Now more than ever we are looking to nature to aid us with getting healthy and losing weight. The humble lemon, for example, is more than something that tastes nice in your G&T. Lemon naturally has strong antibacterial, antiviral and immune boosting
properties. It contains citric acid, magnesium, calcium, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, pectin and limonene, all of which help fight infection. The lemon juice is also a digestive aid and liver cleanser, so it will help flush your body of toxins and speed up weight loss and many people now drink lemon water or lemon tea. The health benefits of lemon are vast so drinking lemon in water or as a teacan dramatically affect your health.
Helps with digestion
Lemon juice helps flush out toxins from the body as it acts a gentle diuretic, which is why water and lemon is so
great to start the day with. This means that your body will pass more water and
will take the toxins with it. As well as this, it encourages the liver to
produce bile (the acid used in digestion) which speeds up digestion. The
vitamins and minerals in lemons loosen the toxins in the digestive tract which
helps relieve constipation and diarrhoea as well as indigestion, heart burn and
bloating.
Boosts Your Immune System
As we all know lemons are a good source of vitamin C which is brilliant for fighting cold and flu. But the
benefits of lemon don’t stop there, they are also high in potassium which is
good for brain & nerve function and controls blood pressure. The vitamin C
which is found in lemons has an anti-inflammatory effect, reduces the amount of
phlegm in the body and has antimicrobial properties to help fight cold and flu.
Balances pH Levels
Although they taste acidic and contain citric acid, lemons are actually one of the most alkalizing foods you can
consume. Interestingly, once inside our bodies the citric acid doesn’t create
an acidity when it is metabolised, making it alkaline. Diseases only occur when
the body’s pH is acidic so we need to balance it out. Lemons alkalize the blood
and regain an even pH balance in the body, lowering the risk of disease. A
brilliant excuse to start drinking lemon with water!
Good for Your Skin
Lemons are high in antioxidants which improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles as well
as blemishes and skin damage from free radicals. The alkaline nature of lemons
help kill some bacteria which can cause acne and can also be applied directly
to spots and scars to reduce their appearance. Because lemon water flushes your
body of toxins this will also help clear the skin to give a more glowing
complexion.
Promotes Healing
The vast amount of vitamin C found in lemons, aids wound healing and is essential to maintain healthy bones,
cartilage and connective tissue. This makes it a brilliant addition to your
diet when recovering from an injury and maintaining good general health.
Encourages Weight Loss
The lemon water benefits do not stop there. High levels of pectin fibre in lemons helps fight hunger cravings,
stopping you from snacking too much and overeating. Some studies have shown
that people who maintain a more alkaline diet, do actually lose weight faster.
As well as this, as noted before, it flushes out toxins which will help aid
weight loss. By replacing fizzy or sugary drinks with lemon water or replacing
tea with hot lemon water, you will also be consuming less calories as lemon
water is calorie free. Hooray!