Lemon Health Benefits

Lemon Health Benefits

Lemons have many good health benefits for the body and around the home. First, let’s talk about lemon water, which has become very popular these days. One popular reason for drinking lemon water is being used for weight loss. Another reason lemon water is popular as it aids in flushing out impurities and toxins in your digestion system. Furthermore, drinking lemon water is packed with vitamin C! As we all know very well, vitamin C protects our bodies and boosts our immune systems.  Lastly, drinking lemon water is high in antioxidants and is a great source of magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.

Wow, I have to say lemons are a very juicy fruit! This yellow goodness contains almost 90% of the water of constitution, in which the nutritive substances are dissolved. It is more often consumed in the form of juice. Lemon is significantly less rich in carbohydrates -sugars- than other fruits.

How much lemon water should we drink?

First let me say, drinking lemon water, like anything, should be used in moderation. If you drink too much, especially on an empty stomach, can upset the stomach. If you are prone to ulcers, you should contact your physician per their recommendations, before consuming daily. Be mindful also, too much of lemon water may thin your teeth enamel, use in moderation.

        Prepping the lemons

• Wash the lemons with warm water using FBC veggie big stick wash (see”Shop” section at the end of the post for the veggie soap)
• Pat the lemons dry
• Roll the lemons back and forth using firm pressure on the counters several times
  • This gets the juices flowing inside of the lemons before squeezing
    

    Directions for making lemon water

• A small size lemon squeezed, include as much pulp
• 8 to 12 ounces of filtered water
• If too strong, add more filtered water
• Drink first thing in the morning if possible for best results
• Avoid drinking milk after drinking lemon water, as it can upset your stomach

Vitamin benefits in lemons

The vitamin C content of the freshly squeezed lemon juice is approximately the same as that of the pulp.  But when the air hits the juice, the vitamin C rapidly oxidizes, this results in lost vitamin properties. That is why it is better to use and consume the juice extracted from the lemon as quick as possible.

Vitamin C in lemons are accompanied by flavonoid compounds (naringoside, hesperidoside …), generally called “vitamin P”. This strengthens the physiological action of vitamin C and has a protective action against blood capillaries and works against infections.

Finally, lemon also provides a wide range of B vitamins, as well as some vitamin E.

The aroma of lemon comes largely from its essences and essential oils, abundant in the vacuoles of the bark. It is a mixture of limonenes, citral, citronellal, coumarins, and very aromatic substances and for some strongly bitter.

Health Benefits of Lemon

Lemon is particularly valuable as a natural source of vitamin C. The juice of a lemon (about 1.7 ounces), covers almost a third of the recommended daily intake of this vitamin.

Full of Antioxidants

Like all citrus fruits, lemon is one of the champions of antioxidant polyphenols, including flavonoids and limonoids. Associated with vitamin C, also present in the fruit, these antioxidants seem to protect some cancers. Especially those of the stomach and larynx, but also of the colon.

A Powerful Antiseptic

It is said that it alone fights about twenty germs, which is to say how useful it is to chase winter infections. But its antiseptic action is also effective against urinary, vesicles and renal infections, and its diuretic action accelerates the elimination of toxins.

Beauty Side

We love it for its astringent virtues: it tightens the pores of combination or oily skin. And its disinfecting properties are beneficial to acne skin. Read Baking Soda Benefits and Uses how to use it along with baking soda for acne and for glowing skin.

House Side

It fulfills many functions: deodorant, cleaner, surface brightener, it is also a good antiseptic and antibacterial cleaner. We use lemons on wooden cutting boards after cutting raw meat on them to disinfect the wood. We then follow up with soap and water and hang in the sun to dry.

Everything is good In lemons!

Citrus fruits are also rich in pectin, this small white skin located between the flesh and the colored part of the bark. As it is rich in soluble fibers (satiating and reducing cholesterol), it is best to consume it and not to peel the fruit too abruptly!

Beneficial also, the seeds, which themselves are rich in antioxidants, and the bark of the fruit: if it is difficult to eat, it is possible, however, even if it does not seem usual, recommend to put the fruit (whole and organic) in an extractor to collect the maximum of nutrients. This is what industrial juice manufacturers do, which is an asset (but not for vitamin C, which is fragile). In essence, the lemon has its virtues multiplied because it is extremely concentrated: it becomes very tonic and anti-fatigue (2 drops in 1 spoonful of honey in the morning), can help the body fight against winter diseases.

Lemon Dosages

The daily consumption of lemon or lime is excellent for health, but its action is different outside and during meals. During the meal, lemon will promote digestion and will help the work of various digestive organs: including the liver, stomach, intestines, and pancreas.

Apart from the meal, lemon has essentially a cleaning action. Lemon is used in the form of juice, but can also be eaten whole. Everything is good in lemons, even the seeds (it is, however, advisable to avoid eating them when the lemons have been treated with chemicals).

Herbal Therapists

There are also essential oils based on lemon, which are a concentrate of the properties of lemon. There is no dosage per se for lemon, but many herbal therapists advise to make lemon cures (especially between seasons) to restore good vitality and purify the body.

A cure lasts an average of 2 to 3 weeks in a row, taking from 2 to 3 lemons a day the first week, then from 3 to 5 lemons a day the second and up (avoiding the reactions of massive detoxification caused by/because of the lemon).

Lemon juice to preserve fruits

I have used organic fresh lemon juice for years to preserve fresh cut fruit. The lemon juice actually inhibits the oxidation of fruit, thus saving the fruit from turning brown and mushy.  When making apple pie and apple crisp, I always ensure to toss them with lemon juice while preparing the dessert.

Lemon juice prevents rotting and spoiling fruit from its natural ascorbic acid, which by the way, is an awesome antioxidant! Interesting, lemon juice is multipurpose, as it levels the pH in and draws out the water in the fruits. Using fresh lemon juice saves the planet by not buying a commercial product (housed in plastic) that claims to keep your fruit fresh.

A lemon juice cure is very effective in strengthening and purifying the body as a whole. It is also possible to add lemon in different dishes or in herbal teas, for example against flu and colds, mixing in herbal tea: a few drops of lemon with cinnamon honey and thyme. Lemon is also used in the form of essential oil, but be careful not to put it on the mucous membranes, as this could be very dangerous.

Side Effects, Hazards, Contraindications of Lemon

Lemons are a safe fruit, however at high doses or used over a long period, lemons sometimes have a tendency to evacuate toxins very (very) strongly. It is a great purifier of the whole system, but since it tends to quickly release the toxins present in the body, it is better to start by taking small amounts (half a lemon per day), but daily, so that the body can use the active ingredients of the plant gradually, without massive detoxification.

There are no noticeable side effects, except for possible diarrhea when used in high doses, as well as pains related to toxins dislodged and evacuated. As mentioned before, too many lemons can upset the stomach and cause loss of tooth enamel.

Lemon: Additional Information

Be careful of eating fresh lemons (and keeping it in a cool, dry place) to keep all its properties and active ingredients of the fruit. A desiccated, dehydrated yellow lemon can easily be recognized by softer and darker skin, and its active ingredients will be significantly reduced.

It is recommended not to eat the seeds of lemons that have grown in areas at risk of contamination by soil pollution: the seeds are indeed the component of lemon that absorbs the most pollutants, as well as pesticides and other products chemical.

If possible choose an organic whole lemon or use quality essential oil. It is also interesting to note that lemon activates more effectively the active ingredients present in other medicinal plants, fruits or vegetables, which makes them bio-available, and it also promotes the conservation of these.

Lemons in the kitchen

I love lemon anything. Read Fresh Lemon Curd and Coffee Cake Recipe how to make lemon curd, lemon curd bars, and lemon coffee cake. If you are fortunate enough to have your own fresh lemons, here is a way to use all those extra lemons!

Out of buttermilk?

For 1 cup of buttermilk needed, add 1 cup of any milk (whole, skim, 2%), etc, take out 1 tablespoon of milk and replace with 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. If the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of buttermilk, just remove 1/2 tablespoon of milk and replace with 1/2 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. This makes a good enough buttermilk in a pinch. I prefer this method over using vinegar (which will work also).

Freezing Lemons

• Wash your lemons thoroughly with veggie soap
• Dry well
• If slicing, slice as thin or as thick as you like
• Place on a non-corrosive cookie sheet or line with parchment paper
• Freeze well
• Place in freezer ziplocked baggie
• Freeze whole if preferred
• Place in freezer ziplocked baggie
• Freezing lemon juice only-squeeze and pour in ice-cube trays-once frozen place in freezer ziplocked bags or freezer container
• To thaw any lemons, it’s best to do so in the refrigerator or if  in a hurry, place in cold water for 10 minutes until thawed

The lemons will be mushy once they are thawed. It will not hinder you using them for the zest, pulp or juice.

Another reason to love lemons, lemon meringue pie!

The recipe will follow soon (promise)

More Lemon Reading:

On a final note, I’d like to share some more content on lemons from another blogger. Lily Williams even has a document you may download with 14 amazing ways to use lemons! This is a great read, please stop by her post and check out her lemons 🙂 Lily’s link is When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them in These 14 Amazing Ways.

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Farmhouse Basic Collection Veggie Wash Soap-also unscented to use for washing dishes and as a stain stick

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• WATER PURIFIER: The Berkey water filter system removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts, and parasites entirely and extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 222 and trihalomethanes. It also reduces nitrates, nitrites and unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury. This system is so powerful it can remove food coloring from water without removing the beneficial minerals your body needs. Virtually no other system can duplicate this performance. Constructed of highly polished AISI 304 stainless steel.

Arm and Hammer baking soda

What more interesting facts, see Lemon what Wikipedia has to say about lemons. What is your favorite lemon recipe or use? We’d love to hear all about it.

If you do decide to try something mentioned in the blog post; always do a patch test on your forearm or side of the hand to ensure you are not allergic or having an adverse reaction to the product(s).

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