Healing properties of lemon for liver diseases

Lemon for the liver

BENEFITS OF LEMON FOR THE LIVER

What benefits does lemon have on the liver?

Lemon tree (Citrus X limonia Osbeck.) produces fruits very recognized because of their multiple medicinal properties for the liver.

Lemon always stands out its popular content in vitamin C, but really, what most deserves to be remarked of its composition, is its richness in flavonoids, acids (citric acid, malic, etc.) and essential oils, which give it superior benefits to those of other fruits.

Lemon is a very interesting fruit because of its digestive properties, as liver tonic, and because of its benefits to the heart and to strengthen blood vessels.

Lemon as a liver tonic and digestive remedy

Lemon is an excellent digestive and hepatic tonic due to its content in essential oils and acids, mainly citric and malic.

These components stimulate the digestive organs, helping to treat the slow digestions produced by lack of secretions or by hepatic insufficiency.

As a digestive infusion it is particularly interesting to combine lemon with one of the following infusions: ginger, linden, licorice, plantain, lemon balm, mallow or chamomile flowers.

Another way to use it is to squeeze it into a glass of water and drink water with lemon (diluted and without added sugar) during meals.

Benefits of lemon in liver disease

This fruit has many benefits for people with liver damage, such as fatty liver or cirrhosis, as it contains different principles that tone and stimulate the liver in its detoxification functions.

This is due mainly to the enormous wealth in components with antioxidant properties, such as vitamin C and flavonoids, but also to their content in citric acid, malic, potassium, calcium, B vitamins (except B12) and essential oils.

The components of lemon collaborate in the hepatic process of detoxification and its consumption can improve the condition of the people suffering from this organ.

How does lemon benefit liver health?

Lemon is a fruit very rich in flavonoids with potent antioxidant properties, mainly in hesperidin and rutin. These antioxidants play an important role in preventing the damage that free radicals cause to cells, blood vessels and the liver.

A diet rich in antioxidants, such as those provided by lemon, helps prevent liver damage caused by the inflammation that often runs with these diseases and prevents the premature degeneration of the cells and helps to slow the progress of these diseases. For this, it is advisable to accompany a cleansing liver diet.

In addition, it is known that the liver uses antioxidants in the liver detoxification processes, necessary to eliminate toxins. Without antioxidants, hepatic detoxification could not be performed. Foods like lemon collaborate in their functions.

To all this, it should be added that lemon does not compensate the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, or consumption of junk food, three known enemies of the liver and health. Lemon is a part or a treatment aid of liver diseases, but it does not compensate for any excess or toxic habit.

Lemon for fatty liver

• Taking natural squeezed lemon or infusions (it is always recommended to dilute it in water to avoid damaging the teeth), may be very advisable for people with fatty liver.

In most cases, this disease is caused by excess of cholesterol, high triglycerides, obesity (excess body fat), diabetes, or in some cases by alcoholic liver disease, related to alcohol consumption.

These alterations often occur with other side effects such as hyperuricemia (excess of uric acid), due to hepatic congestion and the inability of this organ to perform its functions.Because of its content in citric acid, it helps the removal of urates and to prevent the formation of stones in the kidneys.

• Adding lemon squeezed in foods and beverages will help the liver to detoxify the body, remove excess toxins, and in addition is digestive. It is advisable for liver patients to drink water with lemon.

Lemon for obesity

People with obesity, overweight or excess of body fat, can benefit from the properties of lemon as a result of helping the liver eliminate the body’s toxics during weight loss.

In addition, in these cases it is always recommended to follow a diet to clean the liver for at least 1 month, which would include water with lemon. Debug this organ and help reduce cholesterol, triglycerides.

We should not worry about the lemon sugar, because lemon, being a citrus, has a low glycemic index, much lower than other sources high in sugars.

It may also be beneficial to add a piece of lemon to some stew, which, in addition to providing flavor, will add more bioflavonoids and fiber.

Lemon for liver cirrhosis, acute and chronic hepatitis

In the case of hepatic cirrhosis, acute or chronic hepatitis. In all these affections lemon is beneficial as a source of vitamin C, antioxidant flavonoids and as a digestive remedy (lemon infusion after meals).

Lemon and kidney stones

Lemon has properties to stimulate the drainage of bile and reduce cholesterol levels. It may be useful in the treatment of gall bladder (small cholesterol stones in the gallbladder). For this, a very popular remedy is to drink water with lemon on an empty stomach, accompanied by a teaspoon of virgin oil.

• Lemon consumption is not recommended if you have gallstones.

• If you have liver problems or liver disease, do not do restrictive diets or miracle diets. Consult a healthcare professional.

Diseases and conditions in which sick liver appears

Before incurring a disease, there are a number of symptoms that indicate that the liver is congested. It is precisely at this time that it is recommended to treat this organ since recovery can be more successful.

The liver may be congested or have poor health in people who are overweight or obese, high cholesterol, diabetes, or even people with normal weight who follow westernized diets with abuse of flour, sugars, bad fats and toxics like alcohol or tobacco. The most extreme case of these situations is the appearance of fatty liver, but it can also manifest with indigestion, flatulence, headache or irritable character.

A liver cleansing will allow the liver to recover its health and increase the vitality of the organism. During this meal plan, the consumption of lemon is highly recommended as it enhances the ways of purifying the liver and helps to digest food better. A depurative infusion of bitter chamomile with lemon is usually taken. Rosemary infusions are also excellent for this purpose.

* More information: Sick liver symptoms

Possible dangers or contraindications of lemon for the liver

If you are aware of the proven existence of stones in the kidneys or gallstones, if you consume lemon in any form (such as whole fruit or concentrated infusions), excessive bile drainage and expulsion of a large stone can occur which would be very dangerous. Bile juices contain these stones, which will be transferred to the duodenum.

The ductus that contacts the gallbladder with the small intestine has a reduced capacity. So, being narrow, it can be obstructed by some large calculus, which, in addition to generating significant pain, can lead to more unnecessary and avoidable complications.

* See: Contraindications of remedies for stones

How do you take the lemon?

The way to take it is squeezed and diluted with a little water, so that its acidity does not damage the dental enamel.

Another possibility is to make infusions with the skin, which provides more of its essential oils and flavonoids.

Attention !! It is only recommended to use preparations with the skin if you are assured of lemons being free of pesticides or other residues of agrochemicals.

*More information:

– Lemon edible properties

– Lemon juice properties

– Lemon for weight loss

– Lemon on an empty stomach

– Infusion of lemon and honey

– Lemon essential oil

More information on lemon

Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

11 October, 2022