Superfoods Feature: Lemons

   If you’re not getting fresh lemons into your diet, you may want to reconsider after reading the many health benefits of lemon juice, pith (the 'meat'), or zest (skin).

Here are a few of the amazing healing powers of lemons:

• Bowel-Cleansing:  The bitter of lemon gives this fruit the ability to increase peristalsis–a pumping-motion in the bowels–which helps to eliminate waste from the bowels and improve regularity.  Add the juice of one lemon to warm water and drink first thing in the morning.
• Cancer:  Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including limonene—a naturally-occurring oil that slows or halts the growth of cancer tumors in animals.  Lemons also contain a substance called flavonol glycosides which stop cell division in cancer cells.
• Colds and Flu:  Lemons are rich in vitamin C and flavonoids that work in conjunction for a serious punch against infection.
• Liver:  Fresh lemon juice added to a large glass of water in the morning is a great liver detoxifier.
• Nutrition:  Lemons contain vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids, B-complex vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and fiber.
• Balances Body Chemistry:  While lemons are acidic they interact with the body’s metabolism to have an alkalizing effect on the bodily fluids helping to restore balance to the body’s pH. 
• Allergies:  Lemons contain the phytonutrient hesperetin which has been shown in studies to alleviate allergic symptoms.
• Brain and Nervous System Disorders:  Containing the potent phytonutrient tangeretin in the peel, lemons have been proven to be effective for brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
• Eye Disorders:  Rutin, found in lemons, has been shown in research to improve the symptoms of eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy.
• Anti-Viral:  In addition to being effective against cold and flu viruses, terpene limonoids found in lemons have proven anti-viral effects on other types of viruses.
• Diabetes: In addition to improving eye problems linked with diabetes, lemons contain hesperetin which lowers blood sugar levels (when they are high).
• Gall and Kidney Stones:  The citric acid found in lemon juice helps to dissolve gallstones, calcium deposits, and kidney stones.
• Anti-Aging:  The vitamin C found in lemons helps to neutralize free radicals linked to aging and most types of disease. 

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