When Life Hands You Lemons

by Shauna Sever — March 5, 2008

The cheery lemon lends great flavor to so many dishes, but did you know the little yellow wonders also have incredible healing powers? For starters, hot water with lemon first thing in the morning acts as a tonic to the liver, preparing your body to digest the day's food. The natural diuretic powers of lemon are also great for keeping urinary tract infections at bay and flushing out all the toxins and bad bacteria. Lemon mixed with coffee is a known cure for nasty headaches, and straight up, it's a known cure for constipation, nausea, and heartburn.

But that's not all! Lemon's high vitamin C content is thought to help prevent and treat many infections and speed up wound healing. If you've ever had honey and lemon to ease a sore throat, you've experienced the soothing, healing power of lemons.
Studies have also shown that lemon is great for soothing the psyche as well--the uplifting scent of lemon is known to lift the spirits, especially those who are depressed, calming anxieties and clearing the mind. So the next time you spot a sale on lemons, pick up a few extra--they're not just for salad dressings anymore!