Is Lemon Water Acidic or Alkaline?
Alkaline, but only slightly: lemon juice has a PRAL of −2.3 per 100 ml, and the juice of half a lemon in a glass of water comes to about −0.7. It's a good start to your day, but not a program to "de-acidify" your body.
Why lemon water is alkaline
Your body burns off the citric acid during metabolism, and the potassium stays behind. That's why the sour juice ends up alkalizing. In the amount you actually drink, its contribution is small, about the same as a quarter of an apple. Drinking lemon water in the morning does no harm, but it doesn't replace a serving of vegetables.
Two practical tips: citric acid attacks tooth enamel, so rinse with plain water after drinking and wait half an hour before you brush your teeth. And warm water is not "more alkaline" than cold water. That's a ritual, not a mechanism.
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
The PRAL (potential renal acid load) estimates what a food leaves behind after digestion. It is not the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0. If you are asking whether lemon water is acidic because of heartburn or reflux, that is a question of pH and your stomach, which the PRAL does not measure; talk to your doctor about it.
Lemon Water in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Lemon juice (raw) | −2.3 |
| Lemon (fresh) | −4.0 |
| Tap water (raw) | −0.1 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
How alkaline is a glass of lemon water?
About −0.7 with half a lemon. An apple comes to −2.9, a banana to −7.6.
Is lemon water bad for your teeth?
If you drink it every day, yes, the acid erodes your enamel. Drink it through a straw, rinse with water afterward, and don't brush right after.
Lemon Water and everything else on your plate: calculated automatically.
Basentracker adds up the PRAL of every meal and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. Over 950 foods, photo scan, recipes, free.
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More drinks compared
All drinks with their PRAL: Drinks table. Back to the overview Acidic or Alkaline?, or put together a meal in the PRAL calculator.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.