We have an amazing lemon tree in our backyard, which is currently laden with fruit. I’ve been making a habit of starting my day with a glass of lemon water as a result! I’d always heard that this was good for you, but never really knew the full extent of the health benefits until I looked into it. Below are 15 reasons why lemon should be a daily part of your diet:
- Immune booster: A great source of vitamin C, which helps your immune system work well, encourages cell healing, and reduces inflammation.
- Detoxes: “The lemon is a wonderful stimulant to the liver and is a dissolvent of uric acid and other poisons, liquefies the bile,” according to Jethro Kloss in his book Back to Eden. They also stimulate your bowels to move waste through more efficiently and regularly.
- Better skin: Lemon juice aids the liver to detox your system by boosting its natural enzymes, contributing to overall good health which will shine from your skin. Vitamin C also fights free radicals which can contribute to wrinkles and ageing.
- Clears deposits and buildups: The citric acid in lemons helps your body to clear deposits such as pancreatic, gall, or kidney stones, and calcium buildup in arteries.
- Hydration: lemons contain natural electrolytes (much healthier than a Poweraid!) which help to hydrate your body.
- Regulates blood pressure and reducing inflammation: Lemons contain bioflavonoids, which improve blood flow and prevent internal hemorrhage, while their high levels of potassium helps manage blood pressure.
- Balances your body’s pH level: Even though they are acidic, lemon is alkaline-forming once inside your body.
- Fights cancer: Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including modified citrus pectin, flavonol glycosides and limonoids, which have been shown to prohibit the spread of cancer cells, slow cancer cell growth and induce cancer cell death.
- Eliminates worms: As in, the intestinal kind (ew!).
- Antibacterial: According to Care2, experiments have found the juice of lemons destroy the bacteria of malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other deadly diseases. A glass of lemon juice is also a great natural breath freshener!
- Keeps you happy: Lemons are high in potassium, low levels of which have been linked to stress and depression.
- Keeps your urinary tract heathy: Lemon juice encourages your system to digest more quickly, which results in toxins leaving your body more quickly. It can also change the pH level of the urinary tract which helps to stop bad bacteria from growing.
- Appetite reduction: Pectin is a soluble fibre found in citrus fruits that helps to keep you feeling full for longer.
- Healthy bones: It’s not just about the juice! As well as enhancing many of the above benefits, lemon peel is high in calcium and vitamin C, both of which help to keep your skeleton strong.
- Prevents brain disorders: The lemon zest also contains the potent phytonutrient tangeretin, which has been proven to help disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
A few easy ideas for how it can be incorporated into your diet:
- Squeezed into a glass of lukewarm/room temperature water – drinking this first thing will give your system a morning boost.
- Zest the lemon and sprinkle the rind over salads, pastas, risottos, couscous etc.
- Make a salad dressing by combining lemon juice, wholegrain mustard, and a dash of olive oil.
- Lemons are a great sweet treat, justify your dessert by making low fat lemon bars or lemon and poppyseed muffins.
- Pair with fresh herbs and make a delicious marinade for meats, such as this rosemary lemon chicken.
- Add a different flavour to your veges such as zucchini with lemon and thyme.
- Pop slices into your drinks… What’s a gin and tonic without lemon!?
Sources: Care2, Huffington Post, HealthyEatings, BodyandSoul
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