Lemon Benefits for Skin

Table of contents

• Nutrient profile of lemons

• How do lemons benefit your skin?

• How much lemon is good?

• Other health benefits of lemons

• What happens if I have a lot of lemon water in a day?

• Take Home Points

Introduction 

Lemon fruit (Citrus limon) is one of the most widely consumed fruits, either directly or used in soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and cooking. Tangy and yellow, these fruits are often used as a zest due to their sharp and acidic taste. But do you know that they are not only limited to our kitchens? 

Lemons are rich in citric acid, vitamin C, and polyphenols, which confer various health benefits, such as the alleviation of fatigue and lipid-lowering effects. When it comes to its use in cosmetics and its cooperation in benefitting our skin, lemons have a history dating back several years. 

Though most stories are dismissed nowadays as old wives tales, there are many hacks that still stay strong till this date. Lemons are said to have an antioxidant called polyphenols which have antioxidant aging properties and which are the main reason why lemons are so beneficial for your skin! 

So in today's article, we are going to discuss the various ways that lemons benefit our skin. So keep reading ahead to find out.

Nutrient profile of lemons

How do lemons benefit your skin?

• Boosts collagen production

We all know that lemons and other citrus fruits are a great source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is beneficial to our body in many ways. One of them is collagen production.  Collagen is one very important component when it comes to skin health. Every year, after reaching adulthood, our body loses some of the collagen. It's not only important for the skin but also for the rest of the body. Vitamin C is one of the essential elements that help in building up collagen. Therefore, lemons work wonders when it comes to helping the collagen levels in our body. In fact, it is believed that drinking a cup of lemon water regularly can help boost collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• Promotes hydration 

Sounds amazing right? Lemons are actually quite beneficial when it comes to providing hydration to the body. Ever wondered why our grandmothers had lesser complaints about dehydration when they were about our age? This is because they consumed good food and cherished every gift that mother nature provided them. Summers were mostly about iced teas and lemonades. Lemons were always there to save the day. But nowadays we rarely consume such drinks because of which we are mostly dehydrated and our skin looks bad too. Lemon water actually improves the hydration level in your body. It not only supplies you with water but also essential nutrients that keep your body healthy and hydrated. When your hydration levels are at their best, your face looks fresh and your skin looks supple and moisturized.

• Detoxification 

This is something you must have heard before at least a million times. Lemons have earned themselves enough name when it comes to naturally detoxifying the body. It has high levels of antioxidants and citric acid that help our body in many ways. Lemons help to flush out and effectively eliminate the toxins in our body. This leads to providing a clearer and healthier complexion to the skin. 

• Balances ph levels

Shocking isn't it? Lemons are widely known for their acidic nature but another fact is that lemons are very essential when it comes to balancing the natural ph levels in our body. Consuming lemon water is very beneficial to our skin issues and can improve our skin health to a great deal.

• Fights free radical damage 

We just read before that lemons are a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants, on the other hand, protect our body against free radical damage and in turn help our skin become healthier and look more youthful and radiant. Free radicals are a great nuisance to our body. By neutralizing them, antioxidants can protect our bodies against various environmental stresses and UV damage. Thereby, protecting our skin against dullness and premature aging signs like fine lines and wrinkles.

• Brightens complexion 

This is an age old story that people, back in those days when the world was driven by bullock carts, relied greatly on kitchen ingredients and natural products for beautifying their skin. Lemons are still believed to come in handy in brightening the skin complexion. This is because lemons are believed to reduce the excessive production of melanin. Excessive melanin production often triggers the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Therefore, drinking lemon water can help reduce melanin thus allowing the skin to get brighter over time and look more even 

• Supports wound healing

Surprise! The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of lemons make them our savior when it comes to healing wounds. In fact, they are also used for acne treatment. The lemon water has various crucial elements which help purify our blood and thus speeding up the healing process. The collagen provided by this fruit helps the repair of damaged tissues thus helping in healing the wounds.

How much lemon is good? 

Now the question arises of how much lemon you should consume each day and how. As it's a tangy fruit, it will be very difficult to eat it raw, so you can try adding it to a glass of water and consuming it.

The recipe is usually freshly squeezed juice from 1/2–1 lemon in a cup (240 ml) of water. Drinking water with freshly squeezed lemon may have many health benefits other than just skin benefits.

Other health benefits of lemons

The vitamins, fiber, and other compounds in lemons can be part of a healthy diet. It's not common to actually eat a fresh lemon as they're too sour for most people's tastes. But you can also eat lemons with a variety of foods.

Lemons can also provide important health benefits like:

• Weight management 

• Anemia prevention

• Kidney stone prevention

• Reduce risk of heart diseases 

• Improve digestion

• Help boost immunity

• Help reduce cancer risk

What happens if I have a lot of lemon water in a day? 

The acidic nature of lemons can cause tooth erosion and heartburn if excessive amounts of lemon water are consumed. However, consuming one cup of lemon water each day has not been linked to any negative impacts. Because of the vitamin C, your immune system may function better, and improved hydration may give you a boost in energy. You might also experience modest weight loss if you eat a healthy diet and exercise frequently.

Take Home Points

Lemons have many health benefits both for your skin and the rest of the body thus you'll no doubt benefit from adding lemons to your diet. You can also try lemons for cleaning and a variety of cosmetic uses. But check with your doctor before eating or drinking large quantities of lemon as its acidity can hurt your teeth, stomach, or skin.