Dear Natural Health Enthusiasts,
There are those for whom lemon is an ordinary fruit, good only to end up as slices in Coke.
 |
And there are those who consider lemon the undisputed star of natural health.
 |
This was the case with a friend who is now deceased, but who lived in great shape until she was 93.
I remember very well what she told me about the lemon:
“Lemon is a little miracle all by itself! It’s rich in mineral salts, trace elements, and vitamins, especially vitamin C. It gives you rock-solid immunity, a strong nervous system, and a strong heart. So, frankly, “ordinary,” my eye!”
“If you consume it every day, you can say goodbye to colds and other infections. It has been part of my routine for over 40 years, and I have been doing very well all this time: no colds, no flu, no digestive problems…”
This friend was right to insist so much on the benefits of this fruit.
What they don't tell you about lemons
Lemon has built its fame largely on its high vitamin C content (between 50 mg and 100 mg) and its ability to detoxify the body.
Studies have shown that lemon juice and its peel (rich in limonene) do have draining effects on the body [1] , but its power should not be overestimated either.
Drinking lemon juice once a day is not enough to do a deep detox.
I recommend it more for sore throats.
As soon as you start to feel discomfort in your throat, gargle with the juice of a lemon diluted in a glass of water, 3 times a day from the start of the infection.
The bravest among you will gargle without dilution; it's strong but radical. You can then swallow the preparation to benefit from its antiseptic properties internally.
Lemon has a very acidic pH (2 to 2.5) and can be aggressive for the stomach mucous membranes. It is therefore not recommended in cases of inflammation (reflux, ulcer, esophagitis).
But lemon is not only a powerful antimicrobial.
It still has many virtues that are less talked about.
Preventive effects against certain types of cancer?
Lemon has also been shown to be useful in preventing much more serious pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases. According to one study, this effectiveness comes mainly from flavonoids which have an antithrombotic, antioxidant, vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory effect [2] .
Even more impressive: a study [3] analyzed the activity of lemon in 955 patients with different cancers (mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, colorectal, breast, uterus, ovaries, prostate and kidneys). And the researchers concluded that lemon would have protective effects against cancers of the digestive tract and upper respiratory tract.
These studies will still need to be confirmed on a larger scale, but the results are still encouraging.
Disinfectant and healing at the same time
You may have noticed for yourself: lemon poured on a wound stings.
 |
This is normal, lemon juice also has disinfectant and healing properties. An in vitro experiment [4] has also demonstrated that lemon juice effectively fights against the following bacteria: Bacillus subtilis , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella kintambo , Salmonella typhi and Proteus .
Lemon is said to have many other properties:
- Anti-cholesterol [5] : women who consumed lemon for 4 weeks saw their cholesterol levels decrease by 6.5%.
- Hypotensive : a study [6] demonstrated that the ingestion of lemon, coupled with physical exercise (walking), reduced blood pressure.
- Neuroprotective [7] : lemon is said to have an antidepressant effect on neurons.
- Digestive tonic [8] : it reduces appetite and supports digestion.
Drinking Your Lemon in a Glass of Hot Water (and 3 Other Common Mistakes)
We often read that you should put lemon in hot water (tea, herbal tea, etc.) to benefit from its antioxidant properties or treat an ENT infection.
The problem is that vitamin C is very sensitive to heat: when you pour boiling water over your lemon, you risk destroying the vitamin C it contains.
The best solution is therefore to add lemon juice directly to your dishes or pour it into a glass of lukewarm or room temperature water (but never boiling).
In the long term, this habit could also have harmful effects on your teeth.
The acidity of lemon weakens the enamel, which is the protective layer of the tooth. To avoid this, it's important to avoid consuming it throughout the day. It's best to choose a specific time to drink your lemon juice (in the morning, for example).
Then, rinse your mouth well and do not brush your teeth immediately afterward. You can also use a straw to limit the lemon's contact with your teeth.
By the way, never use it:
- On your toothbrush to whiten your smile : you risk destroying your enamel even faster
- For weight loss : Lemon's "slimming effect" is unproven. While citric acid helps digest fat, it doesn't prevent it from being stored.
- Directly in your hair to make it shine : Lemon dries out hair. It's best to dilute it in water beforehand if you want to use it as a hair treatment.
Kind regards,
Hervé de Ré