...and Where's the Lemon??...
How much do you know about lemons?
A rich source of vitamin C, lemon juice protects the body from Immune system deficiencies.
Drinking lemon juice with warm water every morning helps in maintaining the pH balance of the body.
With its powerful antibacterial properties, lemon juice helps fight infections
Acts as a detoxifying agent.
Helps with maintaining digestive health.
Along with vitamin C, lemons are also a rich source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium etc.
Helps fight common cold
Lemon water is also a popular remedy for many kinds of skin problems ranging from acne, rashes and wrinkles to dark spots.
Lemon juice with warm water helps in quick weight loss as it promotes digestion and increases the metabolic rate.
Lemon juice is also very effective at cleansing the liver as it promotes the liver to flush out toxins
Lemon’s anti-inflammatory properties help in fighting respiratory tract infections, sore throat and inflammation of tonsils.
Lemon juice with warm water helps keep the body hydrated as it provides electrolytes to the body.
Drinking lemon juice with warm water also helps reduce joint and muscle pain.
Lemon juice with warm water is also good for your dental health as it helps with toothache and prevents gingivitis.
Lemon juice with warm water helps with digestion and hence, helps regulate natural bowel movement. List originally published by the Edison Institute of Nutrition
Lemons are packed like a clown car with nutrients, including vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. They even contain more potassium than apples or grapes!
Vitamin C is like our immune system’s jumper cables, and lemon juice is full of it.
The level of vitamin C in your system is one of the first things to plummet when you’re stressed, which is why experts recommended popping extra vitamin C during especially stressful days. As already mentioned, lemons are high in potassium, which is good for heart health, as well as brain and nerve function.
Basically, lemon water, cold or warm, creates an alkaline pH in your body. And an alkaline environment is super hard on illness. Virus and bacteria have a difficult time thriving. And, of course, lemon is high in basic vitamin C, long known for its antiviral and antibacterial strengths.
For those who weigh less than 150 pounds, squeeze half a lemon’s worth of juice into a glass of water. If anyone weighs over 150 pounds, use an entire lemon’s juice.
Lukewarm lemon water is recommended. You can dilute the lemon juice more, depending on your personal taste.
Drink it first thing in the morning, and wait 15 to 30 minutes to have breakfast. This will help you fully receive the benefits of lemon water, which are listed above.
BENEFITS OF THE LEMON PEEL
Small amounts of lemon peel contain fiber, calcium, potassium and magnesium. And astonishingly, 1 tablespoon provides 9% of the daily requirement for vitamin C.
If you use the peel, buy organic lemons to be sure you aren't in taking pesticides which like to adhere to lemon peels. If you don't use the peel, non-organic is fine; the pesticides don't tend to absorb into lemons past the peel.
HOW MUCH LEMON WATER SHOULD YOU DRINK EACH DAY?
The drink is beneficial of course, but there are negatives to drinking too much a day.
Lemons can erode teeth enamel, cause heart burn, trigger ulcers and even migraines for those prone to them.
The solution is to drink no more then 16 ounces or two cups a day. Two cups contain the juice from a single lemon, or about 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. So basically you need a lemon a day.
To protect your teeth, also use a straw.
WHEN IS BEST TIME TO DRINK LEMON WATER?
Drink your first 8 ounces as the first drink of the day - either cold or warm. That's because when you wake in the morning you are dehydrated and acidic.
Your first drink should hydrate you and turn your body to alkaline. You will feel a boost of well-being within 15 seconds of drinking it - try it tomorrow morning and see!
WHY DOES TEMPERATURE MATTER?
Temperature matters for several reasons. In general, the temperature can change the molecular structure of lemon juice and affect which benefits are bio-available.
WHAT ARE BENEFITS OF COLD LEMON WATER?
Drinking water cold is beneficial because it tastes better and you are more likely to drink more of it. Cold lemon water tastes delicious and so you are more likely to drink more of it. It's particularly alluring in hot weather and after a workout. And after a workout, it is useful to re-hydrate you and replenish body salts and nutrients such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
TRY SOME RECIPES
LEMON WATER GINGER SHOTS
Ginger Shots are super easy to make, boost immunity, provide a burst of energy, have anti-aging effects and more! Don't buy KOR shots or other expensive brands, just make your own.
I show you three different ways to make ginger shots with fresh ingredients but without a juicer - with a blender! - here: https://greensmoothiegourmet.com/ginger-lemon-shots-blender-recipe/
PEAR HOMEMADE LEMONADE / NO-SUGAR 3 INGREDIENTS / Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free
It's very easy to make this lemonade. Just wash and chop the pears. For the best nutritional profile, don't peel the pears. Instead filter out an skin debris once the lemonade is blended. And juice the lemons.
A quick hack to get more juice from your lemons is to warm them before juicing. You can do this either in the microwave (don't let them run too long) or sit them in a pot of hot water while you prep the pears.
Put pears and lemon juice in a blender, process, and refrigerate. Before serving, pour through a sieve to remove any remaining particles.
INGREDIENTS
½ cup ripe pear (probably 2-3, peeled, chopped) Buy it organic - pears are listed as one of the "dirty dozen" with the EWG
1 cup lemon juice Squeezing 6 lemons should produce about 1 cup juice
½ cup water
INSTRUCTIONS Prep
Wash, peel and chop the pears.
Juice lemons using a hand juicer. If you microwave the lemons for 10 seconds before juicing, you'll get maximum juice.
Make the lemonade
Add the pear, lemon juice and water to a high speed blender and blend until the liquid is completely blended. It might be a bit frothy from the pear, you can either spoon that off or let it disappear in the refrigerator.
Put the lemonade in the refrigerator to completely chill through. When ready to serve, pour once through a sieve to remove any debris.
Serve with ice and lemon slices anything else you have on hand _ I had some tiny kumquats! Keep refrigerated for 3-4 days for best fresh flavor.
NUTRITION
Calories: 50 cal Carbohydrates: 15g Protein: 1g Fat: 1g Saturated Fat: 1g Sodium: 5mg Potassium: 172mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 7g Vitamin C: 48.9mg Calcium: 7mg Iron: 0.1mg
Information found at health.ClevelandClinic.org