Lemon
Lemon juice is the liquid obtained by pressing the citrus fruit of the same name.
As the name suggests, the lemon is the fruit of the lemon tree, botanically classified in the Rutaceae Family, Genus Citrus and Species C. x limon ; the binomial nomenclature of the lemon tree is Citrus x limon .
The lemon is probably the result of the cross between the pomelo and the cedar.
Benefits
For many, saying that lemons are a "super food" is a true euphemism. Not surprisingly, we often hear tales of amazing healing abilities, sometimes justifiable and in other cases totally unfounded.
It is true that, in addition to flavoring many recipes, lemons also boast various health benefits. For example, vitamins and flavonoids are present in lemon juice, both with a strong antioxidant power. For this reason, some specialists support the use of this food in the diet for the treatment of certain diseases or uncomfortable conditions.
Among the various benefits of lemon juice, discarding those that are hardly sustainable, we can mention at least 10. We remind our readers that it is nutraceutical capacity, far from what could be the impact of a real drug.
- Prevention of kidney stones: this is due to the increased excretion of citrate in the urine. Some studies have shown that this effect could hinder the formation of calcium stones in the kidneys
- Soothe sore throat: by drinking a mixture of lemon juice and honey, it is possible to attenuate the burning of the inflamed pharynx
- Favor satiety: thanks to the pectin content (a soluble fiber) and water, the lemon pulp anticipates the sense of satiety; being a fruit with very few sugars, the lemon lends itself to the slimming goal. Obviously, the use is limited by personal tastes and by the propensity to the characteristic taste
- Helps reduce coffee consumption: replacing coffee with lemon juice reduces the daily intake of caffeine and facilitates the loss of consumption habits. This applies to any other beverage; however, few other liquids boast an equal content of vit C
- Reduces itching: thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic power, lemon juice is opposed to the stinging power of some herbs and insect bites.
- Promotes digestion: with reference to the whole fruit, discrete colagogic, carminative and digestive potential is observed. Despite the tendentially acid pH, it shows a clear alkalizing effect
- Antitumor: the studies have supported the antitumor activity of the triterpenes contained in the lemon and in the relative juice; these compounds protect cells from damage that can lead to the formation of cancer cells. Furthermore, the vit C itself has an antioxidant and therefore antitumor action
- Antibacterial: lemon juice has a counteracting action on bacterial growth; this is very useful especially in food preservation, but it seems to boast a discrete selectivity on the harmful strains inside the intestine
- Source of potassium: lemon juice offers 80mg / 100g of edible portion. Potassium, fundamental to global homeostasis, is a mineral that is excreted in large quantities by the body (especially urine, sweat and feces)
- Anti-gout: the trace elements (mineral salts) of lemon juice tend to hinder the aggregation of uric acid in crystals; it is not a dose dependent reaction, but it can help sufferers in the accumulation of this element.
