Lemons Archives - Journey With Healthy Me

Lemons & Limes

I associate lemons with summertime. Hot, muggy weather conjures up images of tall glasses of cold lemonade and iced tea with a wedge of lemon tucked within. I used to enjoy frozen lemon sorbet or lemon meringue pie this time of year, so it seems appropriate to feature these citrus fruits today for Food Friday.

My association with lemon’s sister fruit, lime, is not as strong. In fact, until recently, I didn’t think I liked limes. My relationship with limes came from green, “lime flavored” Life Savers and other hard candies. I never like the green ones! Looking back now I realize that was a very poor judgment against limes, as the flavored candies didn’t offer an accurate taste experience.

In the book Life Changing Foods, Anthony William shares that the roots of lemon and lime trees go deep into the earth, drawing up dozens of trace minerals that get passed on to us when we consume the fruits. They also offer valuable traces of bioavailable sodium and mineral salts, making them ultra hydrating and electrolyte producing.

Lemons and limes have the most highly absorbable vitamin C available. They also offer bioactive calcium and phytochemicals, called limonoids, that bind the calcium and vitamin C together. This enhances the bioavailability of each and creates alkalinity in the body, which helps to prevent the growth of most cancers.

These two fruits have powerful antioxidant properties that fight against disease. Lemons, in particular, help to expel mucus, making it useful when dealing with colds, flu, bronchitis or pneumonia. Both citrus fruits are amazing cleansers of the liver, kidneys, spleen, thyroid and gallbladder. They rid those organs of toxic substances such as plastics, synthetic chemicals, radiation, and nutrient poor foods.

When going through any type of detox, it’s a great idea to drink a lemon or lime water first thing in the morning. Lemon or lime water flushes the toxins out of the body, that the liver draws out. Freshly squeezed juice is a great antibacterial, antiseptic cleanser for small cuts or abrasions, helping to prevent staph infections. And a warm cup of lemon or lime water, with honey added, calms busy electrical impulses and neurotransmitters, aiding in a restful night’s sleep.

I use freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice frequently when I make healthy sauces and dressings. And I use lime juice, squeezed directly onto foods after cooking, to bring out their best flavors. I also keep a pitcher of lemon/lime water in the refrigerator and make sure I drink at least one glassful a day. I’ve shifted from using an occasional lemon wedge in my water and avoiding limes completely, to keeping these citrus fruits on hand and using them daily. I am grateful for the healing power and zesty tang of lemons and limes!

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Healing Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

One of the easiest changes to make in embracing a healthier lifestyle is the inclusion of a cup of warm lemon water first thing in the morning. Before drinking or eating anything else, starting the day sipping on this zesty health booster brings amazing healing benefits.

According to Anthony William, author of the book Life Changing Foods, lemons, and their citrus cousins limes, are ultrahydrating and electolyte producing because they are a top source of mineral salts and trace mineral salts.

And they are a source of highly absorbable vitamin C. In addition, lemons provide bioactive calcium. The phytochemicals called limonoids actually bond the vitamin C and calcium together, so where one goes in the body, the other tags along.

Lemons alkalinize the body, which helps to prevent the growth of most types of cancer. And the antioxidant flavonoids fight other illnesses such as cold, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Lemons are an effective mucus expeller and an amazing cleanser of the liver, kidneys, spleen, thyroid and gallbladder.

They purge the body of toxins that collect in the body due to exposure to plastics, chemicals, radiation and poor food choices. Drinking lemon water as soon as you wake up flushes these toxins from the liver, which has worked through the night detoxifying the body. Otherwise, those toxins settle back in.

Other benefits include:

Ease nausea
Reduce bloating
Lower cholesterol
Aid in weight loss
Prevent kidney stones
Boost mood & sense of well being

Preparing this extraordinary drink is simple. Using a fresh lemon, or lime if you prefer, cut in two and squeeze the juice of one of the halves into a cup of warm water. I like using my Aunt Annie’s old juicer, however squeezing the juice directly into the cup of water is fine. During the summer, I like to cut up a couple of lemons and make a large pitcher of lemon water that I sip on all day.

When I first began drinking lemon water, I made the mistake of using a bottled concentrate. While there may be some benefits from drinking that juice, it just doesn’t compare to the juice from a freshly squeezed lemon. Plus, I now use fresh lemons to make my own hummus and salad dressings. I like keeping them on hand.

While it is important to start the day with lemon water, it also makes a great end of the day drink. A cup of warm lemon water with a spoonful of raw, local honey calms the nervous system and aids in a restful night’s sleep.

From flushing toxins to fighting colds and allergies to aiding in weight loss and getting a good night’s sleep, this little powerhouse of a fruit offers incredible healing benefits. Try adding a cup or two of lemon water to your daily routine, and see what happens!

For more information about lemons, and 49 other healing foods, check out Life Changing Foods by Anthony William.

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I am an Amazon Affiliate! I may make a commission, at no extra charge to you, when you make a purchase through my link. Thank you for considering the purchase of this book, or any other product, through my Amazon link.