Lemons aren't just a garnish for your beverages or a sour fruit to add to your water. Lemons themselves aren't known for being a tasty snack, but they contain many vitamins and antioxidants, making them one of the healthiest fruits!
Here at Agape Juices we use lemons in a number of our cold pressed juices and smoothies. We use lemons for its significant health benefits as well as its wonderful taste! A few of our juices and tonics available that contain lemon include Alkalizer, Rob's Sweet Heat, Bunny Power, Liver Power, Tarty Melon, Turmeric Tonic, Detox Lemonade, and Phyll Good Tonic! These juices and tonics are available every week. Our menu is located on our website or you can click here.
Here are some of the amazing benefits of adding lemon to your diet:
Helps With Wrinkles
Lemons are high in vitamin C, a high intake of which is associated with a lower likelihood of developing wrinkles and skin dryness. It is said that one lemon contains about half of your daily intake of Vitamin C. Adding lemon to your diet may aid your skin in preventing the signs of aging.
Good for Cardiovascular Health
Eating fruits high in Vitamin C also reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The fiber from the pulp of lemons is also good for your heart. They have been proven to reduce some risk factors for heart disease. Citrus fiber is also proven to reduce overall blood cholesterol levels. Hesperidin and Diosmin, two plant compounds found in lemons, have also been found to lower cholesterol.
Helps Control Weight
Lemons are rich in polyphenols, which are naturally-occurring compounds that contain antioxidants. Although citrus fruits have their own combination of polyphenols, the ones found in lemons can have significant health benefits. Researchers recommend an intake in lemon polyphenols as a way to combat obesity. Pectin, which is found in the peel and pulp of citrus fruits like lemons, has been proven to help people feel fuller, longer. People who ate just 5 grams of pectin experienced more satiety.
Helps With Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are small lumps that form when waste products crystallize and build up in your kidneys. They are quite common, and people who get them often get them repeatedly. Citric acid may help prevent kidney stones by increasing urine volume and increasing urine pH, creating a less favorable environment for kidney stone formation. Just a 1/2-cup (4 ounces or 125 ml) of lemon juice per day may provide enough citric acid to help prevent stone formation in people who have already had them.
Helps With Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is quite common. It occurs when you don’t get enough iron from the foods you eat. Lemons contain some iron, but they primarily prevent anemia by improving your absorption of iron from plant foods. Your gut absorbs iron from meat, chicken, and fish (known as heme iron) very easily, while iron from plant sources (non-heme iron) not as easily. However, this absorption can be improved by consuming vitamin C and citric acid. Because lemons contain both vitamin C and citric acid, they may protect against anemia by ensuring that you absorb as much iron as possible from your diet.
Reduces Cancer Risk
Although regular inflammation is important for your body's immune response to fight off something like a cold, chronic inflammation can lead to weight gain, fatigue, digestive issues, mood swings, and even cancer. A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help prevent some cancers. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that have been proven to reduce inflammation. Vitamin C was found to be beneficial during inflammatory conditions, including protecting immune cells. Studies indicate that D-limonene, a compound found in lemon oil, does have anticancer properties. Plant compounds found in lemons — such as limonene and naringenin — could have anticancer effects.
Aids In Digestion
Lemons are made up of about 10% carbs, mostly in the form of soluble fiber and simple sugars, which help healthy gut bacteria thrive and can lead to smooth and regular bowel movements.
The main fiber in lemons is pectin, a form of soluble fiber linked to multiple health benefits.
Soluble fiber can improve gut health and slow the digestion of sugars and starches. These effects may result in reduced blood sugar levels.