- Lemon is Acidic outside the body but Alkaline when ingested
Lemon juice in its natural state is acidic with a pH of about 2, but once metabolised it actually becomes alkaline with a pH well above 7. So, outside the body, anyone can see that lemon juice is very acidic. However, once fully digested, its effect is proven to be alkalising with many health benefits.
2. It Helps Prevent Kidney Stones
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.
3. Lemons Bear Fruit All Year Round
According to Texas A&M University, most lemon trees have some fruit on their branches at any given time of the year. The time frame for getting ripe fruit from lemon trees varies by the two main types:
- Eureka lemons – these produce the most fruit in spring and summer
- Lisbon lemons – these produce the most fruit in the summer and autumn
4. Lemons are a hybrid between a sour orange and a citron
“True” lemons derive from one common hybrid ancestor, having diverged by mutation. The original lemon was a hybrid between a male citron and a female sour orange, itself a pomelo/pure-mandarin hybrid; citrons contribute half of the genome, while the other half is divided between pomelo and mandarin.
5. Lemon Leaves can be made into tea
Lemon leaves have herbal properties that make them useful for treating a range of issues. Most notably, they have a sedative and anti-spasmodic effect. Health issues supported by drinking lemon leaf tea include:
- Asthma
- Insomnia
- Migraines
- Anxiety and Nervousness
- Stomach Aches
So if you have a lemon tree, you may want to also consider making lemon leaf tea! Just steep about five leaves in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Sweeten with honey if you need to. It’s good!
6. Lemon Improves Iron Absorption into the body
Iron is essential for the cells in your body to survive and grow. Drinking lemon water with meals to enhance iron absorption is recommended especially for those with anaemia.
7. Lemons can freshen the breath
The citric acid in lemon juice can also kill the bacteria that causes bad breath.
However, too much citric acid can make your breath worse by triggering gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) GERD can cause stomach acid to rise up through your oesophagus and into your mouth, resulting in bad breath.
Remember, lemons only become alkaline once ingested and digested!
