Lemon juice is a universal product whose useful properties have long been recognized by scientists, doctors, nutritionists, culinary specialists and cosmetologists. Traditional healers believe that a person should eat several slices of this citrus every day, or drink drinks based on it. This is necessary to fill the lack of vitamins and minerals.

The chemical composition and calorie content of lemon juice

Lemon is a real storehouse of nutrients.

The composition of lemon juice:

  • structured water;
  • cellulose;
  • volatile;
  • organic acids;
  • flavonoids;
  • vitamins C, PP, B;
  • pectin;
  • micro and macro elements - K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, Fe, Cu;
  • essential oil.

Calorie content is only 16 kcal.

Benefits for a woman's body

If you use lemon juice correctly, it will bring only benefits to the body:

  • remove excess body fat;
  • smooth small wrinkles;
  • remove toxins and toxins;
  • improves complexion;
  • normalizes pressure.

In ancient times, various female diseases were treated with citrus juice: the absence of menstruation, prolapse of the uterus and various complications after childbirth. It is also recommended to use it during pregnancy, but within reasonable limits, since all citrus fruits are considered products that often cause allergies.

The properties of lemon also allow its use as a general strengthening agent during the period of winter and spring hypovitaminosis or during the spread of colds.

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What is useful lemon juice for men

Lemon juice significantly increases physical and mental performance, supports the nervous system in a balanced state, allows you to feel calm even in difficult situations.

Also, the use of cocktails based on such juice helps prevent the occurrence of a heart attack, atherosclerosis, and stroke.

The constant use of citrus juice prevents the accumulation of uric acid, and an excess of this substance in the body leads to many problems (gout, rheumatism).

Application in traditional medicine: recipes

People use lemon juice to treat tonsillitis, pharyngitis, asthma, caries and various colds. However, representatives of official medicine believe that lemon juice negatively affects the sore throat, so it can only be used in diluted form.

To prevent caries, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with water and lemon juice every time after brushing your teeth. Such a rinse can even relieve toothache.

In folk medicine, liver cleansing with olive oil and lemon juice is widespread. The combination of these products helps to cleanse the body of unnecessary "garbage". Sour juice softens the heavy texture of the oil, removes stones, toxins, improves joint function.

Every morning on an empty stomach, you need to take 1 tbsp. l olive oil, and then drink it with juice squeezed from ½ lemon. You can mix both products and take the mixture immediately.

The effect of such gentle cleansing will be noticeable in 5 days, however, folk doctors recommend taking a course of at least 4 weeks, and then take a break. If all the recommendations are followed, the digestive tract organs will work much better, constipation will disappear, energy will appear, working capacity will increase, and the skin condition will improve.

However, contraindications must be taken into account. With many diseases, lemon juice can be harmful. The acids in its composition can irritate the inflamed gastric mucosa. Therefore, it can not be drunk with ulcers of the digestive tract, gastritis with high acidity, pancreatitis, gallstone disease. But with proper use, the benefits of lemon juice are beyond doubt.

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Use in cosmetology

Lemon juice for the face is one of the simplest and most affordable means. Most often it is used to care for oily skin and lighten freckles. For such skin defects, it is recommended to regularly apply the juice and rinse it off after a quarter of an hour.

Masks containing lemon juice narrow the pores, remove the oily sheen, help eliminate acne and inflammation, and make wrinkles less noticeable.

To remove plaque, it is enough to brush your teeth with lemon juice once every 3-4 days. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the enamel can be damaged.

Lemon juice can be added to rinse water. Curls will become silky and soft. Different nourishing masks with the addition of lemon juice are also used for hair, however, it is better to do them only for owners of blond hair.

The peel left after squeezing the juice should not be thrown away. It can be used for nail care. By regularly rubbing the nail plates with the skin, you can make them stronger and restore their shine.

Lemon Juice in Dietetics

Lemon juice is often used for weight loss. They are recommended to dress salads instead of vegetable oil, sour cream and other more high-calorie foods. A fat-burning drink is prepared from it: every day before breakfast, juice is squeezed from one fruit and diluted with water. You need to drink such a cocktail on an empty stomach: on the first day - 1 tbsp., On the second - 2 tbsp and so on up to 5-6 tbsp.

The action of lemon juice:

  • stimulates digestion;
  • removes toxic substances;
  • reduces the risk of diabetes;
  • normalizes the process of assimilation of nutrients;
  • establishes a normal metabolism.

Do not forget about diet.Eat often, but in small portions. The basis of the diet should be fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, meat. All sweets, loafs, potatoes and white rice are prohibited.

It is useful to drink juice diluted with water in the heat: it quenches thirst, quickly replenishes the lack of fluid in the body and reduces appetite. In order for it to bring maximum benefits, it must be consumed immediately, freshly squeezed, because during storage many useful properties are lost.

Squeeze the lemon correctly

Making lemon juice is easy. The main thing is that the fetus acquires room temperature, so it must be removed from the refrigerator in advance. Being in the cold causes compression of the membranes inside the citrus, it becomes tough, and it is difficult to squeeze the juice from it. A fruit that has lain for at least half an hour in warmth acquires a softer structure.

Note the following tips:

  1. Dip the citrus in warm water for 1-2 minutes or put in the microwave for 15 seconds to quickly warm it. Then roll the fruit on a solid plane (table, board), slightly pressing on it with your hands. The fruit should be slightly deformed, then the membranes inside will burst, and the juice will flow out without problems.
  2. Cut the fruit in length from the top to the tail. So you can squeeze 2-3 times more juice. The larger the cut area, the more pulp is visible from which juice can be squeezed easily. When cut across the juice, less is obtained.
  3. Squeeze out juice using a fork or a special juicer. The teeth of the fork must be stuck in the pulp and squeeze out the liquid, scrolling the cutlery with intense movements. With the juicer, the process goes even faster: the lemon halves scroll, and the liquid flows into the container intended for this.

All manipulations must be carried out carefully, as the juice can get into the eyes and cause irritation and severe burning.

Juice can be bought already prepared in the grocery departments of supermarkets, but it is unlikely to be as useful as freshly squeezed home-made.