Health benefits of lemon: weight loss, lightens skin, aids digestion

Yellow in color (depending on the specie) sour in taste, lemons provide more health benefits than just a refreshing zing to dishes. Lemons are high in vitamins and antioxidants thus they help prevent scurvy and treat a wide variety of conditions.
They are packed with vitamin C which enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating the skin from within or exfoliating it when used externally bringing a glow to your skin. Its numerous health benefits make it one of my favourite in the citrus family.

Aside using lemon to detoxify my system, I use it for lightening dark patches on my skin by applying the juice directly on it and trust me, my skin gets clearer after just one application.

Below are #10 health benefits of lemon juice that you should know:


1) Aids Digestion:
Lemon juice flushes out unwanted materials and toxins from the body. The atomic composition of Lemon juice is similar to saliva and the hydrochloric acid of digestive juices. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that is required for digestion. Lemons are also high in minerals and vitamins which help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract. The digestive qualities of lemon juice helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn, belching and bloating. The American Cancer Society actually recommends offering warm lemon water to cancer sufferers to help stimulate bowel movements.

2) Cleanses Your System :
Lemon juice increases the body's urination rate thus, flushing out unwanted materials from the body at a faster rate. The citric acid in lemons helps maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification of the body system.

3) Boosts Your Immune System:
Lemon juice is high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds. it also contains high level of potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve functions. Potassium is also great for controlling blood pressure. The Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) found in lemons demonstrates anti-inflammatGregory effects, and is used as complementary support for asthma and other respiratory symptoms it also enhances iron absorption in the body; iron plays an important role in immune function. Lemons also contain saponins, which show antimicrobial properties that may help keep cold and flu at bay. Lemons also reduce the amount of phlegm (the thick yellowish substance that forms in the nose and throat especially when you have a cold) produced by the body.

4) Balances pH Levels:
Lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods for the body. Sure, they are acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they’re alkaline (once metabolized the citric acid does not create acidity in the body).
 Lemons contain both citric and ascorbic acid, weak acids easily metabolized from the body allowing the mineral content of lemons to help alkalize the blood. Disease states only occur when the body pH is acidic. Drinking lemon juice regularly can help to remove overall acidity in the body, including uric acid in the joints, which is one of the primary causes of pain and inflammation.

5) Clears Skin:
The vitamin C component as well as other antioxidants helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes and it helps to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is vital for healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne. Lemon juice can actually be applied directly to scars or age spots to help reduce their appearance. Since lemon juice purges toxins from your blood, it would also be helping to keep your skin clear of blemishes from the inside out. The vitamin C contained in the lemon rejuvenates the skin from within your body and also lightens it.

6) Energizes You and Enhances Your Mood:
The energy a human receives from food comes from the atoms and molecules in your food. A reaction occurs when the positive charged ions from food enter the digestive tract and interact with the negative charged enzymes. Lemon is one of the few foods that contain more negative charged ions, providing your body with more energy when it enters the digestive tract. The scent of lemon also has mood enhancing and energizing properties. The smell of lemon juice can brighten your mood and help clear your mind. Lemon can also help reduce anxiety and depression.

7) Promotes Healing:
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), found in abundance in lemons, promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. As noted previously, vitamin C also displays anti-inflammatory properties. Combined, vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of good health and recovery from stress and injury.

8) Freshens Breath:
Besides fresher breath, lemons have been known to help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. Be aware that citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so it is important to dilute the lemon juice with water of any temperature (though lukewarm is recommended).

9. Helps you lose weight:
Lemons contain pectin fiber, which assists in fighting hunger cravings. It also aids weight loss by burning fat especially belly fat. Its detox quality can be enjoyed by mixing its juice with water and drinking once or twice a day.

10. Reduces inflammation:
If you drink lemon juice on a regular basis, it will decrease the acidity in your body, which is where disease states occur. It removes uric acid in your joints, which as stated earlier, is one of the main causes of inflammation


   #Fun Facts
»The potassium content in lemon helps nourish brain and nerve cells.

»»A glass of lemon juice contains less than 25 calories.

»»»The juice from a lemon keeps bananas, apples, avocados and other fresh fruit from turning dark for hours!

Not only are the benefits of lemon juice endless, it’s one of the most substantial yet simple changes you can make for your health.

What is your favourite lemon benefit? Is it the fact that it aids weight loss or the fact that it's great for skincare? Whatever it is, let us know by commenting below!