People who suffer from diabetes need lemons in their lives. A quarter cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice will give you about 46% of the daily required vitamin C to help boost your immune system. You can add lemon to add juice or dish and even eat them whole. Lemon zest is often used for garnish and flavor.
1. Lemon Zest Helps Manage Blood Glucose Levels
Polyphenol is a key ingredient that is contained in lemon peels. It plays a major role in minimizing insulin resistance. Uncontrolled levels of blood sugar occur during an increase in insulin resistance and lack of responsiveness from the hormone. However, polyphenols have the ability to decrease the fat accumulation in the abdominal area. Additionally, the presence of hesperidin and naringin, bioflavonoids work as dietary antioxidants to prevent the spread of hyperglycemia.
2. Lemon Peels are Rich in Vitamins
Lemons are rich in Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that reduces free radical damage from the body. Most people with diabetes have low amounts of vitamin C. As vitamin C helps produce collagen, it also helps maintain the structure of the walls of the arteries and may be helpful for those who have arterial damage and circulation problems. Studies have revealed that vitamin C may help reduce levels of fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, HbA1c, and inflammation. Vitamin C many even help improves insulin resistance.
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3. Lemon Contains Soluble Fiber
The Soluble fiber found in lemons may help manage the condition of diabetes as soluble fiber helps stabilize the blood glucose levels and keep them at a healthy range by slowing down your body’s absorption rate of sugar. When your body processes food and breaks down into sugars, the sugars are then absorbed into the bloodstream. What causes the spike in blood glucose levels is the fast absorption. Slow absorption may decrease the chances of blood sugar levels to increase quickly and help with weight loss.
You can find soluble fiber in a variety of diabetic-friendly food choices such as oats, bran, and beans. If you want to include more lemon into your diet, try other soluble fiber-rich fruits such as oranges or lime slices. Keep in mind that processed fruits have a higher glycemic index, so stick with freshly-squeeze citrus fruit juices.
4. Lemons are Pack with Antioxidants
According to the American Diabetes Association, the best diet plan involves lemons due to their soluble fiber and richness in vitamin C. Diabetes need lemons as they are filled with antioxidants, antibiotics, and anti-cancer ingredient powers. Besides vitamin C, lemons also contain limonin glucoside, which is a molecule that attaches itself to sugar and moves rapidly through your digestion. It then breaks off from the sugar as the cancer fighter stays active for at least twenty-four hours while most cancer-fighting antioxidants break down in less than six hours.
5. Coffee Replacement
Why have coffee when you can have a warm cup of lemon water in the morning. Just one cup can kick start your digestion and kill bacteria. You will still be able to give your body the boost of energy it needed without the use of caffeine.
6. Lemons Stimulates Digestion
Lemon juice naturally stimulates the body’s digestion which also reduces constipation and heartburn that many diabetics deal with. The pectin in lemons is a soluble fiber that also helps you lose weight as lemon water can also make you feel full instantly. Although lemon is an acid, it becomes alkaline during digestion. Experts agree that diabetics following an alkaline diet may help you lose weight naturally and balance your pH levels. Lemons also protect you from kidney stones by raising your citrate levels.
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7. Increases Heart Health
Soluble fiber contained in lemons may also help prevent cardiovascular disease and lower the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels known as LBL or the bad cholesterol. Additionally, soluble fiber may help reduce blood pressure and inflammation. Diabetes and other medical-related conditions may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This means that it is important to keep your blood pressure numbers and cholesterol within a healthy range.
Side Effects of Lemons
Improper usage of lemons may result in tooth erosions and heartburn, due to their levels of acidity. Lemons are also diuretics which may cause frequent urination and deplete the amount of water in the body. Be sure to keep moderate consumption.
A lemon detox should only be done under the supervision of your health care provider. Be sure to consult your physician because using high amounts of lemons in your diet. You can have up to 10 glasses of lemon juice a day. Your diet should consist of raw fruits and vegetables along with the freshly-squeezed lemon juice. Be sure to monitor your blood sugar levels as any detox can make your blood sugar levels drop too low, too fast.
Author Bio
Meighan Sembrano has done her Mass Communication degree. In her free time, she likes to write about Health, Lifestyle Fitness, Glozine world news, and Beauty. She is an author at Consumer Health Digest since 2012. To know more about her, follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest.
