National Lemon Juice Day: Health Benefits Of The Magic Potion

Not a single summer goes by without us thinking about lemon and lemonades. Lemons and lime juice are so common in our menus that we have a day dedicated to them.

Every year on Aug. 29, we observe National Lemon Juice Day, to honor and celebrate the wonders of this refreshing drink.

Have you thought about why we love lemons so much? Besides enhancing the taste of our food, this citrus fruit also provides so much nutrition important for one's body.

To mark the occasion, let's learn more about the nutritional value and health benefits of this fruit:

1) Lemon Hydrates: It is necessary to stay hydrated, especially during the summer. While the Food and Nutrition Board recommends that women should get at least 91 ounces and men 125 ounces of fluids every day, many people are not able to meet this requirement. One way to rectify the situation and increase fluid intake is by adding lemon to water for it enhances the flavor and prompts you to drink more water, both hot and cold.

2) Keeps heart healthy: According to Healthline, lemons contain heart-healthy vitamin C and several beneficial plant compounds that may lower cholesterol. One lemon provides about 31 mg of vitamin C, and the fiber and plant compounds in lemons also significantly lower some risk factors for heart disease.

3) Anti-bacterial effects: Lemon juice has a lot of anti-bacterial and antifungal properties. Lemon juice is said to be effective in inhibiting the growth of Vibrio strains (a genus of gram-negative bacteria). Citric acid, the major organic acid in these juices, was found to be responsible for inhibiting the growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which causes gastrointestinal illness in humans.

4) Weight loss and clean skin: The pectin in lemons and their juice helps you feel fuller for longer, helping a person lose weight. According to studies, an increase in fiber intake, especially from low-density sources like fruit, can lead to lower body weight and fat. The natural antibacterial qualities and alpha hydroxyl acids also make it effective like many over-the-counter acne medications. They can brighten and exfoliate the skin while aiding in blackheads removal.

5) Fights Anemia: A lot of us suffer from iron deficiency which occurs when we don’t get enough iron from the foods. Lemon is said to contain iron, but more importantly, they primarily prevent anemia by improving your absorption of iron from plant foods. While our gut absorbs iron meat, chicken and fish easily, the iron from plant sources cannot be absorbed that easily. However, enough consumption of vitamin C and citric acid aids the process.