k  The incredible power of lemons!  k

I have been drinking warm water with fresh lemon juice first thing in the morning for years and have seen the benefits it brings – It’s an incredibly powerful digestive aid and you are instantly activating the liver and the gall bladder to enable bile production, which in turn emulsifies fats. It boosts your immune system, it is alkalising and controls PH levels, clears the skin and decreases wrinkles. The ascorbic acid in lemon promotes healing, hydrates the lymph system to combat constipation, regulates high/low blood pressure, freshens breath, aids mental clarity, aids weight loss and it possesses antidepressant qualities that helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Oh and it helps a hangover too….need I say more!

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But when anything is this good there is sadly always a drawback – and that is the damage it does to the precious enamel on your teeth. My cousin who is a dental hygienist recommends that before you drink lemon water gently rub enamel-protecting toothpaste around your mouth with your finger and then leave it a while before you drink. You can further minimise the risk by drinking through a straw so it bypasses your teeth. After drinking the lemon water, vigorously rinse your mouth immediately followed by chewing some sugar-free gum, which as we know helps produce more saliva that neutralises the acidity in your mouth. Must importantly DO NOT brush your teeth for at least 45 minutes after drinking the lemon water because the acid in the lemon juice leaves the enamel softened and is more prone to erosion by the motion of brushing your teeth.

More incredible powers of the lemon

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So now you know about the incredible health benefits of drinking warm lemon water. But you can go another lemony step forward and like me, freeze them whole, grate them and try and eat them on as many foods as you can. They really do enhance the flavour of food and give you immeasurable health benefits. Recently an American friend of mine sent me a very interesting article on the health benefits of eating whole frozen lemons and grating them onto your food. Several academic papers published in the last decade have suggested that lemons possess some substantial anti-cancer properties. A 2002 report on the medicinal use of citrus (issued by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) noted that the biological activity of compounds found in citrus species, including flavanoids, carotenoids and limonoids have been shown to significantly reduce malignant cells in a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic. More recently several medical research studies also claim that the compounds of lemon are more effective than the drug Adriamycin that is commonly used in chemotherapy. Additionally, lemon extract therapy only affects malignant cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. It’s a huge and controversial claim but the health benefits of consuming lemon are significant as a major health rejuvenator in eradicating toxic elements in the body.

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Lemon peel contains 10 times more vitamins than the lemon juice itself, by freezing lemons and grating them whole over your usual foods while still frozen, you can really get the best from every part of the lemon. Quite simply all you need to do is put washed whole lemon(s) in the freezer and once the lemon is frozen you can grate or shred the entire lemon and sprinkle it on top of your all manner of foods from; vegetables, salads, soup, cereals, sauces, rice, sushi, fish and meat dishes, drinks and smoothies – the list is endless. Your body will love you for it…tell your friends and family and spread the love of lemons!

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Give it a try!