Why you need lemons in your diet

Lemon is a good fruit to include in your diet once in a while as it helps reduce the number of times you have to visit the doctor due to its nutritious and medicinal values. You not only need lemon juice but the peel as well. According to Dieudonné Bukaba a nutrition expert at Avega Clinic Remera, the health benefits of lemon are due to its many nutritious elements like vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and protein. He adds that lemon is a good alkalizing agent for the body. “Lemons are acidic to begin with, but they are alkaline-forming on body fluids, helping to restore balance to the body’s pH. They also help treat flu and cold since they contain flavonoids that work against infections,” he says. Dietician Geetanjali Ahuja Mengi from Geetanjali Medical Nutrition Clinic in Mumbai, India, says that lemons help in breaking down free radicals; however when consumed in execess, they can cause serious damage to blood vessels and cause cholesterol formation. Mengi adds that citrus quantity in lemons helps prevent acne, hence resulting in a healthy glowing skin. The lemon peel has potent phytonutrient tangeretin, which has been proven to be effective in managing brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease. / Net photo. The nutrition expert emphasises that the lemon is an amazing refreshment to the liver and is a dissolvent of uric acid and other poisons. Bukaba adds that lemons clean the bowels as they increase peristalsis in the bowels, therefore generate a bowel movement thus eliminating waste and helping with regularity. He advises that lemon juice should be added to warm water and drank in the morning because it helps eliminate scurvy. Mengi adds that lemons relieve problems related to indigestion and constipation and can also be used in hair care. “The citric acid in lemon juice helps to melt gallstones, calcium deposits, and kidney stones, while the vitamin C in lemons helps to neutralise free radicals linked to aging and most types of disease,” Bukaba states. He explains that the lemon peel has the potent phytonutrient tangeretin, which has been proven to be effective in managing brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease. “Lemon is a promoter of gastric fire, good for vision, and helps destroy intestinal worms,” Mengi says. She further says lemons have powerful antibacterial properties, and that research has established that lemon juice treats dandruff, hair loss, and provides additional shine to hair. “It is also good for throat infections due to its functions as an antibiotic and promotes good breathing, especially for those who have lost breath,” Mengi states. Also lemons destroy the bacteria that cause malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other deadly diseases, she says. Research shows that soluble fibre can improve gut health and slow the digestion of sugars and starches hence reducing blood sugar levels. However, people who drink lemon juice without consuming the skin and pulp, miss out on the benefits of the fibre. Lemons contain vitamin P (bioflavinoids) which strengthens blood vessels, thus preventing internal hemorrhage. Symptoms of eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy, have been shown to improve due to the rutin found in lemons. Plant compounds found in lemons such as limonene and naringenin, might have anti-cancer effects though this hypothesis also needs extra investigations. Bukaba explains that lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including naturally occurring limonene - oil which slows or halts the growth of cancer tumors in animals and flavonol glycosides which stop the multiplication of cancer cells. Studies have proven that the compounds in lemons prevent malignant tumors from developing on the tongues, lungs and colons of rodents According to Healthline Networks, the fibre and plant compounds in lemons could also considerably lower some risk factors for heart disease and drinking warm water with lemon helps cut weight.