Lemon is a citrus used to season various dishes such as fish, seafood and chicken, as well as to prepare desserts, fruit juices and vitamins. The lemon zest and its leaves contain essential oils that give it its characteristic smell.
This fruit is characterized by being rich in vitamin C, representing about 55% of the daily amount needed of this vitamin, which acts as a powerful antioxidant and helps to improve the immune system, preventing diseases such as flu and colds. In addition, lemon also contains other antioxidants such as polyphenols, limonoids and colic acid, which have other health benefits.
Lemon, in addition to increasing your body’s defenses, can have other health benefits, such as:
Lemon can help you lose weight because it contains few calories and is rich in fiber, as well as helping to detoxify your body. In addition, it is thought that vitamin C could speed up the fat oxidation process, which could promote the weight loss process.
This fruit also helps to clean taste buds, reducing the desire to eat sugary foods, in addition to having a diuretic effect, helping to combat water retention.
Lemon helps stimulate the gut because it is rich in fiber, which favors the passage of stool through the gastrointestinal tract, having a better effect when consumed with fasting hot water.
One of the active compounds of lemon is limonene, which has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects against the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, in addition to preventing the appearance of stomach ulcers and duodenals.
Because of limonene, lemon has antifungal and antibacterial properties that help fight diseases such as thrush, flu, colds and infection by other bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis.
Being rich in vitamin C, regular lemon consumption promotes tissue regeneration and collagen formation, which is a structure that gives firmness and elasticity to the skin, accelerating wound healing. In addition, it is rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties, which prevent premature aging and the appearance of wrinkles.
Lemon could help regulate blood pressure because it is rich in flavonoids that have an inhibitory effect on the vasoconstriction of the arteries, relaxing blood vessels and thus improving blood circulation. In addition, vitamin C has also been associated with a decrease in blood pressure.
Lemon helps prevent anemia because it contains vitamin C, which promotes the absorption of iron at the intestinal level, especially plant-based iron. To do this, it is important to consume foods rich in this mineral in conjunction with a diet rich in vitamin C, including lemon.
Citric acid in lemons can help prevent kidney stones because urine is less acidic. In addition, it has diuretic properties that also help prevent the formation of calculations.
Lemon contains several bioactive compounds such as limonoids and flavonoids that have antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that prevent the formation of free radicals, induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation.
Due to the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of lemon, it is possible to fight certain bacteria related to the formation of acne.
Watch the video below and learn how to enjoy the benefits of lemon
The following table shows the nutritional composition per 100 g of lemon:
It is important to mention that to get all the benefits mentioned above, lemon should be included in a balanced and healthy diet.
The best way to get all the benefits of lemon is to use the juice, pulp and grated bark, the latter being important because the essential oils of this fruit end in the bark.
Lemon juice is important to consume cold and as soon as it is done it is because 20% of vitamin C is lost at 8 o’clock, at room temperature, and at 24 hours if it is in the fridge.
In the case of consumption of lemon to prevent anemia, it is important to consume it with other foods rich in iron, favoring the absorption of this mineral at the intestinal level. In the case of an acne treatment, it is ideal to drink 1 glass of lemon juice each morning.
As it is very versatile, lemon also has other less common applications and can be used to remove fat from the sink or stove, also avoiding the development of microorganisms by its acidity.
In addition, lemon essential oil can be used in diffusers or air fresheners for aromatherapy, perfumes and air purification, especially in case of respiratory infection. Its aroma can also help improve mood, since inhaling stimulates norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that has effects on the brain.
Although acidic, lemon is an excellent ingredient for making delicious desserts and detox juices, as shown below:
This juice stimulates digestion and has a laxative effect that helps in the treatment of constipation, also helping to purify and detoxify the body.
Ingredients
How to prepare:
Whisk all ingredients in a blender and serve with ice cubes. You can drink it every day and preferably in the morning, empty.
This tea contains lemon essential oils that have a purifying effect, as well as being delicious to drink after a meal, for example.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Boil the water and add the lemon zest. Cover for a few minutes and then take, still warm, un softened.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Whisk the ingredients in a blender and then drink, without softening.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Squeeze the orange and lemon into a juicer and mix this natural juice with sparkling water, then take it. This is an excellent version of natural soda.
In addition, lemon prevents the oxidation of other fruits, being able to be added to other fruits such as apple, pear, banana or avocado, or even in fruit salad, to avoid oxidation.