The health benefits of lemon include its use as a treatment
of throat infections, indigestion, constipation, dental problems, and fever,
internal bleeding, rheumatism, burns, obesity, respiratory disorders, cholera
and high blood pressure, while it also benefits hair and skin care,. Known for
its therapeutic property since generations, lemon helps to strengthen your
immune system, cleanse your stomach, and it is considered a blood purifier.
Lemon juice, especially, has several health benefits
associated with it. It is well known as a useful treatment for kidney stones,
reducing strokes and lowering body temperature. As a refreshing drink, lemonade
helps you to stay calm and cool.
The health benefits of lemons are due to its many nourishing
elements like vitamin C, vitamin B, phosphorous, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Lemon is a fruit that contains flavonoids, which are composites that contain
antioxidant and cancer fighting properties. It helps to prevent diabetes,
constipation, high blood pressure, fever, indigestion and many other problems,
as well as improving the skin, hair, and teeth. Studies conducted at the
American Urological Association highlight the fact that lemonade or lemon juice
can eliminate the occurrence of kidney stones by forming urinary citrate, which
prevents the formation of crystals.
People use lemons to make lemonade by mixing lemon juice and
water. Many people also use lemon as a washing agent, because of its ability to
remove stains. The scent of lemon can also repel mosquitoes, while drinking
lemon juice with olive oil helps to get rid of gall stones. Lemon is well known
for its medicinal power and is used in many different ways. As per the results
reported in a study by the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, lemon
provides protection against inflammatory polyarthritis and arthritis.
Benefits of lemon
1) Aids Digestion. Lemon juice flushes out
unwanted materials and toxins from the body. It’s atomic composition is similar
to saliva and the hydrochloric acid of digestive juices. It encourages the
liver to produce bile which is an acid that is required for digestion. Lemons
are also high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen ama, or toxins, in the
digestive tract. The digestive qualities of lemon juice help to relieve
symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn, belching and bloating. The American
Cancer Society actually recommends offering warm lemon water to cancer
sufferers to help stimulate bowel movements.
2) Cleanses Your System / is a Diuretic. Lemon
juice helps flush out unwanted materials in part because lemons increase the
rate of urination in the body. Therefore toxins are released at a faster rate
which helps keep your urinary tract healthy. The citric acid in lemons helps
maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in
detoxification.
3) Boosts Your Immune System. Lemons are
high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds. They’re high in
potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps
control blood pressure. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) found in lemons demonstrates
anti-inflammatory effects, and is used as complementary support for asthma and
other respiratory symptoms plus it enhances iron absorption in the body; iron
plays an important role in immune function. Lemons also contain saponins, which
show antimicrobial properties that may help keep cold and flu at bay. Lemons
also reduce the amount of phlegm produced by the body.
4) Balances pH Levels. Lemons are one of the
most alkalizing foods for the body. Sure, they are acidic on their own, but
inside our bodies they’re alkaline (the citric acid does not create acidity in
the body once metabolized). Lemons contain both citric and ascorbic acid, weak
acids easily metabolized from the body allowing the mineral content of lemons
to help alkalize the blood. Disease states only occur when the body pH is
acidic. Drinking lemon water regularly can help to remove overall acidity
in the body, including uric acid in the joints, which is one of the primary
causes of pain and inflammation.
5) Clears Skin. The vitamin C component as well as other antioxidants helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes and it helps to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is vital for healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne. It can actually be applied directly to scars or age spots to help reduce their appearance. Since lemon water purges toxins from your blood, it would also be helping to keep your skin clear of blemishes from the inside out. The vitamin C contained in the lemon rejuvenates the skin from within your body.
6) Energizes You and Enhances Your Mood. The energy a human receives from food comes from the atoms and molecules in your food. A reaction occurs when the positive charged ions from food enter the digestive tract and interact with the negative charged enzymes. Lemon is one of the few foods that contain more negative charged ions, providing your body with more energy when it enters the digestive tract. The scent of lemon also has mood enhancing and energizing properties. The smell of lemon juice can brighten your mood and help clear your mind. Lemon can also help reduce anxiety and depression.
7) Promotes Healing. Ascorbic acid (vitamin
C), found in abundance in lemons, promotes wound healing, and is an essential
nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage.
As noted previously, vitamin C also displays anti-inflammatory properties.
Combined, vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of good health
and recovery from stress and injury.
8) Freshens Breath. Besides fresher breath,
lemons have been known to help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. Be aware that
citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should be mindful of this. No not
brush your teeth just after drinking your lemon water. It is best to brush your
teeth first, then drink your lemon water, or wait a significant amount of time
after to brush your teeth. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with purified
water after you finish your lemon water.
9) Hydrates Your Lymph System. Warm water
and lemon juice supports the immune system by hydrating and replacing fluids
lost by your body. When your body is deprived of water, you can definitely feel
the side effects, which include: feeling tired, sluggish, decreased immune
function, constipation, lack of energy, low/high blood pressure, lack of sleep,
lack of mental clarity and feeling stressed, just to name a few.
10) Aids in Weight Loss. Lemons are high in
pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. Studies have shown people who
maintain a more alkaline diet, do in fact lose weight faster. I personally find
myself making better choices throughout the day, if I start my day off right,
by making a health conscious choice to drink warm lemon water first thing every
morning.
REMEMBER
Two out of
every three restaurant lemon wedges tested in a study were covered in
disease-causing bacteria -- including fecal bacteria. A total of 25 different,
and potentially dangerous, microorganisms were discovered on the wedges.