Lemon benefits and harm to our health. Lemon: benefits and harms to the human body

The pulp of lemon fruits contains citric and ascorbic acids, sugars, vitamins A, B1 and B2, flavonoids, coumarin derivatives, sesquiterpenes, pectins, potassium and copper salts. Lemon peel contains essential oil and flavonoids. The main constituents of the essential oil are the terpene limonene and the aldehyde citral.

Lemons contain 7.1% carbohydrates in the form of sugars. The latter are dominated by fructose and glucose, which are easily digested. The amount of pectins in the peel is 16% of dry matter, and in the pulp - 11%. The predominant fruit acid is citric acid. The acidity of fruits harvested in late autumn increases to 8%, the acidity of fruits picked in spring (April) ranges from 4% to 5%. Essential oils contained in the peel have a powerful bactericidal effect. The content of mineral salts (especially potassium) is high in lemons. Vitamin C is found in lemon fruits in a stable form, i.e. Lemon juice, which is heated for 5 minutes to boiling point, practically does not lose the original amount of vitamin C (therefore, the benefits of lemon, even in combination with very hot tea, do not decrease).

In medicine

The increased content of vitamins in fruits determines the medicinal properties of lemon. Lemons (in its natural form, with tea, in the form of juice diluted with water) are prescribed for a lack of vitamins A and B, fever, mineral metabolism disorders, kidney stones, gout and rheumatism. Externally, lemon juice, diluted with water, is used for rinsing in inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and pharynx. With nausea and vomiting accompanying toxicosis of pregnant women, a freshly cut lemon is applied to the cavity between the mammary glands, using it as a retractor. With comedones, wipe the face with a slice of fresh lemon (before that, make a steam bath for the face). Lemon essential oil is used to improve the taste and smell of many medicines. ,

In folk medicine

• With seborrhea, a face mask is used: one egg white is beaten with a teaspoon of lemon juice and applied evenly to the skin. Wash away warm water after half an hour. The frequency of use of this remedy is once or twice a week.
• With hypoacid gastritis (which is characterized by low acidity), a recipe is useful: 250 g of yogurt is mixed with one grated lemon and egg yolk. Take 3 tablespoons three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is no more than 5 days.
• For constipation, combine the juice of one lemon with 400 ml of water and add honey to taste. Drink the drug daily on an empty stomach, about an hour before the first meal.
• To improve intestinal motility and eliminate constipation, a decoction is also advised: boil 300 g of figs in 4 liters of water until the amount of water decreases to 3 liters. Add the slightly boiled and mashed zest of one lemon to the boiled composition. Take the composition in an amount of approximately 200 ml several times a day, with a break of 3-4 hours.
• With an exacerbation of gallstone disease, a “cocktail” helps: dilute the juice of one lemon with 200 ml of water and add half a teaspoon of soda. Drink it all in one go after meals.

• With cholecystitis, the following course of treatment is recommended. Melt 0.3 kg of honey in a water bath and mix with two crushed lemons, from which the "pits" were previously removed. Leave the mixture in a dark place for 3 days. Take the composition on an empty stomach for 10 days, 3 tablespoons, diluting them in a glass of cold water.
• For gout, grind 3 large lemons, peeled from seeds, in a meat grinder and mix with finely chopped garlic (2 small heads) and pour all 1.5 liters of boiling water. Boil the mixture for about 10 minutes and then insist for 3 days. Strain and take a tablespoon twice a day, after meals. The course of treatment is from one to two months.
• For hypertension, the composition is used: half a lemon and an orange (along with the peel and seeds) are crushed with a meat grinder and mixed with a teaspoon of granulated sugar. Store in the refrigerator and take 0.5 teaspoon four times a day after meals.
• For arthritis, a course of treatment is prescribed for a month: peel the shells of 7 boiled eggs from the films and boil for 5 minutes, then crush. Combine the eggshell with the juice of 7 lemons and soak the infusion for a week. Strain and add 400 mg of honey and chopped garlic (5 heads) to the mixture. Infuse the composition in a dark place for 7 days. Take once a day, in the middle of the day, after meals, dividing one dose of 4 teaspoons into 4 stages, each with a break of 10 minutes.
• With tuberculosis helps proven folk remedy: 4 whole raw eggs are placed in a glass jar and poured with the juice of one large lemon. The jar is closed, wrapped in paper and kept for a week until the eggshell is completely dissolved. Then the egg-lemon mixture is poured with vodka (the jar is filled to the top). Take the infusion for a month, a tablespoon three times a day after each meal.
• For bronchitis, the following recipe is used as an expectorant: bake 4 lemons in the oven at medium temperature until softened, let cool. Mash the lemons with a spoon, squeeze out the juice and mix the juice with the pulp with 400 ml of boiling water, 3 tablespoons of red wine and 4 tablespoons of honey. Drink the composition in one go.
• With hoarseness, a debilitating cough and loss of voice, a decoction is useful: mix the juice of 0.5 kg of carrots with a tablespoon of sugar and the zest of one lemon, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for an hour, boiling until the volume is reduced by half. Take 0.5 tablespoon every 2 hours throughout the day.
• Angina is treated with a drink: 250 ml of hot milk is mixed with the juice of one lemon and 2 tablespoons of honey. Drink hot, in small sips.
• General tonic based on lemons, especially useful after suffering a debilitating flu: Grate 10 large lemons along with the zest on a coarse grater, lightly knead the grated lemon mass with a spoon, add 5 cups of liquid honey and 10 small heads of chopped garlic. Mix all the ingredients, insist in a warm place for 7 days. Take 4 teaspoons daily.

Externally:

• When sweating hands, the composition is used: glycerin, lemon juice and vodka are mixed in a ratio of 0.5: 0.25: 0.25. This mixture is generously lubricated hands after each wash. Lemon juice is also recommended to wipe the feet with excessive sweating.
• Brittle nails are strengthened by systematic rubbing using a slice of lemon.
• Rough skin on the heels is treated with compresses from the peel of a squeezed lemon.
• To calluses on the legs (previously steamed in hot water) apply the top of the lemon, cut with a small amount of pulp. The lemon top is pressed tightly against the corn, fixed with a bandage and left overnight. ,

in oriental medicine

Avicenna used freshly squeezed lemon juice in the treatment of patients with heart disease. The healer also practiced the use of lemon for jaundice, toxicosis in pregnant women.

In ancient Chinese medicine, lemons were used to heal wounds, pneumonia, and scurvy.

In the countries of Asia Minor and the Middle East, lemon was an indispensable ingredient in many dishes: in this way, cholera was prevented.

In scientific research

He described the medicinal properties of lemon in his scientific papers Armenian scientist, naturalist and physician Amirdovlat Amasiatsi (15th century).

At the beginning of the 20th century, two major studies on lemon juice treatment were simultaneously published by L. Gdansky and K. Drexler. The books were published in 1910 in Pskov and St. Petersburg, respectively.

In modern science, interest in the medical potential of the famous citrus remains. The effect of daily consumption of lemons (in the direction of improving performance) on blood pressure is highlighted in the work of Japanese researchers Y. Kato, T. Domoto, M. Hiramitsu and others.

Indian researchers have proposed data on the substance hesperidin (extracted from lemons), which restores liver function (2005). ,

In dietetics

How to use lemon for weight loss? Nutritionists offer a lot of recipes aimed at cleansing the body of toxins and accelerating metabolism: the systematic use of water with lemon juice, the honey-lemon diet, the aromatic effect of essential lemon oil (according to the Alan Hirsch system). Back in the 19th century, Johann Schroth proposed a scheme for detoxifying the body with lemons (using fresh lemon juice).

In cooking

The pronounced taste and aroma of lemons are appreciated by chefs and gourmets. Lemon zest is added to pastries, puddings, pastry cream; marmalade, jam, ice cream, candied fruits are prepared from lemons. Lemon juice is used as a marinade in the preparation of meat and fish; add juice to dressings for vegetable and fruit salads. Sauces are prepared on the basis of lemons; salted lemons are one of the traditional national dishes of Moroccan cuisine. Fresh sliced ​​lemon is served as an appetizer to a range of alcoholic drinks.

In cosmetology

For cooking cosmetics based on lemon, use the peel, zest, lemon pulp, lemon juice or lemon essential oil.

Lemon for the face

• Skin prone to comedones is helped by rubbing with lemon juice. First you need to steam your face over a steam bath.
• For oily skin with enlarged pores, rubbing with the composition is useful: combine beaten egg white, 100 ml of vodka and juice of one lemon.
• Mask for oily skin prone to acne: dilute 2 tablespoons of white clay (in powder) in 2 tablespoons of alcohol, add 15 drops of lemon juice. Keep the mask on your face for a quarter of an hour and rinse with cold water.
• For normal or sensitive skin, a homemade lotion is prepared: the juice of half a lemon is mixed with a teaspoon of glycerin and a quarter cup of water.
• Mask for whitening freckles with dry skin: mix lemon juice, cream and hydrogen peroxide (5%) in equal proportions. Apply to face with a cotton swab and rinse with warm water after half an hour.
• Nourishing milk for dry skin: mix 200 ml of fresh cream, 1 beaten egg, 100 ml of vodka, juice of one lemon and a teaspoon of glycerin. Rub everything thoroughly and wipe the face and décolleté area with the composition before going to bed.

• Nourishing mask for dry skin: prepare flour from dried lemon peel by grinding the peel in a coffee grinder. Mix a teaspoon of this lemon flour, egg yolk and sour cream. Hold the mask for 20 minutes, applying to the face and neck.
• Mask "Madame Pompadour" for dry skin: grate one lemon on a plastic grater, pour 100 ml of alcohol, let stand, then strain and combine with a glass of sour cream or cream, one beaten egg white and a teaspoon of glycerin. Apply to the face for a quarter of an hour, and then gently remove the remnants of the mask with a cotton pad.
• Tonic for any skin type: mix 2 tablespoons of boiled water, a teaspoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon. Wash your face before going to bed.
• Tonic face mask: mix a tablespoon of oatmeal or wheat flour with a little milk (bring to a mushy state) and add the juice of half a lemon. Apply the mixture on the skin of the face and neck and wash off after half an hour with warm water.

Lemon for hair

• With oily skin and increased greasiness of the hair, it is useful to rub a composition of 2 parts of lemon and one part of carrot juice into the scalp before washing. Wrap your head with a towel, keep the composition on your hair for at least an hour. Rinse your hair after washing with water with lemon juice (a tablespoon of juice per 1.5 liters of water).
• For dandruff, rinse your hair after washing with a prepared decoction: boil the peel of 4 lemons for a quarter of an hour in a liter of water.
• Mask for dry and split ends: mix an egg yolk with a little warm water, add a tablespoon of lemon juice and vegetable oil.

Combination with other products

The sourness of the lemon favorably sets off the taste of vegetable and fruit salads, in which lemon juice is used as a dressing. Lemon goes well with fish and seafood: mussels, oysters, shrimp.

Beverages

Lemon juice is used to make lemonade, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, liquors, the traditional limoncello drink. Kissel is boiled from lemon zest and juice; in drinks, lemon juice works great paired with honey, cinnamon, mint, and sweet fruit juices.

How to make lemonade at home? Remove peel and seeds from lemons and squeeze out 600 ml of juice. Pour 300 g of powdered sugar into lemon juice and mix thoroughly until completely dissolved. Fill the glasses crushed ice three-quarters, pour sweet lemon juice and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Other uses

• Lemon is a natural stain remover. With a mixture of lemon juice and salt, rub and wash the stains on white linen before the main wash (after allowing the composition to dry). A slice of lemon, generously flavored with salt, perfectly cleans copper and makes it shine. Lemon juice cleans hands from dirt and stains left after working in the kitchen.
• From lemons, pieces of copper wire and galvanized nails, you can assemble a lemon battery, the “power” of which is quite enough to run a standard clock. The principle of operation of such a battery is a chemical reaction resulting from the contact of the acid contained in lemon juice, copper and zinc.
• Lemon can be used to quickly and easily clean your microwave. The zest of one lemon is poured into 500 ml of water and left in the microwave for 2 minutes, turning it on at full power. After that, it remains only to thoroughly wipe the microwave from the inside with a damp sponge: lemon essential oil, as it were, “dissolves” even the most inveterate contaminants.
• You can get rid of yellowness on the teeth, which arose as a result of prolonged smoking, using lemon juice. Do not apply to a wet toothbrush. a large number of baking soda and 3 drops of lemon juice and massage your teeth with this composition.
• A good protection against mosquito bites is the following method: exposed areas of the body should be wiped with lemon juice. This will reduce the irritation from the bites and prevent the appearance of new ones.
• Essential oil of lemon is an effective tool in aromatherapy, characterized by tonic, antiseptic and other properties.

Dangerous properties of lemon and contraindications

Given the significant amount of citric acid contained in fruits, lemons should be limited or completely excluded from the diet for diseases of the stomach, liver, intestinal tract, gallbladder, biliary tract, pancreas (acute or chronic pancreatitis), with gastroesophageal reflux.

Lemon applications during cosmetic procedures outdoors in direct sunlight can cause a painful burn (in more this applies to people with fair and sensitive skin). In some cases, after using lemon-based products, an acute allergic reaction may occur. ,

It must be remembered that irrational or excessive use of lemons can harm even an absolutely healthy person.

We have collected the most important points about the benefits and possible harm lemon in this illustration and we will be very grateful if you share the picture in in social networks with a link to our page:

Every year on the French coast, in Menton, a colorful and unique lemon festival is held. By tradition, the time of the holiday is the end of winter or the beginning of March. During this period, the city, whose neighborhood has long been famous for its lemon and other citrus plantations, attracts tens of thousands of tourists. The first official lemon festival was held in 1934. The theme of the festival changes every year: music, Broadway, China, the fairy-tale world of Charles Perrault, Italian cinema, etc. According to the chosen theme of the holiday, huge expositions and installations are made, the material for which are the fruits of lemons and oranges.

"Through Lemon Tree Groves to the Nobel Prize": The 1975 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Italian poet Eugenio Montale. A kind of manifesto for Montale, representing the so-called hermetic poetry, was the poem "Lemons (lemon trees)".

Lemon is one of the most popular citrus fruits among artists: the fruit was incredibly "in demand" in classical Dutch still life painting. The bitterness and sour taste of lemons symbolized the deceptive appeal of earthly beauty. Later, Edouard Manet (“Lemon”, 1880), Vincent Van Gogh (“Still Life with a Decanter and Lemons on a Plate”, 1887), Henri Matisse (“Lemons and Peltiphyllum”, 1943) turned to the “lemon theme”.

Monuments to the lemon

1. 1 One of the most massive lemon monuments is a monumental sculpture installed in the San Diego suburb of Lemon Grove, California, in 1928. The author of the construction is Alberto Treganza. The weight of the giant lemon, located on a concrete base, reaches 1 ton and 300 kilograms, length - 3 m, width - 1.8 m.
2. 2 The monument to the Pavlovsk lemon in the city of Pavlovo (Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia) is an elegant and picturesque sculptural composition erected in 2005. Its authorship belongs to a team of teachers and students of the Pavlovsk Art College. Citrus is one of the official symbols a city where lemons were grown both in households and in industrial scale(in the first half of the 20th century, the famous Pavlovsky lemonarium functioned). ,
3. 3 Monument to the legendary lemon seller Johanna Henriette Maria Müller, who lived in Hamburg in the 19th century. The sculpture, depicting a middle-aged woman with a basket of lemons in her hands, was created by H. J. Wagner and installed in 1986 near the church of St.. Michael.

Botanical description

It is the fruit of an evergreen tree plant representing the genus Citrus, family rue. Among the whole variety of citrus fruits, lemon is, if not the most popular, then, undoubtedly, one of the most useful and significant fruits in terms of medicinal properties, second only to orange in the vitamin rating.

origin of name

Word " lemon"according to one of the existing versions, borrowed from Italian (" lime”), and the Italian name of the fruit, in turn, is the result of the assimilation of the Persian “limun” (which meant any citrus fruit among the Persians).

Story

It is difficult to reliably determine the homeland of lemons. There are suggestions that in ancient times they were grown in northeastern India, northern Burma and China. Studies of the lemon's genetic code indicate that it is a hybrid of earlier citrus fruits from a historical point of view: citron and bitter orange. Lemons first came to Europe (south of modern Italy) as early as the 2nd century AD. (although they became widespread much later) due to foreign trade activities ancient rome. In parallel with these events, the lemon was distributed in Persia, Iraq, and Egypt. In a 10th century Arabic treatise on agriculture there is information about the lemon, which was cultivated not only as a food product, but also as an ornamental plant. In the 9th century, as a result of the conquests and the aggressive policy of the Moors, lemons began to be grown in southern Spain, Sicily. Thus, the lemon conquered the Mediterranean and Arab regions. The production of lemons on a large scale began in Genoa in the middle of the 15th century. Lemon came to America thanks to Columbus, where, centuries later, it took root perfectly due to the optimal climatic conditions in Florida and California.

Lemon arrived in Russia along with Dutch suppliers and merchants: in the second half of the 17th century, seedlings of lemon trees were delivered to the royal court. The citrus crop was recognized as so valuable and rare that even a special position was introduced at the court - the “caretaker of lemons”. The second wave of popularity of lemons swept the empire two centuries later, during the delivery of Georgian lemons to Russia. ,

Varieties

The varietal variety of lemons is extremely large, the most popular and demanded varieties on the world market are:

• Novogruzinsky is a remontant variety (the tree blooms and bears fruit all year round). A popular variety characterized by high yield, almost complete absence of seeds in the fruit.
• "Pavlovsky" lemon - the variety is perfectly adapted to growing at home. Trees of this variety tolerate shading. The fruits are thin-skinned.
• 'Eureka', also known as 'Four Seasons'. Lemons of this variety grow almost all year round and are champions in the market in terms of popularity and quantity.
• Variety "Meyer" refers to thin-skinned varieties. More frost-resistant than other varieties, but also more demanding on transport conditions. It is not a common variety in a commercial sense. The cultivar was named after Frank Meyer (1908).
• 'Yen Ben' and 'Bush' are Australian varieties. Variety "Bush" grows wild in the subtropical zone of the mainland. 'Bush' is a thick-skinned variety popular in cooking.
• Sorrento is an Italian variety whose zest is traditionally used to make limoncello.

Other famous varieties: "Lisbon", "Maikop", "Verna".

Lemons are also conditionally divided into sour varieties(real) sweet varieties(the pulp of which is sweet and juicy) and lemons " ponderosa» (thick-skinned, with many seeds). Lemons with a thick rind are used to make candied fruits.

According to the type of plant, lemons are divided into bushy(bushes up to 4 m high, fruits are formed at the ends of branches) and treelike(trees up to 6 m tall, with a dense crown, in the depths of which fruits are formed. ,

Growing features

The site for planting lemon seedlings should be a place well lit and protected from the winds. plant trees standard size recommended at intervals of 3.5 to 7.5 m (dwarf trees are planted at a smaller interval - up to 2 m). The best soil option is loamy soil.

To grow a lemon from a stone, it is necessary to remove all seed-seeds from the fruit, soak them in water overnight, then plant them in moist soil in a pot to a depth of 1.2 cm. Wrap the pot with a plastic bag and leave in a warm sunny place for seeds to germinate.

A few weeks after planting the seedlings, you can start top dressing with a mixture of citrus fertilizers. Top dressing is carried out further for several years. The watering schedule is systematic and slightly more than moderate. When growing citrus fruits, mulching is not recommended.

How to grow lemon at home? Meyer and Pavlovsky lemons are best suited for this. A lemon tree needs to be provided with enough lighting, heat and good drainage. You should also protect the plant from drafts, humidify the air in the room where the lemon grows, in summer period- put a pot with a tree on Fresh air. In the cold season, you need to extend the daylight hours for the plant with the help of additional lighting. In favorable conditions, the lemon tree is able to bloom and bear fruit throughout the year.

Selection and storage

Quality fruits are dense, with a smooth skin, there are no dents or dark spots on them. When warmed for a short time in warm hands, the lemon exudes an intense aroma inherent only in this citrus.

Lemons keep well in the refrigerator. Additional storage time is added by wrapping each fruit in clean paper and placing lemons wrapped in a plastic bag in a separate fruit and vegetable compartment.

Long-term storage reduces the acidity of fruits, since a significant amount of citric acid is transformed into sugars over time.

Prolongs the "life" of lemons by immersing them for seconds in moderately hot melted paraffin: this creates a protective layer covering the fruit. Lemons are well stored in boxes with sand, which is pre-calcined for the purpose of disinfection.

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Safety regulations

The administration is not responsible for attempting to apply any recipe, advice or diet, and also does not guarantee that the information provided will help and will not harm you personally. Be prudent and always consult the appropriate doctor!

Lemon, like its close relative, cannot be called a unique plant species. This is a hybrid of other types of citrus fruits, which appeared in India and China and is known to a large number of civilizations as a separate variety of fruit trees. To date, scientists cannot find out exactly which became the ancestors of this citrus fruit, but they have well studied the benefits and harms of lemon.

Exactly beneficial features lemon trees have played a huge role in the fact that today this fruit is so famous in most countries of the world. Our body needs such products, but in their use you need to know the measure, not forgetting that if taken unreasonably, they can have a negative effect on the human body.

What are the health benefits of lemon? Yes, almost everything, from the peel, the so-called and ending, which contain an abundance of biologically useful, active substances.

• Enhances the effectiveness of the treatment of colds. Whenever we are exposed to a cold, we remember this citrus fruit. But lemon is useful not only during illness, because it is no less effective tool and for the prevention of colds and flu, especially in winter. To this end, it is recommended to take the fruit on its own fresh or add it to the warm, since with this drink the body receives a much larger amount of vitamins A and C, which strengthen the immune system and activate spare resources to speed up the treatment of the disease. In addition, lemon has a diaphoretic effect, so it is recommended to use it to reduce fever;
• It has an antipurulent, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect in the early stages of angina. If you notice the first signs of this unpleasant disease, it is recommended to eat citrus or gargle with its juice. You can also chew slowly and after this procedure, do not eat or drink anything for another hour. During this period, citric acid and essential oils interact with the inflamed mucous membranes of the throat. This procedure is carried out every 3 hours;
• Contains large amounts of iron and potassium. Iron is known to increase the number of red blood cells, and potassium, in turn, has a positive effect on blood vessels, strengthening their walls. As a result, these trace elements make lemon an effective product for maintaining normal pressure and improving the functioning of the heart muscle. Vitamin P also helps with this lemon;
• Eliminates digestive problems. The abundance of fiber characterizes the beneficial properties of lemon by its ability to relieve a person of regular constipation and improve appetite due to the penetration of citric acid into the digestive tract. Lemon stimulates the production of enzymes and digestive juices in the gastric mucosa, and this helps to improve the absorption of iron and calcium from food by the body. This fruit also supports the full functioning of the liver, activates the production of its enzymes, dilutes bile;
• Lemon is a powerful antioxidant. Due to the high content of ascorbic acid, the use of lemon not only strengthens the immune system and increases the protective functions of the body, but also helps to eliminate damaging free radicals, slows down the aging process, prevents the development of cancer, saturates the body with energy, breaks down bad cholesterol and quickly removes its excess from the body;
• Renders positive influence on the condition of the skin and hair. It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of lemon, namely its essential oil, for acne, freckles, sunburn and other skin lesions. As you know, the components that make up a lemon can save a person even after a scorpion sting. Lemon juice can be used for cosmetic purposes to give the skin a natural color, whiten it, rejuvenate, prevent wrinkles, and treat age spots. It is also used for fungal skin lesions. Lemon peel is effective for rubbing corns. Shampoos, which include lemon juice, strengthen hair and accelerate their growth;
• Has an analgesic effect. For headaches, a peel with lemon pulp, peeled of white matter, can be applied with the wet side to the temple. This will cause a red spot that will itch and burn, but the pain symptoms will pass very soon. Lemon also helps to relieve colic in the abdomen;
• Relieves seizures. Fresh lemon juice in case of leg cramps can be smeared on the sole in the morning and before going to bed, without wiping the juice. After two weeks, you will forget about what cramps are;
• The fruit has a powerful antiseptic effect.. Due to this, lemon juice is effectively used for the prevention and treatment of urolithiasis, febrile conditions, atherosclerosis and hemorrhoids;
• Improves the functioning of the nervous system. Thanks to vitamin B and potassium, regular intake of lemon fruits helps to improve sleep and nervous system relieving people of stress and depression. Scientists have proven that the aroma of lemon oil improves mood;
• Calcium, which is citrus, strengthens bones, nails and teeth. And in combination with magnesium, this component improves the quality of blood, dilutes and purifies it, participates in the processes of albumin formation;
• Known anti-toxic and cleansing properties of lemon. The use of the fruits of this citrus helps to eliminate toxic substances, toxins and uric acid from the body, an excessive amount of which is fraught with damage. internal organs and fabrics;
• Potassium contained in lemon is useful for maintaining the normal functioning of the brain;
• Citric acid reduces the acidity of gastric juice and dissolves kidney stones, removing them with toxic substances and toxins;
• Vitamin A allows you to use lemon to maintain vision;
• The beneficial properties of the fruit are also manifested in the prevention and reduction of symptoms:
  • Rheumatism;
  • arthrosis;
  • gout;
  • cholera;
  • tuberculosis;
  • Rickets;
  • Malaria;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • Hypotension;
  • Worms.

Lemon harm

Like other citrus fruits, lemon has a number of contraindications for use.

• Citric acid irritates the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. For a healthy person, this property of a lemon can be dangerous only when overeating the fruit, but for people suffering from stomach and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, enteritis, acute nephritis, colitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis and cholecystitis, citrus intake should be strictly limited, so how it can cause heartburn, pain and spasms;
• Damages tooth enamel. Although lemon strengthens teeth due to its calcium content, stops bleeding gums, helps to remove plaque and whiten teeth, dentists recommend brushing your teeth after eating the fruit, since the juice of this citrus fruit negatively affects the condition of tooth enamel;
• Irritates wounds and aggravates severe inflammatory processes. This fruit has an anti-inflammatory effect, but only in the initial stages of inflammatory processes. If the inflammation is already too strong, then the lemon will only increase irritation, exacerbate pain and bleeding of wounds, and prolong the healing process;
• Prohibited for use by patients with pancreatitis. Despite the fact that the use of citrus stimulates the cleansing of the liver, it is contraindicated during the period of inflammatory processes of the pancreas;
• May cause allergic reactions. Excessive consumption of lemon leads to allergies, because it is a powerful allergen. Also side effects may be manifested by skin irritation in people with individual intolerance to the components of this product;
• Overeating Lemons Raises Blood Pressure. In this regard, the intake of this fruit should be approached with extreme caution in hypertension;
• Also, lemon is contraindicated in children under three years of age, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

One way or another, the benefits of lemon for human body quite significant, therefore, if you use this product in moderation, you will get only positive properties from it. The harm from a lemon manifests itself mainly only when it is overeaten, so the competent intake of this fruit makes it absolutely safe.

Nutritional value and chemical composition of lemon

• The nutritional value
• vitamins
• macronutrients
• trace elements

Calorie content 34 kcal
Proteins 0.9 g
Fats 0.1 g
Carbohydrates 3 g
Organic acids 5.7 g
Dietary fiber 2 g
Water 87.8 g
Ash 0.5 g

Vitamin A, RE 2 mcg
beta carotene 0.01 mg
Vitamin B1, thiamine 0.04 mg
Vitamin B2, riboflavin 0.02 mg
Vitamin B5, pantothenic 0.2 mg
Vitamin B6, pyridoxine 0.06 mg
Vitamin B9, folate 9 mcg
Vitamin C, ascorbic 40 mg
Vitamin E, alpha tocopherol, TE 0.2 mg
Vitamin PP, NE 0.2 mg
Niacin 0.1 mg

Together with food, we need to get useful vitamins and minerals. Among all citrus fruits, lemon is especially useful, thanks to its healing properties. However, each product, in addition to positive, has negative properties.

Lemon Benefits:

1. Lemons are high in vitamin C. Therefore, by regularly consuming lemon, you can strengthen the immune system. This vitamin also has a good effect on the prevention of tuberculosis, periodontal disease and joint problems.
2. Lemon is more for prevention than for treatment. Therefore, it is pointless to eat them if you are already sick. When drinking lemon with hot tea, all the beneficial properties are destroyed, so it is better to squeeze the lemon juice into the tea that has already cooled down.
3. For prevention, it is not necessary to buy medicines, enough to eat a slice of lemon every day with sugar.
4. Lemon peel also has medicinal properties. You just need to chew a piece of zest for diseases of the throat and respiratory tract. Unpleasant symptoms will retreat soon.
5. Lemon also has a beneficial effect on genitourinary diseases.. The stones in the urinary canals will resolve themselves if you drink lemon juice for a long time.
6. It also helps to strengthen blood vessels and the heart., It contains citrine and ascorbic acid, which strengthen the capillaries and veins, making them much more elastic.
7. And in cosmetics in any way without a lemon. Problem areas of the skin can be wiped with lemon zest. Lemon juice whitens the skin and makes it less oily.
8. Water with lemon is good for digestion, the state of blood vessels, weight loss and lowering pressure, but the lemon should not be overheated, the water should be less than 50 ° C.
9. The combination of honey and lemon is very effective for the liver and gallbladder..

Lemon recommended: with slagging of the body, with increased or reduced pressure, after a heart attack, for coughing, with migraines, with neurasthenia, in case of insufficient lactation, as an aid for tuberculosis, with diabetes, in case of angina pectoris, for the work of the heart, for headaches, for the expulsion of worms, for depression, for effective weight loss, for fatigue, for improving skin condition.

Harm of lemon:

1. Do not eat fresh lemon if you have stomach problems. It can greatly increase the acidity of the stomach.
2. Lemon helps whiten teeth, prevent bleeding gums, but has a bad effect on tooth enamel, destroying it.
3. With pancreatitis, it is necessary to use lemon with caution, despite the fact that it is involved in cleansing the liver. Lemon can cause allergies.
4. Lemon is also undesirable for children under 3 years old.

Any product should be consumed in moderation.

How to make homemade lemonade.

The name "lemonade" comes from the name of this citrus fruit.. To prepare it, you need to mix a glass of lemon juice with water 1-1.5 liters and add sugar to taste. If you use honey instead of sugar, then the drink will become even healthier.

Lemon is not a magic pill for everything, but there are a lot of healing qualities in it, so feel free to include this citrus in your diet and be healthy!

Lemon is one of the most controversial, delicious and at the same time sour fruits. It is impossible to eat a whole lemon, but it is difficult to do without it in many areas of human life. Lemon is actively eaten - they drink tea with it, add it to marinades, sauces, desserts, hot and cold dishes, pastries. Lemon is actively used in everyday life for bleaching surfaces and fabrics, for removing stains of various kinds. Lemon is also useful for our skin - not a single whitening and drying mask can do without citrus. Lemon is a real helper that every good housewife should have in the fridge.

Lemon is interesting and unique in that not only citrus pulp is used, 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, let's talk about lemon - its beneficial properties for humans, contraindications, method of consumption and application.

Useful 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 SARS and other colds. Lemon can be used for sore throat during a sore throat, citrus literally inhibits the development of bacteria and instantly relieves pain. Regular consumption of lemon not only heals an already infected body, 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. Even doctors prescribe it for bronchitis.
3. To lower the temperature. Lemon tea is recommended for use during a cold, not only because it has an antiviral effect. The fact is that lemon perfectly relieves fever, has a diaphoretic effect.
4. Helps to sleep. Depending on the components with which to take a lemon, it can not only invigorate in the morning, but also soothe in the evening. If you drink lemon in combination with milk or honey, you can fall asleep in a calm and sound sleep. Citrus is great for treating anxiety and insomnia.
5. Gives strength. In ancient times, when sailors returned home after a long voyage, their bodies were incredibly emaciated. But doctors and wise women knew how to quickly restore strength and lost health to the body. They prepared such a mixture - crushed lemons were mixed with walnuts, honey and raisins. This mixture was given three times a day, a tablespoon, and the strength of 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, and injuries.
8. For the brain. Lemon has a great effect on the efficiency and activity of the brain. And for this it is not necessary to eat it at all. If you keep a lemon peel near the workplace, decisions come much faster, working capacity increases, memory improves.
9. For the liver. Lemon juice helps cleanse the liver after long-term drug treatment, with hepatitis, after smoking and long-term alcohol consumption.
10. From mosquitoes. One of the most powerful mosquito repellents is lemon and cloves. Take half a lemon and stick a few cloves into it, leave the design at the head of the bed. A pleasant aroma will fill your room, mosquitoes will not disturb you.
11. For beauty. Masks with lemon juice has a powerful effect. With the help of this ingredient, you can cope with excessive oiliness of hair and skin, cleanse your face of freckles and age spots. Hair after lemon rinsing becomes incredibly silky, smooth and shiny.
12. For purity. Lemon is used in various cleansers. Lemon juice can remove blood stains, 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 developing fetal abnormalities. 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. The acidity of the lemon 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, weight loss will go much faster.
15. With avitaminosis. In the spring, the body experiences serious discomfort, because the amount of healthy and natural vegetables and fruits decreases, beriberi develops in the body. Just a quarter of a lemon a day will give you your daily vitamin C requirement.
16. Antiseptic. Since lemon has antibacterial properties, it is often used to treat various wounds, ulcers, and cuts. Lemon is diluted in water and the oral cavity is rinsed with this composition for stomatitis and sore throat. Lemon juice can be used as a first aid, as an antidote for bites from poisonous insects and snakes.

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

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 various diseases stomach, and especially hyperacidity, gastritis and ulcers. In this case, rather aggressive citric acid can only aggravate the situation.
2. Diluted lemon juice can rinse the mouth only for diseases of the mucous membrane, 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 citrus fruits are considered one of the main allergens. The reaction to lemon juice occurs in almost every fourth inhabitant of the metropolis.
6. In no case should you rinse your mouth or throat with pure undiluted juice. This can lead to mucosal burns.
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, if used correctly, will give the body many useful properties. How to use lemon correctly so as not to harm yourself?

How to use lemon properly

Most often we use lemon when making tea. To do this, add a slice or circle of citrus to a cup of ready-made tea or directly to the teapot. During the cold season, it is very effective to make tea with lemon, honey and ginger. It has a unique vitamin value. Ginger should be crushed and put together with tea leaves in a teapot. About half a tablespoon of ginger per 2 liters of water. After that, you need to pour everything with boiling water. Do not add the lemon right away, otherwise the acid will prevent the tea from brewing. When the tea is sufficiently infused, add lemon to it. Drink tea with honey, do not add it to the cup. Otherwise, all the beneficial properties of honey will be lost from high temperature.

If you decide to fight diseases of the throat and mouth, 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 speed up 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. Let the mass brew, and then squeeze the juice out of it. Before use, the composition must 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 at bedtime. To cleanse the liver, lemon is mixed with chopped garlic and squeezed. Drink the resulting juice in a teaspoon, diluted in half a glass of water three times a day half an hour before the main meal.

If you suffer from arthritis, rheumatism, sprains or muscles, you need to soak a small piece of cloth in lemon juice and apply to the affected areas. You should feel a slight warmth. If you feel irritation and tingling, then you are allergic to citrus and you should not use such treatments.

If you're going to add lemon to baked goods, it's best to use the zest instead of the juice. She will not spoil the dough with her acid, but will give the muffin a delicate citrus flavor. Be sure to add lemon to 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.

Actively use lemon in cosmetology. Lemon juice eats away dead skin flakes, creating a powerful scrub effect. Lemon compresses do an excellent job with calluses and corns, leaving only the delicate 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. There is no need to rinse them with water afterwards. 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 the lemon saved from poisonous bites and even the plague. During epidemics, lemons were kept in almost every home and they believed that this sour fruit would save them from illness. In Russia in the 13-15 centuries, the fruit was imported from Holland, only rich nobles could afford to buy it. Fortunately, modern lemon is available to everyone and anyone can enjoy its sour taste, delicate aroma and invaluable benefits.

Video: the benefits and harms of water with lemon

Lemon belongs to the genus "citrus". Its fruits ripen on an evergreen tree by autumn, and flowering begins in spring. Every refrigerator has this useful fruit, which is used by housewives for a variety of purposes. And how lemon is useful for the human body, you will learn from the article below.

Useful properties of lemon

Lemons are beneficial primarily due to the vitamins, carotene and other substances they contain.

Vitamin C helps to cope with rheumatism, tuberculosis, periodontal disease, get rid of bleeding gums. Vitamin B will relieve insomnia. Vitamin P is an excellent means of preventing heart attacks and strokes. Potassium helps to restore nerve cells and nourish the brain. Calcium will strengthen bones.

Useful substances of lemon:

• B vitamins;
• Vitamins C, A, E, PP.

Micro and macro elements in lemon:

• Potassium;
• Iron;
• Calcium;
• Copper;
• Manganese;
• Sulfur;
• Molybdenum;
• Magnesium;
• Sodium;
• Phosphorus;
• Fluorine;
• Chlorine;
• Zinc.

Lemon is an excellent antiseptic, so it is used for colds, sore throats, flu, beriberi, it will relieve cough and fever. The fruit is useful in strengthening the immune system.

Lemons are useful for removing harmful toxins, toxins and excess fluid from the body.

Is lemon peel healthy?

The peel is usually left without attention, it is not eaten, although it is very useful, especially the white, tasteless layer. This layer of the peel is albedo, contains a lot of vitamin C (3 times more than in the pulp) and bioflavonoids that absorb vitamin C well.

The colored outer layer of the peel is called flavedo, it contains valuable essential oils and pectin substances, which are also much more abundant here. So, even though lemon zest is not that tasty, it is still healthy. Wash the fruit thoroughly before eating it whole.

The benefits of lemon during pregnancy

Vitamin C will help pregnant women avoid infectious diseases, improve immunity. Ascorbic acid reduces the degree of swelling of the body, restores and soothes the body. Citrus should be consumed by pregnant women with low stomach acidity.
Herbalists recommend inhaling the smell of lemon peel, which will help to cope with stress and fatigue.

The fruit of the lemon tree was used during pregnancy to cope with toxicosis and nausea. And translated from Chinese the name of the fetus is translated as "useful for mothers." This fact leaves no doubt about the benefits of lemon for pregnant women.

Benefits of lemon for weight loss

Many people talk these days about losing weight with lemon, about the benefits of diets, about drinking lemon water in order to get rid of extra pounds. Undoubtedly, lemon essential oil is useful for weight loss, but it is recommended to use it in combination with other products.

Organic acids, contained in excess in this citrus, break down fats, normalizing the metabolism in the body, dulling the feeling of hunger. And vitamin C will help those who lose weight maintain strength throughout the day, so that the diet will proceed easily and painlessly.

Harm of lemon:

• With ulcers and gastritis;
• With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• With pancreatitis;
• In inflammatory processes of the oral cavity;
• Hypertension patients.

How much lemon can you eat per day

Is Lemon in Large Quantities Healthy? Do not get carried away - two rings a day is enough. It is important not to oversaturate the body with vitamins. Hypervitaminosis may occur when you consume lemon for a long period - every day for more than a week, in excess of the indicated dose. If you are experiencing headache, nausea, joint disease, abdominal pain and constipation, it is recommended to stop drinking lemon for at least 3 weeks.

It should be borne in mind that removing ascorbic acid from the body is more difficult than replenishing it. There needs to be a balance in this.

How to choose lemons

The peel of a ripe fresh lemon sparkles like polished.

Rigidity speaks of its normal maturity.

Thick-skinned fruits contain more vitamins, which are stored in the subcutaneous white layer. It is in it that vitamin C and bioflavonoids that absorb it are concentrated.

How to store lemons

Lemons are stored for a long time at a temperature of about 7 degrees. So for long-term storage and to maintain the benefits of lemons, keep them in the refrigerator in a paper bag.

In a plastic bag, they will start to sing. The unripe fruit will last longer.

Healthy Lemon Recipes

Lemonade

Place 220 grams of sugar in a saucepan with one glass of water. Put on a slow fire, stirring. Once the sugar dissolves, remove from heat. Add the strained juice of five lemons to the cooled syrup. Before serving, add sparkling water (up to two liters for this volume of syrup).

pickled lemons

Mix paprika (half a tablespoon), 3 tbsp. tablespoons of salt, one tbsp. a spoonful of sugar and one pod of pepper. Lemon (5-6 pieces) cut into slices and put in a sterilized jar in layers, sprinkling each with a mixture of seasonings. Lay the lemons tightly so that the juice covers them entirely. If there is not enough juice, squeeze another lemon and pour the juice into a jar. To better preserve the pickling product, add a little vegetable oil on top, this will prevent air from entering. Leave a tightly closed jar on the windowsill for a week, and then store in the refrigerator. You need to eat within two months.