Wow! Lemons can do all of that? 9 Healthy Internal and External Uses

We’ve all heard the old adage, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Now we know that when life gives us lemons, we can make much more than that plus our bodies will thank us for it later! There are so many ways to enjoy the flavor of lemons, from candies and cookies to pies and cakes. When we dig a little deeper behind the peel, a whole world of health benefits are exposed. Let’s take a look at some here.

I think one of the most popular and convenient ways to consume a lot of the benefits of lemon is by drinking a glass of freshly squeezed lemon water. Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning is an excellent way to consume about 10 to 20 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C, which is also a great way to give our immune system a healthy boost. Due to the fact that lemons are very acidic, it is best to drink lemon water with a straw. This will help reduce the risk of eroding tooth enamel. When lemon water is consumed first thing in the morning, it is a perfect way to hydrate our bodies to start the day!

Lemon water also aids in keeping the digestive track moving smoothly by flushing out toxic waste. The citric acid, a natural laxative, coupled with the fiber in the lemon, may provide some relief from constipation. Removal of waste from the body is an important part of maintaining optimal health, mentally and physically.

Let’s talk a little bit more about how important Vitamin C is for the body. Yes, it strengthens the immune system and can shorten the length of time it takes to get over a common cold or flu, but it also plays an important role in the production of collagen, a major building block for many parts of the body. “Collagen also keeps your skin looking young and fresh. People with high levels of collagen have fewer wrinkles and firmer skin than those who don,” says Finesse Plastic Surgery. Radiant, healthy skin and Vitamin C compliment each other very well. In it’s role as an antioxidant, the vitamin helps reduce inflammation and helps the body fight off attacks from disease and free radicals that can eventually cause harm to the body.

Citrate, also known as citric acid, is also found in lemons. This naturally occurring acid can also be used to prevent uric acid from building up in the kidneys and eventually causing kidney stones. Kidney stones are typically formed when too much uric acid collects in the kidneys. To minimize the potential for kidney stones, routinely have a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Let us not forget the traditional DIY sore throat remedy, hot lemon and honey tea(leave out the honey for a vegan version). During the cold and flu season, adding lemon to your tea is a great way to pump the immune system with Vitamin C while giving relief to that nagging, scratchy sore throat. At the same time, the honey, with its antioxidant properties, is helping to fight off the invaders.

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Now that we’ve seen the amazing job that lemons can do when consumed on a regularly basis, preferably daily, let’s take a look at some external uses:

To create blonde highlights, rinse the hair with a mixture of lemon juice and water a few times a week, then sit in the sun until dry. The citric acid in the juice has gentle bleaching agents that will create blonde highlights over time. Do this weekly until the desired results are achieved.

If you’ve ever experienced ‘snow on the mountain’, you already know how embarrassing dandruff can be. To help eliminate dandruff, try using lemon juice on the scalp and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Do this treatment several times a week for best results, which may vary depending on the severity of the problem.

Citric acid, with the aforementioned gentle bleaching agents, can also be used to lighten brown spots on the skin, also known as age spots or freckles. Just saturate a cotton swab or ball and saturate the problem area with the undiluted juice. If the juice is too harsh for your skin, dilute it with water. Leave it on for about 20-30 minutes before rinsing with water only, avoid using soap. Use this treatment at night for several days a week until the spots begin to fade.

According to an article by Arlington Dermatology, lemon juice can remove warts! “These mild acids urn off the wart attack the virus that caused it.” They recommend soaking a cotton ball in two parts juice and one part water, taping it to the wart and leaving it over night. Repeat the process until the wart is gone.

It seems that Lemons can definitely be a part of a healthy regimen. With so many healthy uses for the body internally and externally, it would be difficult to go wrong. So with that being said, stop reading this post right now and go add Lemons to your grocery list!

Eat, Drink & Be Well…