There are five major fruits of the Rutaceae family which include limes, tangerines, grapefruits, oranges, and lemons. Our focus in this article will be on the last one – lemon.
Lemon and other citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C and there are various ways of consuming the fruit. In this piece, we’ll take a look at the health benefits of lemon peel, juice, and water on the human body.
Nutritional facts Of lemon
Like all citrus fruits, lemon contains high levels of vitamin C. This is in addition to citric acid which makes about 8% of the juice and gives it the sour (acidic) taste.
Lemon fruit is rich in other vitamins including vitamins A, E, and K, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and copper. Also, lemons have low caloric content which is necessary for weight loss.
How to prepare lemon water
Lemon water can be made by squeezing lemon juice into clean water. When making lemon water, it is advised that you make use of fresh lemons and filtered water.
Benefits of lemon water
Diluting lemon juice with water helps to reduce its acidic content but nonetheless offers great health benefits. Here are some of the benefits of consuming lemon water.
- As a remedy for dehydration. Drinking water is the best way to hydrate the body and reduce the risk of dehydration. However, many people don’t like taking only water due to its bland nature. This can be addressed by drinking lemon water, which contains more water than lemon.
- Good for the The high vitamin C content of lemon water offers many health benefits including a healthy skin. Wrinkles and dry skin can be treated using lemon water.
- Promotes weight loss. Lemon water is low in calories and contains polyphenol antioxidants which help in reducing weight gain.
- Natural remedy for constipation. Lemon water is used as a natural laxative by constipation sufferers. It can also be used for preventing constipation and for improving digestion.
- For preventing kidney stones. Kidney stones can be caused by an improper flow of fluid in the body among other reasons. Lemon water contains citric acid which helps in reducing the risk of the formation of new stones.
- For fresh breath. Drinking lemon water early in the morning and after eating foods like onions and garlic (which have strong odors) can help to get rid of the resulting bad breath.
Side effects of drinking lemon water
Although the consumption of lemon water holds a lot of health benefits, there are a few side effects that can arise. For one, the acidic content of lemon can lead to wearing of tooth enamel. To reduce this risk, you can use a straw while drinking the water.
Secondly, drinking lemon water can cause heartburn in some people instead of bringing them relief. Moreover, drinking lemon water can result in frequent urination.
That said, drinking lemon water, whether hot or cold, offers many health benefits in comparison to the few side effects.
Health benefits of lemon
Lemon is rich in essential body nutrients and can benefit the body in the following ways.
- For reducing high blood pressure. Lemon has high levels of potassium which is important for controlling high blood pressure.
- For treating indigestion. Digestive problems like bloating, burping, and indigestion can be treated by drinking lemon juice. Due to the high vitamin C content of lemon, the fruit is highly beneficial to the digestive tract including the stomach.
- For good oral hygiene. The teeth and mouth can benefit greatly from lemon. Due to the tart nature of the fruit, applying a few drops of lemon juice to toothpaste can help in teeth-whitening. Lemon can also benefit the mouth by preventing mouth odor and reducing toothache.
- To stop internal bleeding. Lemon has antiseptic properties and helps in promoting blood clotting. These properties are helpful in stopping internal bleeding.
- For healthy and strong fingernails. For brittle fingernails, the application of lemon mixed with olive oil is a good way of hardening the nails.
- As a remedy for joint pains. Lemon has diuretic properties that assist in cleansing harmful substances by promoting the flow of urine. This and the anti-inflammatory properties of the fruit help in reducing inflammation associated with joint pains such as arthritis.
- For weight loss. Lemon is also rich in fiber which gives a filling effect to overweight persons and stops them from having food cravings.
- For cancer prevention. Lemon contains flavonoids which help in protecting the body against various forms of cancer. Hence, drinking lemon juice is a natural way of preventing cancer.
- As a remedy for asthma. Lemon contains antioxidants which help to combat against bacteria and viruses that cause respiratory disorders like asthma.
For detoxifying the liver. The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body, thus, needs to be properly taken care of. Lemons help in cleansing the liver of toxins as well as stimulating bile production.
Benefits of lemon for the hair
There are many hair benefits of using lemons. The following are some of them:
- Treatment for hair loss. If you are dealing with hair loss, applying a mixture of vinegar and lemon on the scalp can be the difference. Even better, rubbing lemon juice mixed with egg on the scalp can help to strengthen the hair follicles.
- Natural remedy for dandruff. In addition to preventing hair loss, the application of lemon on the scalp also helps in the reduction and prevention of dandruff.
- A remedy for oily scalp. The lemon-vinegar combination can also be used for treating an oily scalp. This works by flushing excess sebum from the hair.
- Treatment for hair lice. Mixing lemon juice with garlic and applying it on the scalp will help to kill lice on the hair as well as loosen them from the scalp.
- For thick and shiny hair. If your hair is looking dull, you can correct this by applying a mixture of fresh coconut water and lemon juice on the hair.
Benefits of lemon for skin
The skin can benefit greatly from the consumption of lemon water. Some of these skin benefits are:
- To reduce the facial effects of aging. Lemon contains citric acid and other chemical compounds which help to reduce the effects of aging such as wrinkles and age spots.
- A remedy for dry skin. Applying lemon juice mixed with olive oil and honey on the skin is a simple way of treating dry skin.
- A remedy for oily skin. As much as lemon is good for combating dry skin, it is also effective in the treatment of oily skin. Massaging the face with a mixture of lemon juice, grape juice extract, and egg white can do wonders on the skin.
- A remedy for dark elbows. Massage the elbows with lemon pulp or rind can help in the treatment of discolored elbows.
- A remedy for acne. Mixing lemon juice with water and subsequently applying it to the face or area with acne is a natural way of dealing with the disease.
Benefits of lemon peels
It is not uncommon for people to consume lemon for its juice and pulp while discarding the peels. However, this neglected part is also beneficial to the health. Let’s take a quick look at some of these benefits.
For preventing bone diseases. The high calcium and vitamin levels in lemon peels are good at preventing bone diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Consuming lemon peels help in lowering cholesterol levels which if uncontrolled can lead to heart disease or high blood pressure.
In addition to the above, lemon peels also have anti-cancer compounds such as limonene and flavonoids.