Wellness Wonder: The Benefits Of Lemons
Squeeze The Day
They say that lemons are nature’s zesty reminders that even in life’s most sour moments, sweetness can be found if you’re willing to squeeze it out. When you squeeze it into a tall glass of water, the sweetness you get is a refreshing and cleansing antioxidant-rich drink – these are the benefits of drinking lemon water. When it’s squeezed into skin creams and oils, you also get age-preserving benefits and a whole lot more. Lemon-infused body care products are especially useful because of the way they detoxify, uplift and contour areas in the most natural way. That’s why lemon is at the heart of Legology’s leg-care formulas, including Cellu-Lite oil, and fragrance and has become the brand’s signature ingredient.
So why should we love lemons so much? Well, apart from being such a bright, happy colour – their presence lights up a kitchen on a dull day – lemons are associated with warmer climes, places like the Mediterranean and California where the sun shines and the vibe is positive. The lemon message is goodness and light, and that’s before you even get to their beauty and health benefits. For such a simple fruit, lemons’ high antioxidant content is widely recognised. This means they are high in compounds that help protect skin cells from damage caused by ageing molecules called free radicals. Here’s how this action helps everything from your heart to the radiance of your skin and the shape of your thighs:
1. Vitamin C content
Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals, reducing oxidative stress in the body. This can contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases and support the immune system.
2. Free radical scavenging:
The antioxidants in lemons, including vitamin C and other phytochemicals like flavonoids and limonoids, help to scavenge and neutralize free radicals. This process can help prevent cellular damage and reduce the risk of oxidative stress-related diseases. It also helps to strengthen veins and make capillary action more efficient, promoting blood flow to keep limbs in shape.
3. Reduced inflammation:
The antioxidants in lemons have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is linked to various health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Consuming antioxidants from sources like lemons may help mitigate inflammation and its associated risks.
4. Deeply detoxify:
While your body is pretty good at detoxifying itself, with the help of your lymph, liver and kidneys, lemon juice added to water to make lemon water enhances the lymph-cleansing benefits of water. In turn, this helps decongest the area around fat cells, which can become water-logged, triggering cellulite, and streamline dimpled thighs. This is why lemon is one of the key components in Legology Cellu-Lite oil.
5. Heart health:
Some studies suggest that the antioxidants in lemons may contribute to cardiovascular health. They can help protect blood vessels from damage, reduce cholesterol oxidation, and improve overall heart function. This can potentially lower the risk of heart disease.
6. Cancer prevention:
While more research is needed, some studies suggest that the antioxidants in lemons, particularly capillary strengthening limonoids and flavonoids, may have anti-cancer properties. These compounds are thought to help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and prevent the formation of tumours.
7. Skin health:
Antioxidants in lemons play a role in maintaining healthy skin by protecting it from oxidative stress caused by factors like pollution, UV radiation, and aging. Vitamin C, in particular, is essential for collagen synthesis, which is important for skin elasticity. As the connective fibres between fat cells become more rigid with age they pull the skin down, exacerbating the dimples created by fluid retention around fat cells. Maintaining skin flexibility, using an oil like Cellu-Lite oil, can prevent this.
8. Digestive health:
The antioxidants in lemons, along with their fibre content, can support digestive health. Lemon water, for example, is a great drink to aid digestion, improve hydration and stimulate the liver’s detoxification processes.
9. Improved immune function:
Vitamin C is well-known for its role in supporting the immune system. The antioxidants in lemons can help enhance immune function by promoting the production and activity of white blood cells that defend the body against infections.
So lemons are a good source of antioxidants, but a balanced diet rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole foods is the best way to get a wide range of antioxidants and other nutrients. Additionally, adding lemon to your diet is just one part of a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, body brushing, adequate sleep and stress management.
When found in skin creams and oils lemons offer skin benefits due to their antioxidant, vitamin and acidic properties. Here’s why lemon is a magic skin/body ingredient:
1. Vitamin C for collagen production:
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that plays a crucial role in the production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that supports skin structure, elasticity and hydration. Adequate collagen levels can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, promoting smoother and more youthful-looking skin. It also helps to maintain elasticity in deeper skin levels, enabling a smoother, less dimpled surface. Legology Cellu-Lite oil contains lemon extract combined with deep drainage aromatherapy oils juniper, Siberian fir and eucalyptus for this reason.
2. Brightening & evening skin tone:
The natural acidity of lemons can help exfoliate the outermost layer of dead surface cells, which can lead to brighter, clearer skin. You’ll see even greater, more visible benefits if you body brush before applying a vitamin C-enriched body cream.
3. Anti-acne properties:
The antibacterial and astringent properties of lemon juice can help combat acne-causing bacteria and excess oil on the skin. Lemon juice’s acidic nature can also help unclog pores and reduce the appearance of acne scars.
4. Natural skin bleaching:
Lemon juice is sometimes used as a natural skin lightener or ‘bleach’ to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, dark spots, stretch marks and blemishes. Its natural acids can help break down melanin and gradually lighten areas of skin discoloration over time.
5. Exfoliation & texture improvements:
The citric acid in lemons acts as a mild exfoliant that can slough off dead skin cells, promoting smoother and softer skin. Regular exfoliation can help improve skin texture and make it look more vibrant.
