7 Reasons Why Lemons Are One Of The Best Foods For Your Health

Everyone has that one ingredient they need in the kitchen, and mine is a lemon. I love the taste of lemon on everything, from salads, to pasta, and even my eggs. But besides from tasting delicious and providing my dishes with a light and fresh flavor, lemon has a wide variety of health benefits that shouldn’t be ignored.

Lemons are considered superfoods due to their large amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants. They’re extremely versatile and available all year long, making them an important staple in the kitchen.

If you’re not convinced you should eat the citrus fruit daily, consider these seven reasons why lemon is one of the most important health foods.

1. Lemon Helps With Digestion

You may have heard the importance of drinking a glass of lemon water every morning, and this is because lemon helps conserve insulin, allowing your body to take more time to take in and process nutrients after eating.

Drinking hot water with lemon not only helps digestion, but it can help reduce bloating and may even help boost your mood.

hot water lemon photo
Flickr | wuestenigel

2. Lemon Helps To Clean Out Your Liver

Lemon contains a compound called naringenin, which can help reduce liver inflammation. It also contains eriocitrin, a flavonoid that helps protect the liver against oxidative stress.

lemon water photo
Photo by Sam Fox Photography

3. Lemons Are A Great Source Of Vitamin C

Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, which functions as an antioxidant fighting free radicals in your body. One lemon contains about 50 percent of the daily recommended amount of the vitamin. Vitamin C is also essential to creating collagen, which is responsible for generating new bone, skin and blood vessels.

lemon vitamin photo
Flickr | wuestenigel

4. Lemon Clears Up Your Skin

Lemon is a great natural treatment for acne, as it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The citric acid present in lemon can also help lighten dark spots and blemishes. Just apply directly to skin and rinse with cool water.

clear skin photo
Photo by Helga Weber

5. Lemon Freshens Your Breath

If you don’t have a mint on hand, you can use lemon instead. Fight bad breath naturally with lemon, as the acidity in the fruit helps break down pungent smells. Studies have found that eating lemon can help neutralize the smell of even potent garlic breath.

smile photo
Photo by be creator

6. Lemon Can Help Protect Against Cancer

Because they contain a huge amount of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E, lemons make a great dietary addition to help protect against cancer. Squeeze lemon over your salads, chicken, or even your toast for added protection daily.

lemon photo
Photo by wwarby

7. Lemon Helps When You’re Sick

Drinking lemon in warm water can help loosen congestion and keep you hydrated. Because lemon has antibacterial properties, it’s a strong immune-booster and healthy addition when you’re feeling under the weather.

sick photo
Photo by kellogg

Photo by Frank Lindecke

Photo by DJ-Dwayne [Returning in 2015/16]

Food, Health

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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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