Lemons are my besties in the kitchen. They are one  of the staples that are always available in my refrigerator.  I drink lemon juice several times in a week, use the juice to marinate meats and dab the juice on my face. Lemon juice is a natural astringent.

The health benefits of lemons are due to its many nourishing elements like vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A,vitamin E, folate, niacin thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, copper,  calcium, iron,  magnesium, potassium,zinc, phosphorus and protein.

Lemon is a fruit that contains flavonoids, which are composites that contain antioxidant and cancer fighting properties. It helps to prevent diabetes, constipation, high blood pressure, fever, indigestion and many other problems, as well as improving the skin, hair, and teeth. Studies conducted at the American Urological Association highlight the fact that lemonade or lemon juice can eliminate the occurrence of kidney stones by forming urinary citrate, which prevents the formation of crystals.

Lemons contain pectin fibre which is extremely valuable for colon well-being. Lemons also have effective antibacterial properties.

The fragrance of lemon can likewise repulse mosquitoes, while drinking lemon juice with olive oil serves to dispose of gall stones.

Lemons contain an acidic juice which stimulates our body to become more alkaline.

Reasons to include lemons in your diet:

1. Improves liver function
2. Reduces symptoms of colds and other viruses
3. Stimulates bowel moment and cleanses the bowel
4. Reduces acidity in the bladder, thus prevents UTIs
5. The antioxidant vitamin C, when eaten in its natural form or applied topically, can help to fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduce wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture.
6. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, the support system of the skin.
7. Improves digestion. Because lemon juice’s atomic structure is similar to the digestive juices found in the stomach, it tricks the liver into producing bile, which helps keep food moving through your body and gastrointestinal tract smoothly. Lemon water also helps relieve indigestion or ease an upset stomach.
8. According to the American Heart Association, eating higher amounts of citrus fruits may lower ischemic stroke risk for women.

Adding lemon juice to your favorite recipes is relatively easy. Roast chicken cooked with lemon instead of stuffing becomes deliciously tender and aromatic.

Boil barley and make your own lemon and barley water. Squeeze the juice of  lemon over your salad, chicken, fish or seafood. Try a slice of lemon with your tea.

You can even clean with lemons. Just add to vinegar as a great kitchen cleaner. Or slice up some lemons and pop them into your microwave oven, set to cook mode for a minute and wipe down the microwave oven. I love popping sliced lemons into the oven and bake them for several minutes to get rid of odour.

Potential health risks of consuming lemons

Those with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) may experience an increase in symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation when consuming highly acidic foods such as citrus fruit; however, individual reactions vary.

It is the total diet or overall eating pattern that is most important in disease prevention and achieving good health. It is better to eat a diet with a variety than to concentrate on individual foods as the key to good health.