Drinking pure lemon juice every morning to preserve youthful skin?

To preserve youthful skin, drinking lemon juice every morning can be an interesting solution. Indeed, a study conducted by Ok-Hwan LEE and his team examined the effects of a citrus juice blend, including lemon, and its bioactive compounds on the antioxidant and anti-ageing activities of human dermal fibroblasts and mice, which were subjected to induced oxidative stress.

The citrus juice blend has reduced cell damage induced and the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species in human dermal fibroblasts. It also increased the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione reductase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, which neutralise free radicals produced by oxidative stress. Additionally, oral administration of the citrus-based juice blend has reduced the formation of wrinkles and has increased the collagen content in a hairless mouse exposed to ultraviolet B rays. These results indicate that the citrus-based juice blend is a potentially healthy beverage for preventing premature skin ageing induced by oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress, caused by UV rays, tobacco, or pollution, is one of the main factors accelerating skin ageing. It leads to the production of free radicals, which affect skin elasticity and complexion. Oxidative stress can induce signalling pathways mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Activated MAPKs upregulate the expression and functional activity of the nuclear transcription factor AP-1, thereby increasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) which degrade collagen and impair skin condition. However, this elevated expression of MMP is suppressed by the citrus juice used, allowing it to reduce the levels of wrinkle formation and collagen fibre degradation.

Lemon is particularly effective in this context. It is naturally rich in natural antioxidants such as citrate, vitamin C, vitamin E , and flavonoids. The functions of vitamin C are related to its ability to donate electrons, which promotes oxidant-trapping activity and limits their skin damage.

What are the precautions and risks associated with the consumption of pure lemon juice?

Pure lemon juice offers skin benefits. However, caution is advised regarding its consumption. Indeed, no studies have been conducted on the skin benefits of consuming pure lemon juice by humans. This is associated with the fact that drinking undiluted pure lemon juice can lead to problems. In some individuals, consuming lemon-based drinks can cause heartburn due to their acidic pH. Therefore, it is recommended to squeeze and dilute the juice of one lemon in a glass of water, to be consumed once or twice a day.

Furthermore, a study conducted by Mathias BENEDIX has shown that drinking lemon juice can pose long-term risks of tooth erosion due to the acidity of the beverage acting on the tooth enamel. We therefore advise you to thoroughly rinse your mouth with water after drinking lemon juice.