Drinking fresh squeezed lemon juice is part of the daily plan on The Bikini Chef® Diet and lemon juice and zest are frequently used in The Bikini Chef® recipes. The healing truth is that there is much more to lemons than just great flavor; lemons help alkalize the body and bring a wealth of health benefits.
Top Health Benefits of Lemons:
*Detoxifying to the body – Lemons are rich in vitamin C, folate, vitamin E, B6 and A, and minerals such as zinc, magnesium and potassium. High in flavonoids, lemons are effective in fighting disease including cancer and release toxins from the body.
*Aid in weight loss through the natural metabolism stimulation and improving digestive flow. A healing byproduct of weight loss is reduced inflammation, relief from foot and back discomfort, lowered pressure on the heart and organs and reduced risk of disease overall including diabetes and heart disease.
*Immune boosting – Lemons are high in vitamin C which is the most abundant extra-cellular anti-oxidant. Vitamin C is highly effective against aging and helps prevent colds and is effective against allergies.
*Good for skin rejuvenation – The natural acidic nature of lemons has a healing effect on the skin. Helping to alkalize the body on the inside promotes a healthy, glowing outside, but lemons are also effective in clearing up acne and exfoliating the skin. Applying lemon juice directly to the skin is effective but can be a bit harsh. Look for skincare products that contain lemon juice or dilute the lemon juice with a little bit of distilled water.
*Help alkalize the body – Megan Roosevelt writes, “an acidic pH can occur from diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, immune reactions that deprive the cells of oxygen and other nutrients.” Therefore, it is important to keep the body balanced through foods, meditation and physical exercise. Lemons have an alkalizing effect on the body by helping to rid the body of toxins through their high vitamin and mineral content and phytochemical properties.
Some of the most delicious lemons around come from Limoneira farms in Santa Paula, California. Founded in 1893, Limoneira was one of the first growers in the region to play an integral role in forming the Southern California Fruit Exchange (now known as Sunkist) and has been a pioneer in the sustainable food movement.
Throughout its history, Limoneira has implemented soil erosion prevention practices, promoted the use of solar, renewable energy for farm production, and promoted the use of natural pest repellents such as pest eating bugs. They were the first citrus operation in North America to receive a GLOBAL GAP certification which stands for GLOBAL G – Good, A – Agricultural, P – Practice. The Global GAP organization is committed to developing and maintaining standards for food safety, traceability, environmental sustainability, worker health and safety, and animal welfare (where applicable) practices for crops, livestock, aquaculture and other products.
Visit the Limoneira website for expanded information, lifestyle tips, household cleaning tips and recipes, here: Limoneira.com
One of The Bikini Chef® signature dishes is Dill Citrus Salmon with LEMON! A classic recipe learned in Italy, the sugar and white wine used to “cook” this flavorful salmon dish are discarded and what remains is an incredible gravlax-type salmon that is perfect as a party-pleasing appetizer or entrée. See recipe and notes, here:
