Limes and Lemons Help Improve Your Health!
Many nutritionists and health experts recommend drinking lemon water before breakfast for better health and to detox the body. I would add that lime water might be the better alternative . I also suggest cooking with lime juice often. Both lemons and limes have significant benefits. Lemons help keep your body hydrated and help flush toxins. Lemons and limes also provide calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium and vitamins A, C and B complex, antioxidants, pectin fibers, carbohydrates, trace proteins and help fight pathegens.
The citric acid found in lemons and limes has powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties which can strengthen your immune system and prevent a number of diseases.
One caveat before we move on to the reasons for using lemon and lime juice. Be sure to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after using lemons or limes as the citric acid because will begin to eat at the enamel on your teeth.
Vitamin C
According to Arizona State University, scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency, was rampant among English sailors in the 1600s and 1700s. The Royal Navy gave them lemon juice, assuming that the acid in it prevented scurvy. Because lime juice is more acidic than lemon juice, they eventually substituted with lime juice. The sailors, who were nicknamed “limeys,” no longer suffered from widespread scurvy during long voyages. The Navy doctors were partly correct, as vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid, and limes are rich in it. One lime provides 19.5 milligrams of vitamin C, giving you about 25 to 30 percent of your recommended daily intake for that vitamin.
Weight Management
If weight loss or maintenance is your goal, adding lime to your food can give you a flavorful, satisfying seasoning without extra calories and fat. Limes have only 20 calories and no fat or cholesterol. They are a healthy substitute for more fattening ingredients in sauces, dressings and desserts, and provide an abundance of antioxidants and phytonutrients that help keep your cells and digestive system strong.
Antioxidants
Limes and lemons contain compounds that may enhance their antioxidant activity and work against carcinogenic cells. In 2009, researchers from Texas A&M; University and the University of Agricultural Sciences in India published a study in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,” observing the effects of lime juice on pancreatic cancer cells. All of the extracts they used were successful in inhibiting growth of the cancer cells. The researchers concluded that the antioxidant activity derived from the flavonoid and limonoid content of lime juice may be capable of slowing or stopping the spread of some types of cancer cells.
Foodborne Illness Prevention
Cholera, a dangerous intestinal infection caused by eating contaminated foods, causes vomiting, dehydration and diarrhea. In 2001, a group of researchers published a study in “Tropical Medicine and International Health,” citing research they had done after a 1994 cholera epidemic in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. They found that adding lime juice to sauces inhibited the growth of bacteria that can cause illness, significantly decreasing the number of people who developed foodborne illness.
Lemon or Lime Water before Breakfast
To prepare the lemon or lime water you will need to squeeze half a lemon or lime in a glass of purified water. You may add a small amount of honey to sweeten it.
10 benefits of drinking lemon or lime water before breakfast and adding limes to your daily diet:
- Improves digestion
Lemon and limes stimulate greater secretion of bile which improves digestion. Regular consumption of lemon and lime juice will help you get rid of the toxins and harmful substances in your body and prevent digestive disorders.
- Helps lose weight
Lemons and limes are full of pectin fibers that help curb cravings and suppress appetite. This enables you to control what and when you eat. Moreover, the combination of lemon or lime with warm water and honey before breakfast creates an alkaline environment in the stomach which speeds up the fat-burning process.
- Cleans the skin
A glass of warm lemon or lime water before breakfast and lime juice throughout the day will help cleanse your blood and improve skin regeneration.
- Stimulates the immune system
Regular consumption of lemon and lime juices increase the body`s ability to assimilate iron, which leads to strong immune system. Additionally, vitamin C from lemons and limes will protect you from colds and flu.
- Bad breath
Lemons and limes have the ability to clean your mouth by stimulating the secretion of saliva which destroys the bacteria that cause bad breath.
- Balances the pH levels
One glass of warm lemon or lime water in the morning and lime juice throughout the day help regulate the pH levels in your body, reducing the risk of inflammation.
- Increases the energy
Lemons and limes are rich in vitamins B and C, phosphorus and proteins which can significantly boost your energy. They are refreshing and nourishing to your body.
- Cure throat infections
Lemons and limes have a strong antibacterial effect and therefore are ideal for fighting sore throat infections and tonsillitis. Consuming one glass of warm water with lemon before breakfast can significantly lower the risk of throat infections.
- Controls high blood pressure
Lemons and limes are able to clean the lymphatic system and maintain proper hydration. Due to their high potassium content they can reduce stress and help you sleep better. They also help improve mental activity and control the blood pressure levels.
- Cleans the urinary tract
The combination of water with lemon or lime juice has natural diuretic properties which can effectively clean your urinary tract from bacteria. This blend can also stimulate the production of urine and regulate the pH levels, preventing the proliferation of bad bacteria. Lemon or lime with hot water will significantly boost your energy, help you lose weight and improve your overall health.
So head to the market and get your lemons and limes for a healthier start to your day and a healthier you!
For more information on using food for healing visit us at Alabama Holistic Health or email us at info@alholistichealth.com.
