by Aubrea Glenn

Created on: November 03, 2007

Although lemons can be found in most kitchens, they have numerous healing properties that many people do not know about. As a matter of fact, the lemon is so powerful, the Romans used them as a cure for all types of poisons.

For every 100 grams of lemon, the nutrition values are as follows:

-Vitamin B: 0.04 mg
-Vitamin C: 50 mg
-Calcium: 40 mg
-Phosphorus: 22 mg
-Carbohydrates: 8.7 gm

-Protein: 0.9 gm
-Calories: 32

Due to the vitamin C content alone, consuming a teaspoon of lemon juice every day reduces blood pressure, strengthens capillaries, acts as an excellent nerve sedative, prevents and treats many infections, hastens wound healing, lowers high fevers, and relieves palpitations. That high content also helps raise goo cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), and prevents bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) from oxidizing. It also prevents plaque formation, which clogs arteries.

Daily use of lemon juice has many other benefits, as well. For example, the limonoid phytochemicals present in lemons help to reduce the risk of cancer when consumed daily. Daily consumption also aids in liver purification.

Lemon is a diuretic, meaning it causes frequent urination to cleanse the system. Therefore, lemons are good for urinary tract infections, high uric acid problems (like arthritis and rheumatism), and reducing kidney and intestinal disorders. That is because diuretics help flush toxins and harmful bacteria out of the body.

The acidity in lemons also has healing powers, especially with many digestive problems. Lemon, when mixed with hot water, can cure nausea, heartburn, constipation and diarrhea, worm infestations of the lower intestines, bloating, and belching. It also stimulates the liver to produce the correct amount of bile, which helps with digesting food.

Lemon juice also relieves symptoms of minor ailments. Among these ailments are asthma, tonsillitis, and colds. Lemons are believed to dissolve gall stones, relieve hiccups, and treat malaria, as well.

Lemon juice can even help when used externally. When gently applied to the nostrils with a cotton ball, it can stop nose bleeds, though it stings a little. They also stop gum bleeding, reduce gum problems related to scurvy (a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency), clears acne and eczema, removes blackheads, lightens freckles, prevents sunburns, acts as an antiseptic when used on wounds, and minimizes wrinkles. When mixed with petroleum jelly, it is effective against chapped lips, and as a highly concentrated balm, it can be used as a lotion to break fevers (by encouraging the body to perspire) and to treat coughs and colds, hay fever, menstrual cramps, dizziness, headaches, and high blood pressure.

In addition to all these remedies, the scent of lemon has been found to calm anxieties, clear the mind, center focus, and help induce sleep. The aroma has even been claimed to improve memory storage and recall.

So stock up on these little yellow fruits, and the next time you get a headache, think twice about taking medication, because lemons are so much cheaper.

Learn more about this author, Aubrea Glenn.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.