Among the many health benefits of lemons are their medicinal, chelating and weight loss properties that outweigh their use as just a simple, tasty food. Lemon has a number of antiseptic qualities that can be effective against a number of different bacteria and other harmful organisms.
Some of the nutrients contain in lemons are vitamin A, vitamin C, some of the B vitamins, dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus. Vitamins A are antioxidants and essential nutrition to support your immune system and for your eye health. Vitamin C also has antioxidant properties, protects your immune system and has healing properties. There are also phytosterols, chemicals that may reduce the risk of heart disease.
There are many individuals who realize that a good way to enjoy the health benefits of lemons is to have a warm cup of tea with honey and lemon. The lemon tea brings comfort for those who are suffering from sore throats, laryngitis, asthma, colds or the flu. And one of the benefits of lemon juice or lemon water is it also helps regulate the bowels, soothe indigestion, and relieve such problems as belching, intestinal bloating and painful heartburn.
The other one of the benefits of lemon juice is that it has been shown to help in the detoxification purposes. People have used lemons to help them with health problems as diverse as gout, arthritis and tuberculosis. And of course citrus fruits can help strengthen bones and they have long been known to be one of the best ways to prevent scurvy or rickets.
The more scientific explanation involves the fact that lemons are one of the rare fruits that contains an abundance of negatively charged molecular ions. These particles are known as anions. Most types of fruit and foods contain more cations, which are positively charged particles. The presence anions allow the lemons to provide energy to the body because this juice functions in ways similar to those of natural digestive enzymes.
Today, there's a lot of focus on the use of lemons and lemon juice for weight loss. According to Theresa Cheung in her "The Lemon Juice Diet" book, including lemons in your diet, will boost your digestion and can help you lose weight. But she also states that you must eat healthy and exercise to make the lemon juice diet work.
One of the more healthy lemon juice diet plans requires that you drink fresh lemon water mixed with maple, syrup and cayenne pepper. This juice is meant to help cleanse and detoxify your digestive system. You are encouraged to add a wide variety of healthy foods such as veggies, healthy nuts, tasty yogurt, crunchy seeds, crisp salads, savory grilled fish, and fresh fruits including berries and bananas into your daily diet.
Some of the more restrictive lemon water diet regimens call for periods of fasting which are interrupted only by ingesting glasses of water flavored with the juice of a lemon. This diet might work but one of the disadvantages is that you will deprive yourself of the other essential nutrients that your body needs.
So, to get the benefits of lemon juice, it's best that you drink lemon water every day. But at the same time eat nutritious food, exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle so that you can enjoy a full life.
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