Three Reasons to Love Lemons

Go ahead, you know you want one

Lemons have long been an overlooked fruit. Drowned in sugar and made into lemonade, or casually tossed to the side as a garnish - it can be easy to forget how beneficial they really are. Lemons are antioxidants, packed full of Vitamin C, some Vitamin A, fiber and minerals. They can be used many ways from helping boost your immune system, to being part of your beauty routine.

Here are three of my favorite ways to use fresh lemons:


As part of a detox.
Before your morning cafecito, drink a cup of warm water with the juice of half a freshly squeezed lemon. This helps wake up your digestive system so it can better rid itself of waste and toxins that would normally be absorbed into your body. As a bonus, your kidneys and liver also get a boost from drinking this mixture. A natural diuretic, this helps your kidneys get rid of the excess salts within your body. With less toxins stored, your liver is able to better do its job of metabolizing (breaking down) stored fats which may help speed up weight loss.

Toner for oily skin. 
I have very oily skin, a blessing and a curse. People with oilier skin like me usually don't get wrinkles until much, much later (ha) - but we also tend to look like big grease balls in every picture (side note use high definition powder). In order to balance my skin without completely stripping away all the moisture from my face, twice a week I use a lemon juice mixture as a toner.

I dilute the juice of half a lemon with a cup of either rose water or regular water. Take a cotton ball, dip it in the mixture and gently swab all over your face, letting it air dry for five minutes. Like with any other toner product, don't use it around your eyes or eyelids or over any open cuts. You can also store any leftover solution no more than a week in your fridge. The citric acid in the lemon juice will tighten your pores. You can also use it to help shrink and take away the redness from any unsightly pimples on your face. If your skin tends to be on the drier side, try testing it on a smaller, less visible area first as it may irritate your skin. Rinse with cool water and make sure to moisturize afterwards. If you're going out in the sun - don't forget your sunscreen!

May help fight cancer.
Lemons are a source of ascorbic acid, a form of Vitamin C which is natural water-soluble antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect your cells from the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food and when you're exposed to environmental pollution like smoke or radiation. They help age your skin, damage your tissues and are the cause of some disease like certain cancers. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, stopping them from invading other molecules in our body. Lemons also contain phytochemicals which also help to slow down aging, reduce the risk of certain cancers, protect your heart and boost your immune system.

With so many other ways to use lemons, let us know what you use them for also!


Don't forget to save the date for our annual "Walk to Beat the Clock" for cervical cancer on September 22, 2012!!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
xoxo Helen & Patti