updated 2019.