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The benefits of fresh citrus juices have been known since ancient times. Due to the lack of heat treatment, the product retains nutrients and vitamins. Lemon juice is one of the leaders in the number of elements beneficial to human health.
Composition and value of lemon juice
Fresh lemon is a source of a huge amount of microelements. It contains a large amount of B vitamins, vitamin P, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. In addition, 100 g of the product contains almost half of the daily value of vitamin C.
Calorie content per 100 g is only 22 kcal. The energy value of the product is as follows:
- proteins - 0.35 g;
- fats - 0.24 g;
- carbohydrates - 6.9 g;
- water - 92.31 g.
The mineral composition represents a whole spectrum of chemical compounds. Lemons are rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium.They also contain rare elements such as selenium, zinc, manganese and copper.
What are the benefits of lemon juice?
The benefits of drinking freshly squeezed juice are undeniable. It is most widespread in cooking as an addition to various dishes or drinks. Due to its composition, it is successfully used not only as a food product, but also in various cosmetics and even medicines.
Ascorbic acid, found in large quantities in lemon, is an excellent immune system stimulant. During the off-season, its regular use can reduce the risk of colds and flu.
In addition, regular consumption of fresh lemon juice helps normalize blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Lemon is an excellent source of energy. It perfectly charges the body, having a tonic effect on it.
The drink is very useful for depression and sleep disorders. The potassium contained in lemon is an excellent means of combating anxiety and low mood. This drink will also help restore intestinal function due to the content of a large amount of antioxidants.
Is it possible to drink lemon juice on an empty stomach?
After waking up, the body tissues are dehydrated and need nutrition. Adding a few drops of fresh lemon juice to a glass of water restores the acid-base balance. In addition, this lemon juice in the morning allows you to start the kidneys as efficiently as possible, helping to remove harmful waste and toxins from the body.
Drinking lemon juice on an empty stomach can also harm the body. Due to the large amount of acid, an excessive amount of this drink in the morning can destroy tooth enamel, so it is recommended to drink it through a straw. You should also be careful or even refrain from taking it for people who have diseases of the digestive system - gastritis, ulcers and pancreatitis.
The benefits of lemon juice in dietetics
The first rule of dietetics is to bring the digestive system back to normal. Nutritionists use the beneficial properties of lemon juice to improve metabolism and overall rejuvenation of the body. The vitamins and chemical compounds it contains strengthen the digestive system and gallbladder, and eliminate excess toxins.
Fresh lemon juice contains pectin, a polysaccharide responsible for carbohydrate metabolism. Its main function is to block the ability of the body to instantly absorb fast carbohydrates. Uniform absorption of carbohydrates is not only the basis of proper nutrition, but also allows you to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Using the beneficial properties of juice to combat excess weight is based on saturating the body with nutrients. In addition, when acid enters the mouth or onto the walls of the stomach, it stimulates the receptors responsible for burning excess carbohydrates. The body begins to process their excess.
Benefits of lemon juice for skin
The beneficial effects of lemon on the skin have been known for a long time. To use it correctly, you need to lightly moisten a sponge or sponge in it, and then apply it to your face, avoiding contact with your eyes.The substances contained in its juice allow you to achieve an even skin color, as well as give your face a natural glow.
In addition, fresh juice can combat problem areas on the skin. It perfectly helps smooth out wrinkles, reduce freckles and darken age spots. The body will receive the greatest benefit when combining cosmetic procedures with a proper diet, which includes fresh lemon juice.
Benefits for hair
Fresh lemon juice has a beneficial effect on hair and scalp. Compared to other citrus fruits, lemon contains the highest amount of vitamin P - rutin. In combination with vitamin C, it can have a comprehensive effect on restoring hair and scalp. Using lemon juice provides benefits in the following areas:
- relief from itching, dandruff and seborrhea;
- normalization of oily scalp;
- reducing the intensity of hair loss;
- increased hair growth;
- strengthening the roots and ends of hair.
The most popular way to use juice is as a hair mask. In order to prepare a nourishing mask, you need to mix lemon juice, olive oil and full-fat milk in a 1:1:1 ratio. The resulting mixture is applied to the hair for 20 minutes, then washed off with shampoo. The benefits of such a mask are colossal - hair ceases to be dry and brittle and acquires a natural shine.
The benefits of lemon juice for oncology: myth or reality
According to recent research, lemon extract has miraculous powers against cancer cells. It destroys them without harming healthy tissues. Compared to chemotherapy, such treatment does not cause harm to the body, and its benefits in some respects are several times greater.Citrus is actively used in addition to the treatment of breast, lung or colorectal cancer.
According to the results of an experiment conducted by European scientists on people, the real effectiveness of the lemon juice treatment method was proven. The control group of patients had to eat 150 g of fresh lemon or drink an equivalent amount of juice 4 times a week. Test results showed that the disease had completely stopped progressing. In addition, the general condition and well-being of the test subjects improved significantly.
Further research in this area showed that consuming 75 g of citrus per day can completely stop the development of the disease. Unfortunately, lemon only blocks the growth of cancer cells, but cannot completely overcome the disease. Its regular use in conjunction with competent treatment helps improve the general condition of patients.
How to make lemon juice at home
To make the perfect lemon juice at home, you need to follow a few simple rules. First you need to choose the right fruits. The lemon should not be too large - such fruits do not contain a large amount of juice and also have a very thick peel. It is worth giving preference to medium and small sized fruits. The ideal option would be fruits with thin, almost smooth skin - they are juicy and easy to process.
First you need to prepare the fruit.They should be washed in water with the addition of baking soda - this will further disinfect them to avoid bacteria and yeast from the zest getting into the finished juice. Next, citrus fruits should be doused with boiling water - this will soften them and facilitate the further process.
How to squeeze juice out of lemons
The process of obtaining lemon juice is simple, but the variety of ways to obtain it is surprising. There are both manual methods and mechanical ones, which involve the use of special devices. The most popular ways to obtain the finished product are:
- electric juicer;
- immersion blender, food processor or meat grinder;
- manual citrus press;
- hand squeeze.
Often, seemingly unsuitable household appliances are used to obtain juice. For example, using an electric meat grinder allows you to get a finished product of excellent quality. To do this, the fruits are chopped into minced meat, after which the resulting mixture is squeezed through cheesecloth. You can use a blender or food processor in the same way - the method is simple and very effective.
Using a juicer
Modern juicers are high-tech and perfectly calibrated devices. Modern machines are expensive, but compared to the manual method of extracting juice, they allow you to get the perfect product without extra labor. In addition, when using an electric juicer, all the pulp will be collected in a separate chamber, and the presence of several filters will allow you to obtain the purest product that does not require additional purification.
Prepare the juice according to the instructions from the manufacturer. Traditionally, lemons are washed and then cut into 4 pieces. Next, the citrus fruits are placed in the juicer bowl.The resulting juice will pour out of a separate tube directly into the cup. Convenient for making large quantities of product.
Without juicer
If you don’t have a special juicer, you can use manual methods. Such methods require more time and physical effort compared to automatic devices. The most traditional is to simply squeeze the juice by hand. To do this, cut the washed lemon into 4 slices. Each of the slices is compressed, thereby releasing the juice into the cup. The resulting product can be further filtered if desired.
Another option for making juice without the use of special equipment is a manual citrus juicer. This item is sold in all kitchen supply stores. The lemon is cut in half, after which its half is squeezed out on a special ledge. This method is quite convenient and allows you to quickly get a mug of drink.
How to make lemon juice
In summer there is nothing better than a refreshing cocktail. Fresh lemon juice prepared with your own hands allows you to combine all the benefits of lemon juice, supplemented with other ingredients. The classic recipe for making fresh juice is a combination of freshly squeezed juice, water and sugar. To prepare one serving of the drink you will need:
- 1 lemon;
- 150 ml water;
- 3 teaspoons sugar;
- ice.
First, squeeze out the juice, filter it and pour it into a cup for mixing cocktails. Pour water there, add sugar and mix well. The resulting cocktail is poured into a glass half filled with ice. The refreshing lemon juice is ready.
There are a huge variety of lemon juice recipes. Many people add various fruits to it - oranges, kiwis and pineapples.You can also use honey, ginger and various herbs and spices: thyme, anise, star anise and others. The use of additional ingredients allows you to get the perfect multi-faceted drink that is perfectly refreshing, quenches thirst and benefits the body.
How to drink lemon juice correctly
Proper use of any product is the key to health and longevity. Lemon juice is no exception to this rule. For example, people who decide to lose weight are advised to drink a teaspoon of concentrated juice before each meal. This approach will activate the stomach and prepare it for proper digestion of future food. In this case, a situation occurs when the liquid entering the stomach envelops its walls. The brain receives a signal that the stomach is full, thereby reducing appetite and, as a result, the size of the future portion.
Don't forget about breaks between meals. Nutritionists advise eating one fruit at this time. Of course, eating lemon will be problematic, but a portion of fresh juice helps not only satisfy a slight hunger, but also dissolve extra pounds.
To strengthen the immune system, various fresh juices based on lemon juice are recommended. In such cases, in addition to a huge dose of stimulating vitamin C, the body receives other beneficial substances. If you add a teaspoon of grated ginger to fresh lemon juice, you will get a wonderful tonic drink. In addition, there are a huge number of lemon juice tinctures for immunity.100 g of lemon juice and ginseng, kept in a liter of vodka for a month is an excellent balm that stimulates the immune system.
Using lemon juice can be an excellent medicine against various diseases. For example, the benefits of lemon in the treatment of kidney diseases have long been known. The juice, entering the kidneys, changes the acid-base balance, promoting the dissolution of kidney stones.
How to store lemon juice
Citric acid is an excellent natural preservative - it slows down the development of bacteria. Many people believe that its huge amount allows you to avoid spoilage of juice for a long time. In fact, this is not so - a freshly prepared product at room conditions will spoil within a few hours. The reason for this may be the ingress of yeast, mold or various pathogenic formations into it.
You can extend the shelf life of juice in the refrigerator. If the temperature is maintained at 0 to 4 degrees, it can be stored for up to three days. The best way to preserve the product at home is to freeze it. Frozen lemon juice cubes can last in the refrigerator freezer for up to three months.
Restrictions and contraindications
Despite all the benefits of lemon juice, it can cause real harm to some groups of people. First of all, we are talking about people prone to allergic reactions. They should avoid both pure juice and dishes that contain this component. Among other people for whom lemon is contraindicated, the following categories are usually distinguished:
- people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: the acid contained in citrus can harm the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines; during exacerbations it is necessary to completely refrain from consuming it;
- persons suffering from dental diseases, caries and pulpitis: in such cases, juice getting on exposed nerves leads to severe pain;
- nursing mothers: excessive consumption of this strong allergen can lead to impaired health of the unborn child;
- children under 3 years of age: children's sensitive bodies are unable to completely process lemon juice; its use often causes rashes and diathesis in young children.
People with high and unstable blood pressure should pay special attention to the possibility of drinking lemon juice. Drinking fresh lemon juice with low or high blood pressure can be beneficial, normalizing your overall health.
Conclusion
Lemon juice is a storehouse of healthy vitamins and microelements. It is used in cosmetology, dietetics and even pharmaceuticals. Regular consumption of lemon will improve the general condition of the body, strengthen the immune system and overcome seasonal colds.
