What else you need to know about lemon?

Lemon water and lemonade are a refreshing drinks, particularly in my humid climate or in the summer. Lemon contains many great benefits to our body. It is full of vitamin C, iron, vitamin B, riboflavin and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium as well as proteins and carbohydrates. Lemons also contain vitamin B6 and other antioxidants called flavanoids which are low in calories but high in flavor. It is very rich in nutrients, I think people should make a movie about lemon to create awareness ^_^.

Just look at that cold and juicy lemonade.. yum~~ Pssst: its 33 celcius out here!

Misconception of lemons

Lemons are acidic inside your body

Citrus family fruits are strong in taste and consider acidic on the outside such as lemon that has a pH around 2.0. However, the most important thing to note is NOT what the pH of the food is in its natural state rather than how does it perform inside your body. Lemon juice when enters your body will metabolize because the minerals will spread to your bloodstream to form alkalizing effects.

The pH chart

pH = Potential of Hydrogen

When we eat or drink it can either produce:

• Acidic forming --> creating free hydrogen ions OR
• Alkaline forming --> creating hydrogen atoms which is what lemon does

Below is a sample of acidic foods and alkalinizing foods

Now that we know lemon is good in neutralizing acidity in your body, lets test acidity in your body. You should know that Your blood pH needs to be in the state of alkaline which is at pH 7-8. If our pH is too acidic, we cannot properly absorb nutrients, production of cells decreases, tumour cells thrive, and one’s immune system goes down.

Here’s a simple experiment you can do to find out whether your body is more acidic or more alkaline.

The many benefits of lemons

• Improve your digestions

Carbohydrates make up nearly 10% of the lemon with much of that is soluble fiber and simple sugars. The trick is to drink warm lemon water. Why? drinking any water, or especially warm water, first thing in the morning can help flush the digestive system and rehydrate the body. Lemon water helps digestion thanks to the citric acid properties it has. This acid interacts with various enzymes in your body and stimulates the secretion of gastric juice.

• Control weight

Rather than saying it is for weight loss, I opt to say that drinking lemon water is good for controlling weight. Lemon water on its own is not a quick fix that magically boosts your metabolism and making you losing kilos. However, it is by far a better choice than many other beverages out there. Assuming that your diet, exercise, and activity level is the same, and you start drinking lemon water as soon as you wake up, it is likely to increase your metabolic level. Drinking plain water is also fine but drinking lemon water is better because it naturally has Vitamin C and antioxidants.

• Prevent kidney stones and gallstones

The citric acid in lemons are found in much greater concentrations than in oranges or grapefruit. These properties can increase urine volume and pH, making it less likely these stones could form in the first place. In short, citrate restores the urine's ability to prevent kidney stone and gallstone formation.

Side effects

• Thinning your teeth enamel

Fruit juices and acidic liquids can impact the enamel of teeth, so it is best to dilute concentrated lemon juice with water or drink through a straw.

I just tought this kid is cute. Source

• Heartburn

If you already have heartburn, drinking too much lemon with water may worsen your condition or even trigger heartburn. Heartburn occurs when acid from your stomach moves back up into your esophagus, a process known as acid reflux.

Acid reflux source

Final word

Lemon juice is abundant in nutrients. There are a lot of health benefits associated with fresh lemon water beside listed above. In my views, it is better to check your body acidity levels and adjust to the graph I listed above (see : sample of acidic foods and alkalinizing foods)

If your body acidity is high, avoid or minimize harmful acids like caffeine, sugar, gluten, dairy, alcohol, soda, processed food, artificial sweeteners, and carbonated water. Drink lemon water every morning!. If your body is quite alkalanize ,lemon water still great for your overall well-being.

Jen is a lemon girl,