Lemon Juice Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Lemon is a fruit native to Asia that’s cultivated worldwide and used in many types of culinary dishes. You probably have lemons or lemon juice in your own kitchen or recognize them from the grocery store shelves. Lemon is said to be one of the most alkalizing foods. The juice is used in flavoring and works well as a vinegar substitute, especially in salad dressings. Lemon juice uses also include topical applications, such as rinsing your hair and using it to naturally lighten hair.¹ 

Lemon is a highly acidic fruit, with citric acid making up about five to six percent of lemons. Among lemon juice benefits, it contains many important nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B1.¹ Lemon juice is also abundant in antioxidants called flavonoids, which can help with inflammation, cancer, and heart disease.²

Lemon Juice Uses and Health Benefits

Lemon juice uses are vast. It’s been used in cleaning, cooking, beauty, and more. With its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, gargling a lemon juice and water mixture can help with a sore throat. It’s also known to improve the healing of canker sores, warts, insect bites, and rashes.² Consider a lemon juice diet for helping with the following conditions:

• Gallstones (Gallbladder Pain) - Thanks to its high citrus content, a lemon juice diet is said to help dissolve gallstones and alleviate the pain associated with them.
• Colon Cleansing - Colon cleansing refers to a range of herbal solutions that help remove “toxins” from the digestive tract and colon. Drinking a lemon juice and water mixture is said to help flush out toxins and stimulate the digestive system to promote colon cleansing.
• Dandruff - Lemon juice can be applied topically for a variety of beauty solutions, including resolving dandruff. Simply massage two tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp, rinse with lemon water, and repeat as necessary.
• Obesity - Lemon juice can be used as a substitute for higher calorie alternatives, such as salad dressing, to help reduce overall caloric intake. Lemon juice benefits the digestive system as well, which can help fight obesity.
• Toenail Fungus (Nail Fungus) - Among lemon juice benefits, it’s said to have antifungal properties. Applying a small amount topically to toenail fungus can help speed recovery.

Lemon Juice Side Effects and Precautions

Lemon juice side effects are not known for high medicinal amounts, but it is considered safe in food amounts for both oral and topical applications. It is also safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. However, it can be potent, especially when applied to the skin. It’s oftentimes best mixed with water to dilute the solution. If you’re trying a lemon juice herbal remedy for the first time, mix a small amount into a glass of water to see how it affects you. Increase the lemon juice to water ratio if you don’t experience any lemon juice side effects. 

Avoid lemon juice if you have a known allergy to other citrus fruits. Talk to your doctor about using lemon juice as an herbal remedy if you plan to take it in high doses or if you have other concerns about it.

References

1. http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_lemon.htm
2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/04/lemon-uses.aspx
3. http://www.drwhitaker.com/little-known-uses-for-lemons/
4. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/hearttruth/downloads/html/hhh/eat-for-health.htm