The Health Benefits of Lemons
Chances are if you have been on any type of detox diet, you have used lemon juice at some point. Lemons are great to use for detox because they balance the body’s ph. They are an acidic fruit that alkalizes your system once it comes in contact with your stomach acids. They taste great too! The health benefits of Lemons include phytonutrient properties and because of their high vitamin C content, they are one of the best antioxidants in nature. As vitamin C travels through out the body, it neutralizes all the free radicals it comes into contact with. Free radicals cause inflammation, and cause damage to healthy cells. They are a major cause of accelerated aging. When you add the benefits of lemons as part of your detox diet, you are neutralizing the toxins and flushing them out of your body. Be sure you always drink a lot of water when you are detoxing.
The benefits of lemons have been a part of folk medicine for a long time. Fresh lemon juice mixed with a tablespoon of honey and some warm water has been a remedy for coughs and colds for a long time. For an added boost, add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to really chase the bugs out. It may take some getting use to but it works.
Of course you don’t always have to detox to get the amazing benefits of lemons. Add a wedge to your water, squeeze fresh lemon on your fish, rice or vegetables to bring out the flavor and add some zest! Lemon smoothies are very refreshing, especially in the hot summer. Also when you are making fresh vegetable juicer recipes, don’t forget to add some lemon. Lemon makes the best dressing mixed with extra virgin olive oil, 3 cloves of crushed fresh garlic, and pepper and sea salt to taste. Use this dressing to marinate fish, drizzle on a rice bowl of sautéed vegetables or toss a salad.
