National Lemon Juice Day

National Lemon Juice Day

August 29th was National Lemon Juice Day! This citrus juice is not only very healthy, but is very versatile and can be used in dozens of ways! Many nutritionists recommend starting off the day with lemon water due to its many health benefits. These include:

-Promotes hydration, especially for some people who don’t like the taste of plain water

-A good source of Vitamin C, which has a primary antioxidant that helps protect cells from damaging free radicals. Vitamin C may also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and lower blood pressure. Lemons are one of the most Vitamin-C rich foods, and are fantastic for helping boost your immune system.

-Improving skin quality – Vitamin C found in lemons may help reduce skin wrinkling, dry skin from aging, and damage from the sun. Lemon water hydrates you as well, and we know that If your skin loses moisture, it becomes dry and prone to wrinkles.

-Drinking lemon water or water with lemon juice aids digestion

-Lemon juice is antibacterial and can freshen breath.

-Helps when you are sick – lemon helps to cleanse the lymphatic system so you can gargle with some lemon juice to help with a sore throat.

-The citric acid in lemons may help prevent kidney stones. Citrate, a component of citric acid, paradoxically makes urine less acidic and may even break up small stones. Drinking lemon water not only gets you citrate, but also the water you need to help prevent or flush out stones.

-Aids in weight loss – Research has shown that polyphenol antioxidants found in lemons significantly reduces weight gain in mice that are overfed in order to induce obesity. In addition, consuming water helps flush your system out and further helps with weight loss.

-Lemon juice has powerful anti-inflammatory compounds!

Lemon juice is also a wonderful, healthy seasoning! You can use lemon juice as a replacement for unhealthy ingredients or high amounts of salt. Instead of salad dressing, sprinkle Lemon juice over a salad to instantly brighten it up, and squeezing some over seafood or fish enhances the flavor. It is also great to use in cocktails when you are watching out for calories!

There are many uses for lemons and lemon juice around the house as a fresh, natural alternative to chemical cleaners! Slice a lemon in half to shine pots and pans, remove stains from marble counter tops, as an air freshener and deodorizer for the garbage, polish wood, remove stains from dishes, remove rust of mildew stains, brighten laundry and remove stains, repel insects, descale tea kettles and coffee pots, remove rust, and more!

To get the most lemon juice out of a lemon, roll it on a hard surface before you cut it to loosen up the juices. Dealing with a particularly tight lemon? Pop it into the microwave for a few seconds!

Use National Lemon Juice Day to enhance your day and make lemonade out of lemons!