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| Fresh squeezed Lemonade photo by Dawn Gagnon |
If you are frustrated with the limited drinking options out there for dieters, or if you just want healthy alternatives to sugar laden juices, and sodas, homemade Lemonade is the ticket. Why? Well in recent years a lot of publications have come out about the health benefits of Lemon water. Try this beverage hot as well for optimal benefits but do not heat it up in the microwave as this changes the chemical properties of the Lemon and it's benefits.
Here are a list of the reported benefits:
Aids in digestion-
When mixed with hot water. Ailments such as heartburn, intestinal parasites,nausea, bloating, and belching can all be relieved with regular consumption of lemon water.
Blood purifiying-
Lemon juice acts as a purifier and internal cleansing agent for the whole body. Including assisting your liver in the production of more bile. It is also reported to help in the prevention of both gall stones and kidney stones.
Tooth ache- Rubbing lemon juice on the tooth helps rid the tooth of the pain. Using lemon juice on the gums helps with gum bleeding as well.
Great for weight loss-
Lemon juice is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin C is an important factor in assisting the body in regulating insulin levels. It has been suggested that people who consume enough Vitamin C are able to oxidize up to 30 percent more fat during moderate work outs. For best results drink Lemon juice with warm to hot water. It is a mild diuretic that helps detoxify the body. You can also add lemon juice to a cup of good quality green tea for even more added health benefits.
How to make homemade sugar free Lemonade:
Use one lemon per 12 ounce glass, cut in half and squeeze both sides into your glass add your choice of sweetener, ice and water and stir. Enjoy~
Truvia is also a good sweetener to try for individual glasses. I like Stevia in lemonade because the lemon juice overcomes the slightly bitter aftertaste of Stevia. :) Try any natural sweetener you like.
***One word of caution, check with your doctor if you take certain types of high blood pressure medicines to make sure it is ok to have citrus juice. Just to be on the safe side. :)
