Can Lemon Water Cause Diarrhea or Chronic Diarrhea?

Key takeaways:

• Lemon water contains vitamin C, which can cause diarrhea with excess intake.
• Lemon water is acidic and can irritate the digestive tract.
• While lemon water is generally safe, too much lemon water can cause diarrhea.

Lemon water is a popular drink and has numerous health benefits due to the vitamin C it contains. Health benefits include possible reduction of cardiovascular disease and prevention of the common cold.

The average daily recommended amount of vitamin C for adults is 75 grams for women and 90 grams for men. One lemon contains 35 grams of vitamin C, so depending on how you make your lemon water, you can quickly end up with more than the daily recommended amount. Too much vitamin C can have side effects that include diarrhea.

The primary reason people get diarrhea due to drinking too much lemon water is the acidity of the lemons, which is an irritant to the GI (gastrointestinal) tract. We’ll discuss the nuances of lemon water diarrhea and how to relieve your symptoms.

Is it normal to have diarrhea after drinking lemon water?

Diarrhea after you drink lemon water is not normal or common. If you drink too much lemon water, though, diarrhea is not a surprising result. The acidity of the lemons and the excess vitamin C can result in diarrhea and other unpleasant symptoms.

How lemon water can cause diarrhea

The acidity of lemons is the most likely cause of diarrhea, as it irritates the digestive tract. Too much vitamin C can also cause diarrhea, along with other GI symptoms.

Since lemon water recipes generally recommend ½ to 1 lemon per liter, you can meet your daily vitamin C requirement after two liters of lemon juice. Drinking more will put you at risk of side effects like nausea or diarrhea.

How to tell the difference between diarrhea from lemon water and other causes of diarrhea

The best way to tell the difference between diarrhea from lemon water and other causes of diarrhea is to note if your diarrhea coincides with excess consumption of lemon water. This is one instance where a food diary would be helpful to highlight any links between your diet and changes in your bowel habits.

Other common causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common symptom associated with a variety of different conditions. It is generally characterized by three or more stools in 24 hours and watery or loose consistency. It is usually the result of rapid transit of food through the GI tract.

While you may have diarrhea caused by increased dietary fiber, your diarrhea may result from another condition. Some common causes of diarrhea include the following:

Infection

Parasites, harmful bacteria, and viruses can cause diarrhea. Some widespread causes are E. coli, Hepatitis A virus, and Giardia lamblia.

Traveler's diarrhea is a common type of infectious diarrhea. Most cases of gastrointestinal infection resolve without treatment, but sometimes patients need anti-infective medications.

Medications

Some medications can alter the balance of bacteria in the GI tract, which can result in overgrowth of harmful bacteria. These medications include antibiotics, antacids with magnesium, and chemotherapy drugs.

Stress and anxiety

The intestine has more nerve cells (neurons) than any organ in the body except the brain. The neurons in the intestine and brain communicate by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. The nerves in the digestive system are part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls bodily functions like breathing and digestion.

Stress causes a fight-or-flight response that can increase the speed of food through the digestive system. Since most fluid is removed from the semi-digested food in the colon (large intestine), a shortened transit time does not provide enough time for fluid resorption, which results in loose, watery stools.

Gastrointestinal disease

Disorders like chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea type) can cause dehydration.

Caffeine and alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol speed up the movement of food through the colon, sometimes resulting in diarrhea. This can lead to dehydration.

Endocrine conditions

Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) can quicken digestion and cause diarrhea, leading to dehydration. Diabetes has also been associated with diarrhea.

Food intolerance

People with intolerance to certain foods have issues with digestion. Some examples include lactose intolerance and celiac disease, both of which are associated with diarrhea.

Artificial sweeteners

Many artificial sweeteners can cause diarrhea because of the way they pull fluid into the colon.

Read our guides on different types of diarrhea and common causes of diarrhea for more.

When to see a doctor about diarrhea from lemon water

There are a few reasons you should see your doctor if you have diarrhea from drinking lemon water. These are typical reasons why you should see your doctor for any diarrhea.

You should see a doctor if you have any of the following:

• Persistent diarrhea that lasts more than two days
• Diarrhea despite eliminating lemon water from your diet
• Diarrhea accompanied by belly pain

You should go to the emergency room if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Blood in your stool
• Black tarry stools
• Persistent diarrhea despite home remedies and over-the-counter treatments
• Fever or chills
• Vomiting and inability to keep down food or liquids
• Dizziness or lightheadedness from dehydration

Questions to ask your doctor about diarrhea from lemon water

If you decide to see your doctor about your diarrhea, it’s important to tell your doctor how much lemon water you’ve been drinking and how you make your lemon water. Providing an accurate history will help your doctor determine the cause of your diarrhea. Below are some questions for your doctor that may help you understand your condition and treatment plan:

• How much lemon water is safe for avoiding diarrhea?
• Are there other foods that I should avoid to prevent diarrhea?
• Are the supplements and vitamins I take that may contribute to my diarrhea?
• Are there any over-the-counter treatments that may be helpful for my diarrhea?

How to treat or get relief from diarrhea from lemon water

There are several ways to get relief from diarrhea caused by lemon water. These remedies are the same as those recommended to treat diarrhea from other causes.

Increase fluid intake

Water and electrolyte solutions are recommended to maintain adequate hydration if you have diarrhea.

Add some dietary fiber

Dietary fiber should be gradually added to your diet. It can help stop diarrhea by absorbing water and adding bulk to your stool. Too much dietary fiber introduced too rapidly is a cause of diarrhea, so go slowly.

Probiotics

Probiotics help relieve some types of diarrhea. Be sure to use a strain with evidence of efficacy for acute adult diarrhea.

Probiotics add beneficial bacteria to your gut, which can help you maintain a good bacterial balance and have regular bowel movements.

Over-the-counter antidiarrheals

Medications like loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol, Maalox) can be found in your drugstore without a prescription and can help stop your diarrhea.

Read our full guide on treating diarrhea for more.

Frequently asked questions: diarrhea and lemon water

If you have been drinking lemon water and have diarrhea, you probably have questions about your condition. Here are some questions people with this type of diarrhea typically ask:

How long does diarrhea from lemon water generally last?

If you stop drinking lemon water, your diarrhea should resolve in a day or two. If your diarrhea lasts longer, please call your doctor.

Can lemon water cause other gastrointestinal problems?

Lemon water in excess can cause nausea, stomach upset, and heartburn. Another adverse effect of too much lemon water is headaches.

Take-home message: lemon water and diarrhea

Lemon water is full of vitamin C, which can cause GI problems if intake is excessive. Since one lemon supplies about half of your daily recommended vitamin C, watching how much lemon you use is essential. Lemon is also acidic, which irritates the GI tract and can lead to diarrhea.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Adam Carewe, MD.

Sources

Bodke, Harsh, and Sangita Jogdand. “Role of Probiotics in Human Health.” Cureus vol. 14,11 e31313. 9 Nov. 2022, doi:10.7759/cureus.31313

Budisak, Patrick, et al. “Bismuth Subsalicylate.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 21 April 2024.

Ionita-Mindrican, C.-B, et al. (2022, June 26). Therapeutic Benefits and Dietary Restrictions of Fiber Intake: A State of the Art Review. PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9268622/

Hemilä, Harri. “The role of vitamin C in treating the common cold.” American family physician vol. 76,8 (2007): 1111, 1115.

Katuromunda, Markarius et al. “A Preliminary Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Lemon Fruit Juice, Mondia whitei Ethanolic Extract, and Their Combination Against Streptococcus mutans.” Infection and drug resistance vol. 17 4291-4299. 4 Oct. 2024, doi:10.2147/IDR.S474810

U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov. "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025." Home | Dietary Guidelines for Americans, www.dietaryguidelines.gov/. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

"Vitamin C." Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), National Institutes of Health, 2 Oct. 2023, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.