But with regards to lemon juice, when processed by the body, the result is an alkaline effect.

You see, lemon has a PH of around 2 which highly acidic. That is why it is so sour.

But lemon contains mineral salts which trigger a metabolic transformation turning it from acid to alkaline.

It’s interesting to note that calcium is an alkaline mineral and the citric acid in lemon actually helps to keep and control calcium rather than to de-calcify the body or cause any damage to bones or joints.

So drinking lemon can further alkalize the body even though the initial reaction in your mouth is acidic.

But this doesn’t mean that lemon juice will help to alleviate acid reflux symptoms in all people

Some people with an already damaged esophagus may not benefit from citrus fruits or lemon in particular and should not even try ingesting it. And many heartburn sufferers simply cannot tolerate anything that is too acidic including lemons and tomatoes.

What can you do to make the most out of lemon juice

If you don’t suffer from esophageal erosion then you can try squeezing organic lemon juice and diluting it with water. It can provide relief from heartburn and can also cleanse your  system when taken on an empty stomach.

So first thing in the morning, drink a glass of half a lemon with lukewarm water and wait for a few minutes. See how you react.

When diluted with water, lemon will lose some of its acidic nature and should be safe with no side effects for most heartburn sufferers. Some people report an immediate heartburn relief after ingesting diluted lemon juice.

I wouldn’t recommend drinking undiluted lemon juice right from the start. It is too acidic and may worsen esophageal damage.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your acid reflux? Check out my Heartburn No More program

The post Does lemon water help acid reflux? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.