Lemon benefits for health that you must know
KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTA. The sour taste in lemon actually contains many good benefits for your health. You want to know? Check out the following health benefits of lemon.
Lately lemons have become popular and are hunted by the public. They believe drinking lemon water regularly can boost the immune system.
When the body’s immunity is at its maximum, you will avoid the threat of viruses.
Also Read: Watch out! Drinking too much lemon water is harmful to your health
The health benefits of lemon are not only for boosting the immune system. Lemon is also believed to help you lose weight. “The polyphenols in lemon can help reduce appetite,” says nutritionist Erin Palinski-Wade.
Research conducted on mice has shown that the polyphenols in lemon help prevent weight gain.
Wade explained that when someone drinks a glass of lemon water before eating, it can help fill the stomach, thereby balancing the amount of food needed to feel full.
Lemon water is also a healthy option to replace your morning glass of orange juice. To make lemon juice, you should use whole lemons (not lemon juice in a bottle).
“Squeeze a lemon from one lemon into 8 to 12 ounces of water,” says Palinski-Wade.
Alternatively, you can also grate the lemon zest. Beforehand, you have to make sure the lemons are washed first. “Enjoy it cold or warm, but if you want to lose weight, make sure to drink it cold with ice,” said Palinski-Wade.
Here are the benefits of lemon for your health.
Antibody
It is common knowledge that the vitamin C in lemons can provide additional antibodies. Well, it turns out that there are other benefits of lemon, which helps prevent infection.
“Of course, the acidic environment in the stomach acts as a barrier to disease-causing pathogens,” says Roxanne B. Sukol, medical director of Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Enterprise.
“Having highly acidic foods, including lemon water, contributes to an acidic environment.” According to The Cleveland Clinic, chemicals in lemons known as phytonutrients have antioxidant properties that can also help protect the body from disease.
Helps digestion
Apart from boosting antibodies, the sour taste of lemon can help digest food.
“The flavonoids in lemon help the acids in the stomach break down food, thus improving overall digestion,” says Palinski-Wade.
Helping digestion is especially important as we get older as the amount of acid in the stomach decreases with age.
One study revealed that more than 30 percent of men and women over the age of 60 have atrophic gastritis, a condition characterized by little or no stomach acid.
Also, if you add lemon wedges and grated lemon to water, it can benefit from pectin, a fiber found in the pulp and skin.
Many studies have shown fiber to improve digestion and gut health.
Increase your intake of vitamin C.
The source of vitamin C in lemons is indisputable. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a quarter glass of lemon water provides 23.6 mg of vitamin C, about one-third of the recommended daily intake for women and a quarter for men.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect cells against free radicals, and protects the body from cancer, and accelerates wound healing.
So that the vitamin C levels in oranges do not decrease, mix the squeezed lemon juice with lukewarm water, not hot water.
Stay hydrated
Lemon water is not directly beneficial for hydration. However, drinking flavored water can encourage more fluid consumption.
“Fluids, in general, provide hydration, however, some people find it difficult to drink adequate amounts of water per day because they feel boring and the water has no taste,” says Palinski-Wade.
Well, adding lemon to water can enhance the taste, thus making it more attractive to some. That way, it can help drink more and improve hydration.
To find out if you are hydrated enough, look at the color of your urine. If it’s hydrated, it’s clean, but if it’s yellow or dark then it’s necessary to drink more.
How, did you get interested in consuming lemon every day? It is recommended that you consume lemon in moderation. Because, excessive consumption of lemon can threaten the health of your body. (Kahfi Dirga Cahya)
Also Read: Amazing! These are the benefits of lemon and lime infused water for health
This article was published on Kompas.com with the title “The Benefits of Lemon Water that is Rarely Known”,