Bring lemon health benefits into your life now to prevent disease and boost vitality.
Most of us know that lemons are good for us, but only have a vague idea why. We might have an inkling that lemons boost alkalinity, and maybe metabolism too. We need to give these zingy little citrus fruits a little more credit than that, however. The many ways lemons are good for your health might just surprise you!
Whether you know a little or know a lot about lemon health benefits, you might even get more than you first imagined. After all, there are so many uses for lemons beyond than the obvious culinary ones, and some interesting ways to maximise the benefits. Even if you find them a bit too astringent for your liking, lemon nutrition is worth the effort. For instance, when you consider that lemons can boost weight loss, compared to the effort of starting a new workout regime, a little bit of tartness should be easy to swallow!
Let's take a look at the many benefits of lemons that could take your health to the next level...
How lemons boost immunity
Not all lemon benefits will be a huge surprise, but many will be educational. If you are wondering how lemons help immunity, let us enlighten you. Here is a quick overview of the ways lemons boost the immune system. They offer:
- Vitamin C - for fighting off infections and boosting general immunity
- Antioxidants - for reducing inflammation and damaging free radicals
- Antimicrobial properties - for combatting viruses and bacteria
- Iron Absorption - absorbing more iron can boost your immune function
- Alkalising properties - for balancing the body's pH, making it less pathogen-friendly
- Detox support - improving liver function promotes better toxin elimination
Vitamin C and antioxidants are probably the two best-known properties lemon brings to the table. Because they are high in vitamin C, people often squeeze them into hot drinks when struggling with colds and flu. The antioxidants in citrus fruits are equally as famous for their immune-boosting benefits.
There is more when it comes to lemon benefits, though. Here are a few bodily processes (and organs) lemon nutrition helps with:
- Skin and eye health
- Colon Health
- Bile production
- Brain cell regeneration
- DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) and muscle fatigue
Good immune function is fundamental to health stability, so why not let lemons can come to the rescue if you've got work to do in that area?
Lemons for disease management
This power-packed citrus fruit not only fortifies your immune system; it can also help to prevent all kinds of unwanted ailments and diseases. Lemon health benefits include prevention and management of the following diseases and ailments, to name a few:
- Heart disease
- Strokes
- Asthma attacks
- Diabetes (the lemon compound hesperidin may lower blood sugar levels)
- Depression, anxiety and stress (lemon essential oil is particularly helpful)
- Inflammation
- Bacterial infections
- Breast cancer tumour reduction
- Kidney stones
- Anemia
- Digestive problems
It goes without saying that nobody should be relying on lemons alone for disease management, but in combination with other healthy practices they are a great support.
The alkalizing effects of lemons for body pH balance
The alkalizing properties of lemons are another well-known detail, but people are often unsure how something acidic can have an alkalizing effect! Let us clear that up for you. Despite being acidic in their natural state (pH7 or less), once consumed and processed by your body, lemons have an alkalising effect on it, thus balancing your acidity levels.
This happens because once metabolised, the minerals from the lemon are dissociated within the bloodstream, raising your pH to above 7. In other words, your body produces alkaline byproducts after metabolising lemon. Note that the alkalizing benefits of lemons are only possible when in harmony with other aspects of diet; if you're regularly pouring in acid-causing substances (like coffee), the lemon won't stand much of a chance. In combination with a healthy, balanced diet, lemons are a great alkalizing tool.
Whether you use lemons alone or with other alkalizing aids, it is a good idea to pay attention to your pH levels, because unfortunately, disease loves an acidic environment.
If you suspect that you need a little more help with alkalizing than lemons can offer (as most do), check out the powerful alkalizing product pH Plus. Our best-selling pH Plus capsules are 100% natural and fully bioavailable, helping you to restore pH balance and feel your absolute best.
If you are unsure whether your acidity levels need keeping in check, you can test your pH with these handy little pH test strips in a matter of seconds.
How lemons boost metabolism and aid in weight loss
If you are looking for ways to boost metabolism, add lemons to your grocery list. The vitamin C in lemons can kick-start your metabolism so that you burn more calories, which is a good start. Eating lemon or drinking lemon water can also suppress the appetite, so reach for a glass of lemon juice instead of the cookie jar and such urges will soon pass.
If you drink enough lemon water you will also be fully hydrated, which is good for two reasons:
- Dehydration often masquerades as hunger, so you will be less likely to scratch that itch with food, and
- Being fully hydrated is necessary for effective metabolic processes
Lemon water also promotes feelings of fullness, which will make overeating less likely. The same can be said for water on its own, but why drink plain water when you can reap so many benefits of lemon nutrition at the same time? That said, be careful with your teeth: lemon is acidic and may damage your precious tooth enamel. It is always smart to drink lemon water through a straw (ideally a steel one). Failing that, be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water afterwards.
Although there is a proven link between lemons and weight loss, most people will probably need to include them in a dietary protocol designed for shedding the extra pounds. There is simply no getting around the need for regular exercise and restriction of fattening foods and drinks. Basically, you will need to give up commercial lemonaid if you want lemons to come to your aid!
What are the detox benefits of lemons?
There is a good reason why lemons so commonly feature in liver and kidney cleanses: they work extremely well! To be clear, it is not the lemon that detoxes directly; it is the vitamin C and antioxidants in the lemon that stimulates the liver, which in turn sets off the body's detox mechanism and promotes the flushing of toxins and excess nutrients. This is the body's job and it does it well, unless your system is dysfunctional. However, there is nothing wrong with giving it a helping hand through with a little lemon nutrition!
Another comforting lemon detox fact is that the citric acid in your lemon drink is protecting your liver function and stopping oxidative damage in its tracks. You'll also need to urinate more if you drink enough lemon water, thus clearing out your urinary tract.
Lemon is said to be good for digestion, since it helps to stimulate morning bowel movements. Adding lemon to warm water is considered to be the best for this kind of flush. This may be more anecdotal than scientific, but it likely has some truth to it since lemon stimulates the metabolism and promotes the flushing of toxins. As constipation is a detoxer's worst enemy, you have everything to gain by giving this a try.
Don't ignore the benefits of lemon peel
Lemon health benefits don't end at the segments! You should also keep in mind the uses of lemon peel in health. When we use lemons for health, it's usually the juicy segments we utilise, whether we squeeze them into water or add them to salads or smoothies. However, there is actually a lot of lemon nutrition available to us in the lemon’s skin. In fact, the peel has five to ten times more vitamins in it than the juice!
Lemon peel benefits also come from the higher levels of antioxidants, which are found in the pith too. These life-promoting lemon peels also contain bioactive compounds and healthy enzymes, which contribute to the benefits listed in this blog. These compounds can also bring cholesterol levels into balance, which will be music to many ears.
This bright yellow peel has anti-microbial properties that effectively tackle 'bad' bacteria and lend a hand in the removal of tenacious, health-destroying candida fungus.
Did you know that one of the best ways to consume lemons is to freeze them? This is a very good idea if you want to get all the benefits of citrus peel. First, you’ll need to clean them thoroughly to remove any dirt or pesticides from the skin. Next, leave them in the freezer for the night and once frozen, grate the whole lemons into a container and put them back in the freezer, ready for use.
Grated lemon can be a nice way to flavour meals of all kinds; it also goes well with many drinks. If you can think of it, you can try it.
How to prepare lemon water
The benefits of drinking lemon water should by now be clear, and it is one of the easiest ways to get your lemon fix. You might want to know the best way to make lemon water. Lemon juice is great for flavouring other drinks and foods, but you won't want to drink the juice without dilution - that is not for the feint hearted!
Lemon juice afficionados tend to juice their lemons and add them to a glass of water. Generally people add the juice from half a lemon or more to a glass of water. You don't need an all-singing, all-dancing juicer for such a small job - a hand press citrus juicer will do the trick.
If you still find yourself wincing at the idea of lemon water, add a little sweetness and you should soon change your mind. We don't recommend adding refined sugar, but a good way to sweeten lemon juice might be a spoonful of xylitol, or a top quality honey. There are lots of options for offsetting lemon bitterness with other flavours too - be creative!
If you really don't like the taste of lemon water, consider making yourself a lemon smoothie. Lemon will only make up a small proportion so you may not even taste it at all. This way you can even make the most of lemon peel benefits by adding some of your frozen grated lemon to the mix. Throw in a few sweet, flavoursome fruits, superfoods and your choice of milk, and you have a healthy, filling drink.
So now you know about the myriad lemon health benefits, there is no excuse not to incorporate them into your diet more regularly. We are sure you will be a lemon lover in no time!
As always, MediMush is here to support your health through our range of premium quality products. Why not start by checking out our vitaltity-boosting cordyceps powder? Just drop us a line if you need a little help choosing the right products for your health.
