Lemons And Limes: The Healthy Ways Of Using Them

Adding lemons and limes into our water makes a refreshing beverage. This makes them a healthy alternative sugary to drinks. Aside from this, they are also loaded with beneficial vitamins and phytochemicals such as flavonoids and limonoids that work together to help us fight diseases. Here are the healthy ways of using them:

Lowering Down Blood Pressure

We can get more advantage from both the juice and peels of lemons and limes. Simply press some in your water when going for a walk (1).

Caution: It is recommended to talk to your doctor first when taking medication as citrus can interfere with them.

Brain Booster

Present in lemons and limes are special chemicals that may help keep our brain cells safe from toxic substances in our bodies. As they may protect against general cell breakdown and inflammation, consumption of them may also be able to help reduce some of the risks of brain diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s (1).

Serve Up Vitamin C

Both lemons and limes are high in vitamin C, an important antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage. Vitamin C supports the immune system, helps the body absorb iron from foods, and is vital in n the production of collagen, an important substance for healing wounds (2).

Prevents Kidney Stone Formation

Kidney stones develop when certain substances, such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, become concentrated enough to form crystals in the kidneys. Substances called citrates in lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits can help stop this buildup.

Citrate binds to calcium and helps block stone formation. Studies have shown that drinking ½ cup of lemon juice concentrate diluted in water each day, or the juice of two lemons, can increase urine citrate and likely reduce kidney stone risk (3).

Prevent Asthma

The richness of vitamin C is the reason why lemons and limes are deemed to be such a useful tool against asthma. Vitamin C improves the body’s overall immune system. It keeps external free radicals that can trigger asthma away from the body (4).

Squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into a glass of warm water and add 1 teaspoon of honey. Consumption of the mixture will help strengthen the immune system, and may also help clear away mucus (5).

Enjoy Antioxidants

In addition to vitamin C, lemons and limes are also loaded with flavonoids, phenolic acids, basic oils, and coumarins which act as antioxidants. They unite as one to battle the miscreants – free radicals – which harm your cells and prompt sicknesses and other medical issues (6).

Sources: