The benefits and harms of lemon for the health of the body

Lemon is one of the most controversial, delicious and at the same time sour fruits. Lemon cannot be eaten whole, but it is difficult to do without it in many areas of human activity. Lemon is actively eaten - they drink tea with it, add it to marinades, sauces, desserts, hot and cold dishes, and pastries. Lemon is actively used in everyday life for whitening surfaces and fabrics, for removing stains of various kinds. Lemon is also good for our skin - no whitening and drying mask can do without citrus. Lemon is a real helper, which should be in the refrigerator of every good housewife.

Lemon is interesting and unique in that it uses not only the flesh of citrus, but also its zest and even seeds. Lemon has a beneficial effect on many organs and the entire body as a whole. In this article we will talk about lemon - its beneficial properties for humans, contraindications, method of use and application.

The beneficial properties of lemon

For a long time in Europe, lemon trees were grown as ornamental plants, admiring the beautiful and neat crown, unusually yellow fruits. But in Asia they already knew that lemon has an incredible taste and healing effect.

1. For immunity. First of all, lemon is an incredibly powerful immunomodulator that enhances human health. Tea with lemon is a classic that can suppress ARVI and other colds. Lemon can be used for sore throats during sore throats, citrus literally inhibits the development of bacteria and instantly relieves pain. Regular consumption of lemon not only treats an already infected organism, but also creates a powerful immune barrier against upcoming viruses.
2. When coughing. Lemon is used against colds, but few people know that lemon juice has an excellent expectorant effect. It is prescribed even by doctors with bronchitis.
3. To lower the temperature. Lemon tea is recommended for use during colds, not only because it has an antiviral effect. The fact is that lemon perfectly eliminates fever, has a diaphoretic effect.
4. Helps to fall asleep. Depending on the components with which to take lemon, it can not only invigorate in the morning, but also calm in the evening. If you drink lemon in combination with milk or honey, you can fall asleep in a calm and sound sleep. Citrus perfectly treats anxiety and insomnia.
5. It gives strength. In ancient times, when sailors returned home after a long voyage, their bodies were incredibly exhausted. But doctors and wise wives knew how to quickly restore strength and lost health to the body. Such a mixture was prepared - crushed lemons were mixed with walnuts, honey and raisins. This mixture was given three times a day for a tablespoon and the forces to the sea wolves gradually returned.
6. Against cancer. Scientists have proven that lemon reduces the risk of developing breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.
7. Outdoor application. Lemon has irritating and warming properties, so it is used for external use in the treatment of rheumatism, sprains, injuries.
8. For the brain. Lemon perfectly affects the performance and activity of the brain. And it is not necessary to eat it for this. If you keep a zest of lemon near the workplace, decisions come much faster, performance increases, memory improves.
9. For the liver. Lemon juice helps to cleanse the liver after prolonged treatment with medications, with hepatitis, after smoking and long drinking.
10. From mosquitoes. One of the most powerful mosquito repellents is lemon with cloves. Take half a lemon and stick a few cloves into it, leave the structure at the head of the bed. A pleasant aroma will fill your room, mosquitoes will not bother you.
11. For beauty. Masks with lemon juice have a powerful effect. With this ingredient, you can cope with excessive oily hair and skin, cleanse your face from freckles and age spots. Hair after lemon rinsing becomes incredibly silky, smooth and shiny.
12. For cleanliness. Lemon is used as part of various cleansers. Lemon juice helps to remove stains of blood, grass and even rust. Moreover, lemon juice has an excellent whitening effect.
13. For pregnant women. Moderate consumption of lemons is beneficial for pregnant women, as citrus reduces the risk of fetal pathologies. But remember, you can’t eat too many citrus fruits - this can turn into an allergy in a child in the future.
14. For weight loss. Lemon water is recommended in various diets. Lemon acid promotes fat burning and inhibits the absorption of calories. If you drink a glass of warm water every morning with the addition of a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, losing weight will go much faster.
15. With vitamin deficiency. In the spring, the body experiences severe discomfort, because the number of healthy and natural vegetables and fruits decreases, vitamin deficiency develops in the body. Just a quarter of lemon per day will saturate you with the daily intake of vitamin C.
16. Antiseptic. Since lemon has antibacterial properties, it is often used to treat various wounds, ulcers, cuts. Lemon is diluted in water and rinsed with this composition in the oral cavity for stomatitis and tonsillitis. Lemon juice can be used as first aid, as an antidote after the bites of poisonous insects and snakes.

In addition, lemon is useful for relieving migraine attacks, is effective for neurasthenia, improves lactation and heart function, and relieves swelling and asthma attacks. All these beneficial properties belong to a porous yellow fruit with a warm citrus aroma. But is lemon so safe?

Contraindications for the use of lemon

No wonder this yellow citrus is very difficult to eat whole, because its acid can be dangerous. So, in what cases should you limit the use of lemon?

1. The very first and most important thing is various diseases of the stomach, and especially high acidity, gastritis and ulcers. In this case, quite aggressive citric acid can only aggravate the situation.
2. Diluted lemon juice can rinse your mouth only for diseases of the mucosa, frequent exposure to acid destroys tooth enamel.
3. You can not drink lemon juice in its pure form, especially on an empty stomach.
4. If you have high blood pressure, you should also use lemon with extreme caution.
5. Lemon should not be eaten in large quantities, since citruses are considered one of the main allergens. Almost every fourth inhabitant of a metropolis reacts to lemon juice.
6. In no case should you rinse your mouth or throat with clean, undiluted juice. This can lead to burns of the mucosa.
7. Lemon and its acid are contraindicated in children under two years of age, since their mucous membranes are unusually tender and sensitive.

Lemon is an amazing gift of nature, which, when used properly, will give the body many useful properties. How to use lemon properly so as not to harm yourself?

How to use lemon

Most often we use lemon to make tea. To do this, add a slice or a circle of citrus in a cup of tea or directly in the teapot. In the cold season, it is very effective to make tea with lemon, honey and ginger. It has a unique vitamin value. Ginger should be chopped and put together with the tea leaves in a teapot.About half a tablespoon of ginger in 2 liters of water. After that, you need to pour everything with boiling water. Do not add lemon immediately, otherwise acid will not allow tea to brew. When the tea is infused enough, add lemon to it. Drink tea with a bite of honey, do not add it to a cup. Otherwise, all the beneficial properties of honey will be lost from heat.

If you decide to fight diseases of the throat and oral cavity, you need to prepare a solution - about a tablespoon of lemon juice in a glass of warm water. Gargle with this composition for sore throat, pharyngitis, tonsillitis. If you rinse your mouth, you can speed up the process of getting rid of stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontal disease, etc. A similar solution should be drunk in the morning to start digestion and accelerate weight loss.

To get rid of a cough, prepare such a composition. The pulp of two lemons should be mixed with chopped horseradish in the amount of two tablespoons. Allow the mass to brew, and then squeeze the juice out of it. Before use, the composition should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 3. Drink a tablespoon of the diluted mixture twice a day - in the morning on an empty stomach and before bedtime. To cleanse the liver, the lemon is mixed with chopped garlic and squeezed. Drink the resulting juice in a teaspoon, diluting in half a glass of water three times a day for half an hour before the main meal.

If you are tormented by arthritis, rheumatism, sprains or muscles, you need to moisten a small piece of tissue in lemon juice and attach to the affected areas. You should feel a slight warmth. If you feel irritation and tingling, it means that you are allergic to citrus and you can not apply such treatment methods.

If you go to add lemon to your pastries, it is better to use not the juice, but the zest. She will not spoil the dough with her acid, but will add a delicate citrus flavor to the muffin. Be sure to add lemon to the barbecue marinades, it is citric acid that makes the meat soft and juicy. Lemon juice will transform even the simplest homemade compotes. If guests are on the doorstep, add a little lemon juice and a sprig of mint to the cherry compote, you will get a very tasty and rich non-alcoholic cocktail.

Use lemon actively in cosmetology. Lemon juice corrodes dead skin flakes, creating a powerful scrub effect. Lemon compresses do an excellent job with corns and corns, leaving only the soft and smooth skin of the heels. Do lemon rinses - dilute the juice of one lemon in a liter of water and rinse your hair with this composition. After that they do not need to be washed with water. This will help get rid of the problem of oily hair. And if you lubricate your nails with lemon juice every day, they will become incredibly strong and hard, stop peeling and crumbling.

In the Middle Ages, people believed that lemon saved from poisonous bites and even plague. During epidemics, lemons were kept in almost every house and believed that this sour fruit would save us from illness. In Russia, in the 13-15 centuries, the fruit was imported from Holland; only rich nobles could afford it. Fortunately, modern lemon is available to everyone and anyone can enjoy its sour taste, delicate aroma and invaluable benefits.

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