Lemons, Citrus Limon are little powerhouses of health. They may have a sour taste but they are very good for your health. Lemons began as a cross between limes and citrons. They are considered evergreen shrubs and were originally from Asia. During the California gold rush in 1849, they saved the miners from scurvey and were quite costly, up to $1.00 per lemon. As far as nutrition goes, they contain quite an impressive list of nutrients. They have Vitamin C, riboflavin, thiamin, magnesium, iron, pantothenic acid, fiber, pectin, vitamin B6, potassium, calcium, folate and copper.
Lemons are good for many things. They have antioxidant properties that fight free radicals which are substances generated by cell metabolism that need to be neutralized in order to be healthy. They help keep your skin clear by supporting your liver in removing toxins from the body which helps to decrease blemishes. Lemons are good for your digestion, and for keeping your pH in balance. They contain 22 compounds that fight cancer. One of these is limonene which has been shown to fight cancer in animal studies. They contain potassium which helps keep your blood pressure down and they they have negative ions which increase the flow of oxygen to your brain. Lemons also contain fiber which helps fight diabetes and heart disease. Lemons are antibacterial, antiviral and boost the immune system.
Lemons and lemon juice are used extensively in cooking for everything to lemon bars and lemon pie to salad dressing. One problem is the large amount of sugar that is added to decrease the sour taste. The sugar negates the healthful properties of the lemon. Lemon water is very good for your health and so is lemonade. Lemonade can be made with stevia to take care of the sugar problem and can be mixed with other fruits to add interesting flavor, like raspberry, or cherry.
One very good remedy to help detox your liver is to have warm lemon water at the beginning of each day. Take the juice of 1 or 2 lemons, depending on the size of the lemon, and mix with 8 to 10 oz.of warm or room temperature water. Drink this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and wait at least 10 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. This helps to detox your liver, increase the flow of bile and and improve digestion. Be sure to use fresh lemons. Lemon juice that comes in a bottle loses its nutrients in processing and over time. I have been using this remedy for several months and it has definitely helped my digestion and elimination. If you are worried about the acid of the lemon destroying the enamel on your teeth you can use a straw to drink it. Another way to use lemon is as lemon tea. Lemon tea can be used by itself, or added to other teas and blends for flavor. It is a great source of vitamin C for winter colds and flu.
Now I realize that there some people who just can't handle unsweetened lemon juice first thing in the morning and that is fine. There are plenty of other sources of vitamin C. Just because I recommend something does not mean you have to do it. Take what fits you and your situation and leave the rest, but for those who are lemon lovers this is a great way to accent your health and help prevent disease.
Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net
Web site: www.valerielull.com
Lemons and lemon juice are used extensively in cooking for everything to lemon bars and lemon pie to salad dressing. One problem is the large amount of sugar that is added to decrease the sour taste. The sugar negates the healthful properties of the lemon. Lemon water is very good for your health and so is lemonade. Lemonade can be made with stevia to take care of the sugar problem and can be mixed with other fruits to add interesting flavor, like raspberry, or cherry.
One very good remedy to help detox your liver is to have warm lemon water at the beginning of each day. Take the juice of 1 or 2 lemons, depending on the size of the lemon, and mix with 8 to 10 oz.of warm or room temperature water. Drink this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and wait at least 10 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. This helps to detox your liver, increase the flow of bile and and improve digestion. Be sure to use fresh lemons. Lemon juice that comes in a bottle loses its nutrients in processing and over time. I have been using this remedy for several months and it has definitely helped my digestion and elimination. If you are worried about the acid of the lemon destroying the enamel on your teeth you can use a straw to drink it. Another way to use lemon is as lemon tea. Lemon tea can be used by itself, or added to other teas and blends for flavor. It is a great source of vitamin C for winter colds and flu.
Now I realize that there some people who just can't handle unsweetened lemon juice first thing in the morning and that is fine. There are plenty of other sources of vitamin C. Just because I recommend something does not mean you have to do it. Take what fits you and your situation and leave the rest, but for those who are lemon lovers this is a great way to accent your health and help prevent disease.
Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net
Web site: www.valerielull.com
Love the lemons! I've been drinking fresh juice in the morning and afternoon for a few months and have been feeling great. A bit of orange juice mixed in sweetens it up surprisingly well. Organic honey is a fine sugar substitute too. Rinsing with water or brushing afterwards is wise, as the only thing lemons aren't good for is your teeth.
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