As with almost any types of juices derived from plants, lemon juice is actually mostly water. The next most important ingredient is citric acid, which comprises about 5 percent of the volume and gives lemon juice its characteristic tartness. Next is malic acid (approximately 7 percent of the total acid composition), ascorbic acid (vitamin C, used to prevent scurvy), and finally trace amounts of tartaric acid, fumaric acid, and several others. Lemon juice also contains minor amounts of glucose and other sugars.

Bottled lemon juice, often reconstituted from concentrate, contains all of the above ingredients but also has a few chemical preservatives added to help it maintain color and freshness because it is usually stored for long periods of time and may be shipped for long distances. These include sodium bisulfate, sodium benzoate, sodium sulfite, and lemon oil (usually extracted from the peel prior to juicing).

What is lemon juice made of in terms of nutrition?

In terms of nutritional value, lemon juice is best known for containing significant amounts of vitamin C (13% of the recommended daily allowance per fluid ounce) but also contains minor amounts of thiamin, magnesium, folate, and vitamin B6. Its calorie count is almost negligible at only 6.4 per ounce. Fat content is practically nil (less than 0.1 gram). Finally, lemon juice contains about two grams of total carbohydrates per ounce, along with 6 milligrams of sodium, 31 mg of potassium, and only 0.12 grams of protein.

This 5000-year-old remedy has worked its miracles on millions of people and can work for you too. Besides, it’s inexpensive, available at hand and is tasty too! So, how exactly does lemon juice help you lose weight?

Here is how it works. Take a teaspoon of raw unheated honey and put it in a glass or mug. Squeeze a lemon (half if it’s big) into the glass and add lukewarm water to it. Drink this mix, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and watch how it works for you. Soon it would dissolve all that extra fat, while lemon juice also helps you in the following ways:

• It is an antiseptic
• Cleanses your liver and digestive system
• Helps you get rid of flatulence
• Works as an antioxidant
• It comprises in a very powerful substance that aids in weight loss
• The presence of bacteria that cause disease is eliminated
• It contains magnesium, calcium, and potassium

However, if we talk specifically about losing weight with the help of lemon juice, given below are the reasons why it works so effectively:

• It aids your digestive system and prevents constipation
• It affects your body’s metabolism and thereby has effective fat burning properties.
• It flushes out toxins from your body
• It increases the acidity level of your digestive system. This aids in better absorption of calcium which is stored in fat cells. So, the more calcium content your body’s fat cells have, the more fat is burnt by the cells, thereby making you slim.
• It has a diuretic effect that allows dieters to lose their extra water weight.

So, you can definitely reduce weight as you drink 4-5 glasses of lemon juice and water everyday. Once you have lost the desired weight, do not forget to drink at least one glass of lemon juice and water daily. This would help you to retain your current weight and avert regaining the weight that was lost by you. Along with this, change your diet, adopt healthy eating habits, exercise regularly, and avoid eating fried or high calorie food for better results.

If you are still wondering “Is lemon juice good for skin?”, then you simply need to read further and soon you would find the answer to your question.

Start your day with drinking honey and lemon juice, first thing in the morning. This not only helps you stay healthy but also help you reduce weight and cleanses your skin. You might also try rubbing the lemon juice directly over the face to clean it.

Furthermore, you may compliment the cleansing properties of lemon juice as you mix it with Aloe Vera and apply it on your face. It would be a good idea to wash your face with lemon juice every night. This lightens your skin color as lemon comprise in astringent properties. So, you may also use lemon juice to make homemade bleach.

Citric acid contained in lemon juice exfoliates your skin, which is essential to speed up the treatment of acne. It also allows you dry the pimples as it acts as an astringent. Being a skin whitener, it eventually diminishes the redness of your pimples naturally. You may also apply lemon juice to acne scars in order to encourage their swift healing and temporary bleaching.

Lemon juice works as a toner, especially if you have oily skin. Simply dilute lemon juice with water and use it. However, it is important to note that lemon juice is after all an acid and should therefore be kept away from eyes.

Diluting lemon juice with water is also advisable if your skin is relatively sensitive. Else a dab of honey, egg white, or yogurt also works great for people whose skin is sensitive and easily gets dry as they apply lemon juice. It is important to remember that you should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun while you have put on lemon juice on your skin or face. Any carelessness in this case may lead to blisters or skin irritation.

So, if the same question “Is lemon juice good for skin?” still hovers over your mind then be sure that it is definitely good for your skin. But yes, you must make sure that you abide by the mentioned precautions to avoid any regret.

What I am talking about are the more unusual uses for lemons that apply to household purposes. So, simply go through the pointers below and brush up on your knowledge with some new useful information for your home and family:

1. Ant deterrent: Sprinkle lemon juice at places in your home that are most frequented by ants and soon ants will disappear.
2. Air freshener: Add water and lemon juice in equal quantities into an atomizer. This would make for an amazing green chemical-free synthetic air freshener.
3. Microwave cleaning: Heat lemon slices and water in a bowl in the microwave for up to a minute. Now, wipe your oven easily as the stains will be removed more easily than before. This will also neutralize the odors of the previously cooked food in the microwave.
4. Laundry (bleaching): Use about half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice in the rinse cycle. This works great for bleaching clothes. Now, having done that, you can take out clothes and air them out in the open to dry. You may also simply put a spoonful of lemon juice while you wash your clothes. This would make your clothes smell fresher.
5. Mouthwash: You may use equal quantities of water and lemon juice as a useful mouthwash.
6. Furniture polishing: Mix and cook 2 parts olive oil with part one lemon juice and use it to polish your furniture anew.
7. Hand Deodorizer: It is quite common that the smell of food that you eat lingers on your hand, even when you have washed it with soap. This is especially common with fish. Lemon juice can help to neutralize such strong smell in your hands and make them smell just as fresh as they were before.
8. Drain cleaning: You may make a good drain cleaner at home as you amalgamate and cook baking soda and lemon juice at high heat. This is also a safe method for septic systems. You may also throw some lemon peels into your garbage unit at regular intervals in order to make it smell fresh.
9. Clean dirty pots: Half lemon along with some salt are useful to scrub off dirty pans and pots.
10. Mirror or glass cleaners: Mix half gallon water with 4 spoonful of lemon juice. Clean your window panes and mirrors with this solution and see how it works wonders in your home.

Lemon juice on apples is a great solution to your problem. This is a common method that has been used since the days of yore to retain the original color of the apple. It is basically the polyphenol oxidase or PPO enzymes that are present in chloroplasts of apples that cause rapid oxidation of phenolic compounds in apple tissues. This is what causes these fruits to turn brown so quickly after they are cut and come in contact with oxygen.

These compounds are then turned into o-quinones that are colorless precursors for brown-colored products. The brown color is thereby produced by O-quinones as they react with proteins or amino acids and form compounds.

The mild acids contained in lemon juice are able to stop the oxidation process, which means that the apples do not turn brown so soon. Many people have also considered vinegar for this purpose, but as it undergoes the fermentation process, vinegar is a lot stronger when compared with lemon juice. So, it is actually the mildness of acid in lemon juice that is the key to prevent apples from turning brown.

After you have procured your apples, store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh until you wish to eat them. However, make sure you consume them within a week of purchase to avert rotten apples. Now, when you are ready to eat and have sliced the apples into pieces, keep them in a bowl with cold water.

The next step is to take them out and sprinkle some lemon juice on apples to prevent them from browning due to oxidation. Or you may also consider the idea of simply draining the chopped apples into the water bowl that also contains lemon juice and set them out.

Once you have sprinkled or drained apple slices in lemon juice, you can store them in Tupperware containers or in a zip lock bag until you are ready to have them. This would ensure that the apples do not turn brown even when they are cut for a long time.

Hence, now you do not need to throw away your apples because if you follow the above mentioned solution, you would never have to worry about your apples turning brown at all. Though this would definitely change the taste of apples a little as they will taste somewhat sour; however, many people tend to like this new flavor. Alternatively, you can just rinse off the lemon juice from the apples before eating, which should alleviate much of the sour taste. Either way, you can try it out for yourself and have an apple treat for your family this weekend!

It is a great idea to use lemon juice for digestion. You may simply have it first thing in the morning as you squeeze lemon into warm water. You can even sweeten it with honey, molasses, or syrup of pure maple. However, make sure that the gap between your breakfast and consumption of lemon juice is at least half an hour. Lemon juice works great as it enhances internal cleansing. Being an antiseptic and antibacterial, lemon juice reduces the presence of bacteria that cause diseases inside the digestive tract.

The problems of flatulence and bloating are also dealt with easily through the help of lemon juice. It also boosts lethargic appetite and allows a better flow of digestive juice. As the digestive tract is flushed clear naturally, everyday in the morning, it aids in healthy living. Without a sound digestive system, there are many diseases that may follow, all of which are averted by a regular intake of lemon juice.

Hence, there are many benefits of lemon juice. The ways in which you can use lemon juice for digestion are:

1. You can use it over the salad as you squeeze juice from freshly-cut lemon and add a little bit of pure olive oil.
2. Many people also prefer to use lemon juice with their herbal tea.
3. Try sprinkling some lemon juice on your vegetables instead of butter.
4. Another way to seek relief from indigestion with the help of lemon juice is to squeeze half a lemon into water and add a small amount of sodium bicarbonate to it. Now simply stir it in and drink!
5. Another effective amalgamation is one part each of lemon juice, honey, and mint juice.
6. Last but not least, one spoonful of ginger juice, lemon juice, and two spoonfuls of honey together make an amazing mixture to aid digestion.

So, the ways you can use lemon juice for digestion are immense. You simple need to know which one suits your condition and body the best. Imagine not having to pay a visit to the doctor and saving money that you would have spent on medicines. Also, being a natural cure, it is virtually devoid of any serious side effects and is very cheap and easy to make. So grab a stock of fresh lemons for your home today!

Lemon juice consists of enzymes, sugar, and fruit acids that help to eradicate dead cells from the skin. You may sprinkle some alum on the juice of half the lemon and use the amalgamation on the face. This tones and refreshes the skin and is especially recommended when you have had a prolonged exposure to pollution and dirt throughout the day.

You may also take lemon juice or cut the lemon into two halves and rub it onto your dark elbows. After some time, you may wash it with water. Doing this regularly would lighten the skin color and cleanse it thoroughly.

Another way to make use of lemon juice for the skin is by preparing a pack for your body and face. Squeeze fresh lime and add one cup of milk to it. Now put a teaspoon full of glycerin in the mixture. Stir it and apply it on your feet, hands, neck, face, and legs. Do this at least 60 minutes before you retire to bed.

Keep this application for around 30 minutes and then wash away with water. This pack works effectively to cure scars, pimples, cracked palms and sores, sunburn, and dryness of hands and face. Apply it daily to look beautiful and younger with every passing day.

Do not neglect your hands in the process and take equal care of them with an amalgamation of almond oil and lemon juice. Also, add some honey to it and massage your hands with this mixture for around 10-12 minutes. Mix water and vinegar in equal quantities to wash away this mixture. You may even preserve this lotion for future use. But do not store it for more than 2 weeks.

You may use bleaches available in the market to ensure glowing skin. However, natural and homemade bleach not only promises good results but it also does not have any side effects, even in the long term as no chemicals are used in its making. You may make homemade bleach by combining sugar and lemon juice in equal proportions. Such bleaches are especially advisable for people who have sensitive skin.

Also, as lemon juice consists of Vitamin C, it also stimulates collagen in your skin. Try the topical application of lemon juice to your blemishes and you would be amazed with the result. This is also helpful to treat acne in a natural way.

Last but not least, there are people whose skin soon gets dry when they use lemon. These people can try out an addition of honey to lemon juice to avoid this dryness when they use lemon juice for the skin.

Though most people believe lemons to be acidic in nature, they actually have an alkalizing effect on the body. The food that we eat everyday contributes a great deal to raise acid content in our body and excessive acid leads to several health problems. Our body should always be alkaline for us to stay healthy. Lemon water thereby makes our body alkaline as it eliminates toxins from our system and enhances the digestive system. The liver is also purified as the waste products and toxins are flushed out from it.

As a result of these clarifying actions, benefits of lemon juice and water are not only limited to healthy living but this also reflects onto our skin that lights up with a natural glow.

You may also try mixing lemon with warm water as a solution to many of your digestive problems. Parasites, nausea, constipation, and heartburn are a few problems that can be easily sorted out at home by this wonder mix.

People who are tired from exercising can start their day with lemon juice in lukewarm water. But make sure to take this on an empty stomach and soon you would notice the results of your labor.

Taking lemon water on a daily basis also helps you get energy from food that you consume everyday. After drinking a lot of plain water, taking lemon water everyday is the next best thing that you can easily do to ensure healthy living. Needless to say, lemonade is an amazing refreshing drink made from lemon juice and water that works well to quench your thirst. Hence, there are many benefits of lemon juice and water and it must be taken daily to lead a vigorous life.

In case you are blessed with good health and weigh 150 pounds or less, it is advisable for you to have juice of one-half of the lemon squeezed into one glass of water, twice daily. However, if you weigh more than 150 pounds, juice of one whole lemon in a glass of water should be preferred. For maximum benefit, this mixture should also be taken two times a day, though you may dilute more lemon juice according to your taste if you wish.

So, do not just remain oblivious to the gifts of nature such as this, for you should always try to make the most of them. Take care!

The summer of 2008 marked the sour time for lemon lovers. It is quite a tricky task to find lemon juice in the nearby stores. The worldwide lemon juice shortage was finally found to be the culprit for this inconvenience to the customers and grocery stores are not to be blamed for that.

Freezing weather in 2007 in Argentina and California destroyed fruits and led to this shortage. Not only this, but crops were also hurt in Australia and Spain due to the drought conditions there. The combined results of the international weather have thereby made it difficult to access lemon juice in stores. Sunkist, a major international citrus supplier revealed a 25% decrease in the global supply of lemons.

As expected, lemon prices are skyrocketing due to the equilibrium of demand and supply being disturbed by the shortage. With fresh lemons priced at almost one dollar each in some areas, it is way beyond the budget of many people.

Moreover, the shortage of lemon juice can be felt even more due to the fact that though less in availability, fresh lemons when sold in the market directly reap more profit than when sold to the processing industry. So, manufacturers of lemon juices are helpless. Also, even when the consumers have the alternative to switch over to fresh lemons from lemon juice, they are not happy because the former is definitely more expensive, while they both taste the same.

However, lemon juice shortage still prevails from quite a few months now but the experts are positive that it will be resolved by the middle of 2009, provided that nothing hampers the growing condition of crops.

So the question here seems to be “What to do when life stops throwing lemons at you?” Wait for mid-2009 is what experts suggest. Or you may simply buy the expensive fresh lemons, if you are the highly privileged lot.

Have sore feet? Try soaking them in warm water and rub them further with freshly squeezed lemon juice. While hot water opens pores, lemon juice provides a cooling and astringent effect. Apart from foot relaxation, this method is also believed to induce sound sleep as it has a relaxing effect on your foot nerves.

Another great way in which you can make use of lemon juice is as a beauty aid. Mix freshly squeezed lemon juice in cool water. Now, pour it on your hair after you are done with your shampooing. This adds brightness to your hair. Lemon juice is also helpful to treat various skin disorders and scalp problems.

Try out the application of lemon juice over your pimples the next time and you would be amazed with the results. You may also make an effective face pack at home by combining honey and lemon juice. Application of this homemade face pack makes your skin free from wrinkles. Dark circles below the eyes can also be reduced with regular application of lemon juice. Not to forget, lemon juice in water, when taken with an empty stomach works as an amazing remedy to reduce weight.

Bug bites and mosquito bites that cause a lot of pain can also be relieved as another one of the many lemon juice benefits. And how can you forget? It gives great flavor to dishes and also makes for refreshing health during the summer season. Good lemonade can quench your thirst in an instant.

If you are tired of your mouth ulcers, consider rubbing the lemon peel onto your gums and tongue and drink about 20-30 grams of its juice for a few days regularly, without fail. Your mouth ulcers would not bother you anymore.

Furthermore, when poured over some fruits, lemon juice benefits them by preventing discoloration, even during exposure to open air. Apple is one of the best examples that can be cited in this regard. Regular intake of lemon juice in various forms is also known to restore youthful vigor. Probably this is why it is also called a food for youth restoration.

Hence, lemon juice benefits are innumerable and can definitely be a great solution to your everyday problems. As they are easily accessible, you can get them anytime from the nearby store or farmer’s market and take advantage of natural cures that they offer. So, it is advisable to have some lemons in stock whenever possible.