Lemon
Lemon juice has many health benefits, whether as a source of vitamin C or as a mood enhancer. Consuming it is not always easy, considering its acidity and sourness, but drinking it diluted with water or sprinkling it on a salad regularly can help increase your consumption of this healthy juice.
Source of Vitamin C
Among the oldest and most recognized heath benefits of lemon juice is as a source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant that helps scrub the body of free radicals, byproducts of the process it employs to extract energy from sugars and oxygen. These free radicals can cause cellular damage if allowed to build up, leading to heart disease, cancer and other serious illnesses. Vitamin C is also an important building block for a healthy immune system.
Antibacterial Effects
In an article in the Journal of Food Safety from Oct. 22, 2008, researchers reported that lemon juice, along with many other citrus juices, are useful as food preservatives. They prevent the growth of bacteria and could form the basis of a natural food preservative that is less toxic than some chemically based substances.
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
In the July 2004 issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Disease, the authors found that patients who consume fewer fruits with vitamin C, such as lemons, were more likely to develop a form of rheumatoid arthritis known as inflammatory polyarthritis.
Lemon Juice and Mental Health
In the March 2008 issue of the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, Dr. Jacie Kiecolt-Glaser of Ohio State University reported how a research study aimed at measuring the health benefits of aromatherapy uncovered that the scent of lemon can have a positive effect on a person's moods.
Lemon Juice as Digestive Aid
Lemon juice stimulates the release of saliva and chemicals and enzymes in the digestive system. Lemons are high in citric acid, which stimulates the production of the stomach juices essential to digestion. It also stimulates the liver to produce bile, which is essential to digestion of fats.
Consuming Lemon Juice
Many people don't drink lemon juice because it is extremely sour. Lemonade is a good alternative, however it is high in sugar or artificial sweeteners. Try drinking water regularly and adding fresh lemon juice to it for flavor. This is a healthy combination that is low in sugar and high in health benefits. You can also add lemon juice to a salad in place of vinegar to enhance a dressing or add it to tea.
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