Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its health benefits, including improved digestion and weight loss. As such, many people are turning to this dietary practice as a way to jumpstart their health goals – but does lemon water break a fast? Lemon water has long been touted for its numerous health benefits, so you’d be forgiven for wanting to include it on your list of morning routine essentials while intermittent fasting. But what do the experts say? In this blog post, we’ll explore the potential benefits (and drawbacks) of drinking lemon-infused water during a fasted state and help you decide whether or not it’s right for you.
Contents
- 1 Introducing The Topic – Lemon Water and Intermittent Fasting
- 2 Does Lemon Water Break A Fast?
- 3 What You Need To Know About Lemon Water And Intermittent Fasting?
- 4 Is Lemon Water Allowed During Intermittent Fasting?
- 5 Health Benefits Of Drinking Lemon Water While Intermittent Fasting
- 6 Health Risks Of Drinking Lemon Water While Intermittent Fasting
- 7 What Can You Drink While Intermittent Fasting?
- 8 What Can’t You Drink While Fasting?
Introducing The Topic – Lemon Water and Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is a dietary practice that involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. During the fasting period, no food or beverages are consumed (with the exception of water). However, some people wonder if they can still drink certain beverages while intermittent fasting – such as lemon water. Lemon water is simply water infused with lemon juice, which is known for its high vitamin C and antioxidant content. It has been linked to a range of potential health benefits, including improved digestion, immune system support, and even weight loss. So, it’s no surprise that many people are curious about incorporating this tangy drink into their intermittent fasting routine.
Does Lemon Water Break A Fast?
Drinking lemon water during your fasting period does not break your fast, and it may even offer additional advantages for digestion and Vitamin C intake.
What You Need To Know About Lemon Water And Intermittent Fasting?

Here’s what you need to know about lemon water and intermittent fasting:
- Temperature matters: High temperatures can degrade Vitamin C. To retain the benefits of this vital nutrient, drink lemon water warm (lower than 30 degrees Celsius) or cold.
- Moderation is key: Limit your lemon water intake to one glass per day to avoid disrupting the healthy pH balance of your body fluids.
- Consider adding salt: To prevent headaches and muscle weakness during fasting, you can enhance your lemon water with a dash of salt.
- Explore lime as an alternative: Lime can be used interchangeably with lemon to enjoy the benefits of citrus-infused water.
- Supporting water fasting: Incorporating lemon water into your routine can help make water fasting more manageable by imparting a subtle change in the taste of plain water.
Is Lemon Water Allowed During Intermittent Fasting?
Lemon water is indeed permitted during intermittent fasting. Lemon juice is considered a non-caloric beverage as it contains no added sugar or salt. Despite its low-calorie content, the addition of a small amount of lemon juice to water does not significantly impact calorie intake.
Health Benefits Of Drinking Lemon Water While Intermittent Fasting

- Helps with hydration and supports overall health
- Suitable alternative to plain water, coffee, or tea
- Does not break a fast during intermittent fasting due to its low calorie content
Health Risks Of Drinking Lemon Water While Intermittent Fasting
Health Risks Of Drinking Lemon Water While Intermittent Fasting: Lemon water is a low-calorie and sugar-free beverage that does not increase insulin levels, thus not interfering with fasting (1). Therefore, it can be considered safe to consume lemon water during fasting.
What Can You Drink While Intermittent Fasting?

While intermittent fasting, suitable beverage options include water, mineral water, seltzer, tea, coffee, apple cider vinegar, and flavored water.
Read on to learn more: how long to microwave water to boil
What Can’t You Drink While Fasting?
The following beverages should be avoided while fasting: alcohol, diet sodas, coconut water, and milk.

Daniel Mauney is the Chef/Owner of tapp room Restaurants. He has been in the industry for over 20 years, and his restaurants have been featured in magazines and newspapers all over the country. Daniel’s food is heavily influenced by his travels, and he enjoys incorporating unique flavors and spices into his dishes.
I honestly don’t know the answer but I’ve started using true lemon packet in my water instead of a lemon slice. It’s a bit easier for me to control the amount down to as little as I can for fasting times and it says no calories and no sugar, so it feels a little more predictable/controllable to me.
I’ve been having a lemon wedge and a tablespoon of vinegar per litre of sofa water, plus black coffee while doing OMAD for several months, I’ve been losing about a kilogram a week on average.
Google says there’s 2 calories in a lemon wedge. When I was first starting I went by “5 calories or less” during my fasting window. Now, I prefer to stick to 0 calories. Mio has 0 calories, sugar, or carbs, all of which would spike your insulin and therefore break a fast. Since Mio has none of those things, could you try that instead? Or something similar?
Thank you for sharing this useful information.
Thank you for sharing this useful information.
That’s a good idea! I thought the taste of sweet can cause an insulin response too though?