Can eating lemons help sober up?
Disease description:
My husband is drunk and wants to use lemon to sober up, but we are unsure whether this has any effect on the body. May I ask if eating lemons can help alleviate the effects of alcohol?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Eating lemons or drinking lemon water can have a certain alcohol-relieving effect.
Lemons contain abundant organic acids, which can undergo esterification reactions with ethanol in alcohol, forming ester compounds. This process can decompose alcohol to a certain extent and thus help alleviate intoxication. In addition, nutrients in lemons, such as vitamin C, can help protect the liver and promote the metabolism and elimination of alcohol.
The organic acids in lemons can break down part of the alcohol, reduce the degree of intoxication, and relieve discomfort symptoms caused by drinking, such as nausea and vomiting. Vitamin C helps reduce alcohol-induced liver damage and promotes liver repair and regeneration. Drinking lemon water can dilute the concentration of alcohol in the stomach and reduce irritation to the gastric mucosa.
Although lemons have an alcohol-relieving effect, excessive consumption may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Patients with conditions such as excess stomach acid or gastric ulcers should avoid or consume lemons cautiously. To enhance the alcohol-relieving effect, lemon water can be consumed together with other beverages that have similar effects, such as concentrated sugar water, concentrated honey water, or thick yogurt drinks.
