When I was a child I was obsessed with lemons. I loved their bright, cheerful yellow color, invigorating aroma and delightful, tart flavor. In fact, I used to suck on lemon wedges so often that I stripped part of the enamel from my front teeth as a result. However, I broke that habit long ago, but my love for lemons remained.
Lemons are truly amazing. Though they have a tart, acidic flavor, they have a powerful alkaline effect on the body and prevent the accumulation of excess acid which can result in rheumatic pain. Even the oil from lemons has anti-inflammatory properties that, when rubbed into inflamed joints (mix a few drops with 1 teaspoon of almond, jojoba or grapeseed oil), will alleviate pain.
Lemons are packed with citric acid, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, pectin, bioflavonoids and limonene which support immunity. The juice of lemons acts as a digestive aid and is a liver cleanser, so regular consumption can act as a very effective weight loss aid. A few drops of lemon juice added to a meal can aid in digestion and can also help to treat constipation. Additionally, regular consumption of lemons can help to lower blood cholesterol levels. If you want a natural breath freshener, you can rinse your mouth out with the juice of one lemon mixed into a glass of tepid water several times a day, or you can chew on a lemon slice after each meal. The lemon and water mixture can also be employed as a treatment for canker sores.
Individuals who are plagued with frequent acne flare-ups may notice an improvement in the condition of their skin after incorporating lemons into their regular meal plan, since the alkaline nature of lemons can kill the bacteria known to cause acne. Try drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of lemon juice in the morning and see if your skin begins to clear up. Some proponents of the lemon juice cure will drink the juice of half a lemon in a glass of water twice daily and swear by its multiple benefits. You can also take lemon juice and apply it directly to acne blemishes and leave on overnight. Another remedy involves mixing equal parts of rosewater and lemon juice, applying to acne-afflicted skin and allowing to sit for 30 minutes, then rinsing off with water. This can be done twice daily.
If you suffer from corns or callouses, you can make a lemon poultice by placing a lemon slice onto the corn and bandage, or you can apply lemon oil to the corn. Allow these treatments to sit overnight for best results. Eczema can also be treated with lemons by adding several drops of lemon oil to one cup of lukewarm water and one tablespoon of honey. Soak gauze bandages in this mixture and apply to affected area for 30 minutes. If dandruff or dry scalp conditions plague you, take the juice and apply to the scalp. Allow to sit for 30 minutes, then shampoo.
There are countless other benefits which lemons offer, but the ones I have mentioned here are my favorites. I hope you enjoy the benefits of this amazing fruit!
It’s no secret that fast foods are unhealthy and artery-clogging, but there are impostors which sit on grocery shelves and have people believe they are healthy due to phrases like “Low Fat”, “Good for you”, “Fit ____”, and the list goes on. I encourage my patients to read EVERY label on food containers while perusing the grocery store shelves and aisles and to become aware of preservatives, sugar, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and artificial colorings.
People frequently ask me how they can exercise when they do not have gym memberships and also do not have any exercise equipment whatsoever, so I have designed the following full body routine with these people in mind. There is no equipment needed for this workout, but you should expect to break a sweat and work out intensely with this routine!
Many people love the convenience of bars, whether they are labeled as granola bars, energy bars or protein bars. However, many of these bars aren’t much better than candy bars in terms of nutrition. Beware of granola bars, as many of them contain sugar, oil, and even candy. Energy bars and protein bars are also frequently high in sugar and can also contain caffeine and artificial sweeteners. Regardless of the type of bar, many formulations also contain preservatives. What’s more, some bars are so highly processed that they could be described as “fake” foods.
Many people have fallen under the misconception that dry cereals can be healthy as long as they contain grains such as wheat, barley or oats. Such grains are subjected to processing which deranges the nutrients that they contain, which is in part why dry cereals are commonly fortified with vitamins and minerals. It seems counterproductive to strip grains of their nutrients, then add them back in, but this is a very common practice.
