Health Benefits - Lemon Juice
Lemon juice was used in ancient Egypt to undo the effects of food poisoning; and in India, Ayurvedic practitioners prescribed lemon peel to treat liver ailments. The Sicilians used lemon peel to make pickling brine and multiple cultures used it to prevent scurvy. Both the peel and juice of lemons are still widely used today to cleanse and tonify the liver.
Lemon juice possesses antibacterial, antiviral and immune-building properties. It fights disease and infection with high levels of bioflavonoids, pectin, limonene, citric acid, magnesium, calcium and vitamins. It stimulates digestion, promoting weight loss.
~ Mix lemon juice and water and swish to relieve a sore throat or canker sores. Add salt and gargle for tonsillitis.
~ Add lemon juice to hot tea and honey to reduce a fever, fight the flu, relieve nausea, and lessen a chill.
~ Drink lemon juice to fight fatigue and replace electrolytes after vigorous exercise or overheating.
~ Stop a nose bleed with lemon juice applied to cotton and placed in the nostril.
~ Eliminate gall stones with lemon juice and olive oil.
~ Reduce hypertension and lower LDL cholesterol with lemon juice home remedies. Prevent diabetes, relieve constipation, strengthen gums and teeth, cure kidney stones, heart disease and strokes, lower body temperature, and fight cancer with lemons.
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036663_home_remedies_lemons_health.html#ixzz2BJ6BhrWd
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036663_home_remedies_lemons_health.html#ixzz2BJ7COGVR
Anti-Oxidants - Fruit
For the most antioxidants, choose fully ripened fruit. Research conducted at the University of Innsbruck in Austria suggests that as fruits fully ripen, almost to the point of spoilage, their antioxidant levels actually increase. Key to the process is the change in color that occurs as fruits ripen.
Until now, no one really knew what happened to chlorophyll during this process, but lead researcher, Bernard Krä utler, and his team, working together with botanists over the past several years, has identified the first decomposition products in leaves: colorless, polar NCCs (nonfluorescing chlorophyll catabolytes), that contain four pyrrole rings—like chlorophyll and heme.
The scientists discovered that NCCs replace the chlorophyll not only in the leaves of fruit trees, but in their very ripe fruits, especially in the peel and flesh immediately below it.
"When chlorophyll is released from its protein complexes in the decomposition process, it has a phototoxic effect: when irradiated with light, it absorbs energy and can transfer it to other substances. NCCs then produce extremely powerful antioxidants, they play an important protective role for the plant, and when consumed as part of the human diet, NCCs deliver the same potent antioxidant protection within our bodies."
Source: Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2007 Nov 19;46(45):8699-8702.
Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27
Anti-Oxidants - Limonin - Support Optimal Health - Lime
In animal studies and laboratory tests with human cells, compounds in citrus fruits, including lemons and limes, called limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. Now, scientists from the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have shown that our bodies can readily absorb and utilize a very long-acting limonoid called limonin that is present is citrus fruits in about the same amount as vitamin C.
In citrus fruits, limonin is present in the form of limonin glucoside, in which limonin is attached to a sugar (glucose) molecule. Our bodies easily digest this compound, cleaving off the sugar and releasing limonin.
In the ARS study, 16 volunteers were given a dose of limonin glucoside in amounts ranging from those that would be found in from 1 to 7 glasses of orange juice. Blood tests showed that limonin was present in the plasma of all except one of the subjects, with concentrations highest within 6 hours after consumption. Traces of limonin were still present in 5 of the volunteers 24 hours after consumption!
Limonin's bioavailability and persistence may help explain why citrus limonoids are potent anti-carcinogens that may prevent cancerous cells from proliferating. Other natural anti-carcinogens are available for much less time; for example, the phenols in green tea and chocolate remain active in the body for just 4 to 6 hours.
The ARS team are now investigating the potential cholesterol-lowering effects of limonin. Lab tests indicate that human liver cells produce less apo B when exposed to limonin. Apo B is a structural protein that is part of the LDL cholesterol molecule and is needed for LDL production, transport and binding, so higher levels of apo B translate to higher levels of LDL cholesterol.
Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=27
Cancer - Breast - Colon - Lung - Oral - Skin - Limonoids - Lemon
Limes contain a long lasting compound called limonoids. Limonoids are phytochemicals that are abundant in many citrus fruits, including oranges. Limonoids are known to help fight cancers of the mouth, lung, breast, skin, stomach and colon. The limonoids found in citrus fruits can stay in our bodies for roughly 24 hours, and can help to prevent the proliferation of cancer cells for a much longer time than the phenols found in green tea, which remain active in our bodies for 4 to 6 hours.
There are disease-fighting compounds found in citrus fruits, such as limes, lemons, and oranges known as limonoids. According to the U.S. Agricultural Research Service, your body can readily absorb and use a specific, long-acting limonoid called limonin. Limes and lemons contain almost as much limonin as they do vitamin C.
This limonoid compound, in a culture study, published in "Nutrition and Cancer" in 2001, as well as in laboratory studies on human and animals cells, as noted in a June 2003 article in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," has been shown to induce cancer cell death and may be particularly beneficial for protecting against cancers of the skin, breast, mouth, lung, colon and stomach.
Source: http://alternative-medicine.knoji.com/top-10-health-benefits-of-lime/
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034116_oranges_health_benefits.html#ixzz2BHr5OIuh
pH Health - Alkalinity - Vitamin C - Lemon
Lemon juice creates an alkaline-forming environment to balance the body's pH as well as restoring balance by providing vitamin C and high levels of potassium. Lemon juice also helps to reduce acidosis and relieve arthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatism pains with the alkalizing effects of lemon juice.
Lemon Balm
~ Lemon balm is calming and relaxing and can relieve bouts of anxiety, nervousness and tension.
~ Promote sleep and reduce tension with a mixture of lemon balm, valerian, chamomile and hops as bedtime tea.
Lemon Juice - Topical Applications
~ Lemon juice clears the skin, reduces acne, softens wrinkles, removes age spots, blemishes, scars and cleanses excess oils. The vitamin C, citric acid and alkaline properties fight bacteria both internally and on the skin.
~ Make an overnight home remedy with a slice of lemon as a poultice to remove corns and calluses.
~ Relieve eczema with lemon oil, honey and warm water poultices.
~ Mix lemon oil and honey and apply to soothe a bug bite.
~ Combine lemon oil and water to make natural insect repellant.
~ Eliminate varicose veins with applications of lemon oil mixed with almond, avocado or jojoba oil.
Lemon Oil - Citrus BioFlavanoids - Vitamin P
Lemon and orange essential oils come from the peels themselves and have very powerful anti-microbial properties that destroy pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi. They also contain concentrated forms of citrus bioflavonoids known as Vitamin P. This improves microcirculation into deep capillary beds to enhance tissue oxygenation. This helps the body respond to stress and recover from exercise more effectively.
This function of enhanced circulation also makes it especially useful for promoting healthy skin care. It is known to help cleanse skin, shed off dead skin cells and reduce wrinkles. Other benefits include brightening pale, dull complexions and enhancing the quality and smoothness of the skin. Lemon oil also relieves fatigue and increases alertness and cognitive function.
Lemon oil is cold-pressed from the lemon rind. Dr. Jean Valnet estimates that it takes about 3,000 lemons to produce one kilo of oil. Dr. Valnet also believes essential oil of lemon to have adaptogenic qualities that support and balance the body's natural stress response. This reduces the cortisol cascade and the overall negative effects of stress on the bodily systems.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/034662_essential_oils_healing_remedies.html#ixzz2BJDST5cy
Lemon Peel - Pectin
Lemon peel reduces cramping and gas pains while it aids digestion; it increases circulation, stimulates urination and strengthens the immune system. The pith in lemon peel contains pectin, which helps chelate toxins and heavy metals.
Lemon Water
~ First thing in the morning, a glass of warm lemon water flushes the system, relieves edema, acts as a diuretic, aids digestion, fights hunger cravings, promotes weight loss and helps prevent coffee cravings.
~ Relieve chest congestion and coughing, reduce allergies, clear the palate and freshen breath.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/036663_home_remedies_lemons_health.html
10 Reasons You Should Have Warm Lemon / Lime Water Daily
A glass of warm lemon or lime water first thing in the morning is surprisingly helpful in several ways. This Yogic or Ayurvedic ritual was primarily for stimulating digestion and eliminating ama, the Ayurvedic term for toxic slime that builds up in the gastro-intestinal or GI tract. This ritual has even more health benefits.
1) The warm lemon water helps purify and stimulate the liver. Lemon/lime water liquefies bile while inhibiting excess bile flow.
2) Warm lemon/lime water aids digestion. It's atomic composition is similar to saliva and the hydrochloric acid of digestive juices.
3) The liver produces more enzymes from lemon/lime water than any other food, according to A.F. Beddoe, author of Biological Ionization as Applied to Human Nutrition.
4) The lemon/lime water helps bowels eliminate naturally and easily.
5) Lemons and limes are high in potassium. Potassium is an important mineral that works with sodium for smooth electrical transmission in the brain and nervous system. Depression, anxiety, fogginess, and forgetfulness can often be traced to low potassium blood levels. That same nervous system needs potassium to assure steady signals to the heart. So your heart health is improved from the lemon water's potassium.
6) Calcium and magnesium are plentiful in good ratio to each other in lemon/lime water. Magnesium is important for heart health and calcium prevents rickets.
7) Lemon/lime water can help lower blood pressure.
8) Lemon/lime water has an alkalizing effect in the body as it is buffered. Even if you drink it just before any meal, it will help your body maintain a higher pH than if you didn't drink it. The higher or more alkaline your pH, the more your inner terrain is resistant to minor and major disease.
9) Helps dilute uric acid, which if it accumulates it creates arthritic pain or gout.
10) Helps reduce phlegm in the body.
How and When: Warm purified fluoride free water or spring water should be used. At least a half of a lemon or lime should be thoroughly squeezed into a half glass of the warm water without any sweetener. It's better to use a lemon/lime squeezer to get maximum juice with minimum seeds and effort. This should be done first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and don't start eating breakfast right away. Some recommend an hour before eating for maximum results.
One technique to assure proper timing would be to heat up water and put it into a thermos before going to bed. Then mix that hot water with room temperature purified lemon or lime water upon arising. Drink it down quickly, then go about your other morning routines before eating breakfast. The warm lemon/lime water daily habit is as cheap and easy as it gets to help you improve and maintain your health.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/033383_lemon_juice_digestion.html#ixzz2BJ3yIO33
Learn more: http://nutrionomics.com/
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