Lemon is a citrus fruit. It is native to an evergreen tree found in Asia. Lemon contains about 5% citric acid, this gives it a distinctly sour taste. Lemons are used in a great variety of ways; culinary and non-culinary; but we will be discussing its effect on the human body and how it can become a healthy part of our lifestyle. The average lemon contains about 3 tablespoons of juice. This consists of about 3% sugar, fiber and 0.3% fat. You can find out more about its nutritional value on Wikipedia.
Lemons are a great food choice for anyone trying to keep up a healthy lifestyle or trying to lose weight. They aid digestion and flush out toxins and unwanted materials from the body. The citric acid in lemons increase the actions of enzymes which stimulate the liver, thus lemons act as a diuretic. A very organic cleanser indeed! Lemon juice reduces bloating, belching, heartburn and other symptoms related to indigestion. Drink a glass of lemon water every morning for healthy bowel movements, and regular digestion all day long.
Lemons are high in vitamin C which fights colds and speeds up the healing of sores and bruises. Also, vitamin C has been shown to set of a chain of chemical reactions in the body which breakdown fat to be used as energy. (This doesn’t mean that lemon juice actually burns fat, don’t misunderstand). Lemons are high in fibre which help fight hunger cravings and contribute to your weight loss journey. Potassium, which is also a component of lemons, increases brain function and controls high blood pressure.
Although lemons contain citric acid and ascorbic acid, they have alkaline effects on the body. This is good for the human body, because our bodies are more susceptible to diseases when in an acidic state. Drinking lemon water can neutralize any unwanted acids, which usually cause aches and inflammations in various joints.
Do you want healthy and glowing skin? Lemons are just the right fruits for you then. Let me tell you another thing about myself. I have acne; acute on some days of the month. I’ve been plagued by acne since 2009; my skin is really a map of all sorts. A few weeks ago, I started a skin care regimen (for the first time in my life really) and I also started drinking my tea with lemon. I drink lemon water too. It’s as if someone used a wet cloth to wipe grime off my face; it’s brighter than I’ve ever seen it. Maybe it’s a placebo effect, but I started taking the honey for culinary not beauty reasons, so I think I’m really on to something here. Also my sister used to do a honey and lemon (not lime, please) mask and it did wonders for her. This beautifying effect is attributed once again to vitamin C as well as anti-oxidants (remember them from tea?) present in the lemon. They reduce wrinkles and eliminate dangerous free radicals from the body.
Lemons are also good for people suffering from unpleasant breath and gingivitis. Just be careful not to brush your teeth immediately after drinking the juice; its acidic nature is dangerous to tooth enamel.
All these wonderful qualities, why not incorporate lemons into your diet today? Start with lemon water every morning; you can put some honey in it if you like. It is also important that you find god lemons, which is very difficult; the lemons they sell are usually very dry. So make sure it’s yellow, not hard and doesn’t smell putrid. Sabo is always a good place to start or if you can afford it, Shoprite.Let me know what you think in the comments. Stay healthy folks!