The Many Uses And Benefits Of The Famous Citrus Fruit Called The Lemon

We all know lemons, citruses growing in warmer climates, available to us year round. This small yellow fruit is probably most famous for its C vitamin (renowned antioxidant) content and has traditionally been used to fight the effects of colds and flu.

However, there are many other benefits of the lemon juice we sometimes take for granted or tend to overlook. To help you appreciate this little yellow treasure even more, here are some tips for the use of the lemon you might not have heard about before.

Sore Throat

Years ago, I used to have a sore throat as a companion from fall to spring. Then I discovered how to use lemon juice as soon as the soreness in my throat started threatening me:

Half a lemon in a glass of water - first thing in the morning.

This short and simple recipe virtually changed my life. At the first sign of the burning or scratching sensation in my throat I would simply drink the juice of half a lemon with water on my empty stomach and the unpleasant sensations in my throat would just calm down.

Of course this refreshing vitamin boost probably wouldn’t work quite as well when the throat gets really sore. In that case, gargling with lemon juice has been traditionally recommended by herbalists and other practitioners.

Helping Digestion and the “Master Cleanse”

Dr. Elson M. Haas, M.D. describes in his book Staying Healthy with the Seasons (Celestial Arts, 1981) the lemonade fasting as a “master cleanse” for the body.

In his words, “Lemon water, as a half of lemon in a glass of water, drunk 20-30 minutes before meals, seems to help stimulate gastric juices and help digestion. In general, liquids drunk before meals can reduce our appetite and thus prevent overeating, and lemon water is a very good choice.” (Staying Healthy with Nutrition, Celestial Arts, 1992)

Even though the flesh of the lemon is acidic, lemon juice should not give you heartburn like vinegar and some other acidic fruits.

Cutting Fats, Removing Odors

Lemon juice has a chemical behavior of cutting fats and oils, therefore helping with fat metabolism in our body and at the same time aiding liver function. No wonder we so often find lemon juice in dishwashing liquids.
Traditionally, lemon juice has also been used for removing bad odors from one’s hands (or from wooden chopping boards) after handling strong-smelling foods and spices like fish, cabbage, garlic and some others.

Refreshing Drink

Lemonade, a well known refreshing drink is most beneficial when prepared with freshly squeezed lemon, mixed with clean, fresh water and no sweeteners. Lemon juice can also be added to other natural juices to improve or change the taste and add vitami
C and potassium.

To me, the most refreshing way to drink lemonade is with mineral water. Most practitioners would probably disagree with this choice but Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo, The author of The Blood Type Diet®, actually recommends carbonated water for people with blood type O.

In my experience, lemon with mineral water doesn’t even need ice to be truly refreshing. Besides, room temperature or warm to hot liquids quench one’s thirst much faster because they are readily absorbed. Iced drinks have to be heated up by the stomach first.

For your convenience, you can store freshly squeezed lemon juice in an ice tray and use a cube whenever you need a refreshing drink, want to add lemon to you cup of tea or simply crave to change the taste of the glass of water.

Oversensitivity to Lemons

Some people may be allergic to lemons or the taste of the lemon may not agree with them. Some of those people replace lemon for gargling with apple cider vinegar – it’s claimed to be just as efficient with sore throats.

Dr. Elson M. Haas, M.D. sums up lemon’s beneficial qualities well: “I consider lemons a cleanser, purifier, rejuvenator, and detoxifier, especially for the liver, as they help in fat metabolism. These functions come mainly from their astringent qualities, supported by high vitami
C and potassium levels.”

Cheers! – With refreshing glass of lemonade…