Lemon Coffee Is Going Viral on TikTok Again
There have been more "lose weight fast!" trends on social media that we can possibly count or even keep up with (Internal shower drinks! Japanese mint patches!) but one curious trend seems to have gotten a lot more traction than others. We're talking the TikTok sensation of squeezing a lemon in your coffee to "Burn Belly Fat!" or "Drop Weight in 7 Days!"
TikToks with the hashtag #LemonCoffee have collectively gathered millions of views, and there are countless YouTube videos that pair dubious "before and after" photos with shots of someone squeezing a lemon into their morning coffee, then making an exaggerated grimace into the camera as they drink it down.
For those of us who prefer a smoother, sweeter sip, such as a cinnamon dolce latte or an almond milk mocha, lemon and coffee does sound rather, um, disgusting, but can it actually work? And could this citrus Joe go even one step further and cure headaches and GI issues as some people claim? Let's break it down:
Editor's note: We want to acknowledge that weight loss, health and body image are complex subjects — before deciding to go on a diet, we invite you to gain a broader perspective by reading our exploration into the hazards of diet culture.
Let's explore coffee for weight loss.
“My first thought when I heard about this trend is that it doesn't sound very tasty!” says Alexandra Sowa, MD, a metabolic health physician, clinical professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine and founder of SoWell Health. But as far as weight-loss goes? "There is no evidence that there is any particular benefit in drinking these two ingredients together," Dr. Sowa says.
But the trend is not without some logic: Black coffee, which is almost calorie-free, has long been a staple of diet plans. That's of course thanks to the caffeine, a stimulant that can rev up your body's engine for the day. Dr. Sowa explains how: “Caffeine works by blocking a neurotransmitter called adenosine, which can lead to an increase in stimulating neurotransmitters like dopamine, which helps you feel more awake and energized—that’s why we all reach for our morning coffee,” she says. While there is some evidence that this process may increase your basal metabolism rate (the amount of energy your cells burn simply by keeping your basic body functions chugging along), Dr. Sowa points out that to get this benefit, you would need to drink caffeine in large quantities—one study estimated the amount at four cups a day—and that would affect your health in other ways, including decreased sleep, increased anxiety, and dehydration. Plus, any boost would be short-lived as your body began to tolerate the caffeine, Dr. Sowa says. “No doctor I know would ever recommend this as a way to lose weight,” she adds.
And what about lemon for weight loss?
On to the second ingredient in this magical brew, the tangy yellow citrus fruit, lemon. You may have heard that drinking lemon water can help you lose weight, but the emphasis here should be on the second word in that phrase, not the first. “There's nothing magic about lemon — it's about staying hydrated by drinking water, and the lemon just adds flavor,” says Dr. Sowa. “There are some complex biochemical processes behind it, but the most basic element is that drinking water keeps you full. We get these hunger signals to our brain that are often really thirst signals, but your body knows that if it tells you to eat something, in the process of eating, you'll generally consume water. By just staying hydrated, you can generally quell some of those signals.”
And then, of course, there is this simple fact: “If someone does lose weight drinking lemon water, it may simply be because the person is swapping out sugar-sweetened beverages for the lemon water,” points out Florida-based dietitian Maryann Walsh, RD.
Does lemon coffee have any other health benefits?
Once again, there may be some slight health benefits, but those generally come from drinking coffee — there's nothing special about adding lemon to it. These include:
Stopping headaches: Caffeine is actually an ingredient in many headache remedies. Research shows that it can be an effective way to block migraine pain—however, in some people caffeine is actually a trigger for migraines, so you have to know your body's reaction. Also, coffee is known to stop headaches in the morning, mainly for people who get headaches when they stop drinking coffee. Lemon has nothing to do with any of this.
Improving brain health: One recent review found that drinking coffee and tea may lower your risk for dementia. Again, no mention of lemon.
Boosting your mood: Drink a cup of coffee, and you may instantly feel better. In fact, one large study found that women who drank several cups of coffee a day had lower rates of depression than those who drank less than a cup a day. Any hint of lemon in this study? Nope.
Where did this trend come from?
If you think back to the craze for Bulletproof Coffee a few years back, plus the long history of detox teas, celery juice diets apple cider vinegar and every other liquid-based weight-loss hack of the last few decades, there has always been an idea that chugging down some magic potion can give you the body you desire, without having to adjust your eating or exercise habits. And this one in particular combines two things you probably have on your kitchen counter right now. "It's most likely appealing because the combo is easy, inexpensive and natural,” says Walsh. “There is confusion about so many things in the world of nutrition like artificial sweeteners, dairy products and GMOs, so by using two items which are pretty much as close to natural as possible, coffee and lemon, you're likely to gain trust easily, even when the actual science of whether this combo actually works is lacking.”
How does it lemon coffee taste?
Coffee bean varieties are sometimes described as having a "lemony" or "citrusy" tone, so it's not completely out of left field that the two flavors can go together. And while coffee swimming with lemon juice can sound rather mouth-puckering if you're used to a creamy, sweetened morning brew, there is an Algerian tradition of drinking Mazagran, which is basically iced coffee with a slice of lemon. In the name of science and journalism, I tried this concoction and found the flavor surprisingly... okay. It was bracing, but not as bitter as expected, though I have no plans to replace my daily oat-milk latte. If you want to try it, go ahead! But don't squeeze lemon into a latte or even a regular drip that has a splash of milk in it—the lemon juice will curdle any dairy in the cup, and that can sour you on the flavor more than the citrusy tang.
Is drinking lemon coffee dangerous?
As far as TikTok trends or "challenges" go, at least this one seems fairly harmless. However, it's important to note that drinking caffeine, especially a large quantity, can result in dizziness, heart palpitations, anxiety, stomach problems and elevated heart rate, amongst other side effects. Too much citrus can also lead to stomach problems and heartburn.
So, does coffee with lemon really work for weight loss?
If you do replace a very caloric morning drink — say, a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte—with unsweetened black coffee with lemon, then yes, there might be some weight-loss benefit. But rather than take the joy out of your morning ritual by forcing yourself to drink something you don't like, take this advice from Dr. Sowa: Simply drink a tall glass of water as soon as you wake up, to make sure you're hydrated and then enjoy your usual, lemon-free cup of coffee. “Please remember that any health or weight loss hack that sounds too fast, too easy, or too good to be true generally is,” she says.
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