Have you noticed that lemon is used frequently in LivingTheCRWay recipes? This inexpensive, easy-to-obtain fruit has benefits that go far beyond its high vitamin-C content. Many studies indicate that lemon has antimicrobial, antiviral and other beneficial medicinal properties.
Consider this study, which showed that lemon juice protected against pathogens (vibrio cholerae) that can cause cholera cholera.
Bactericidal activity of lemon juice and lemon derivatives against Vibrio cholerae.
de Castillo MC, de Allori CG, de Gutierrez RC, de Saab OA, de Fernandez NP, de Ruiz CS, Holgado AP, de Nader OM.
Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2000 Oct;23(10):1235-8.
Abstract
… This study deals with the behaviour of essential oils, natural and concentrated lemon juice and fresh and dehydrated lemon peel against V. cholerae O1 biotype Eltor serotype Inaba tox+…
Concentrated lemon juice and essential oils inhibited V. cholerae completely at all studied dilutions and exposure times.
Fresh lemon peel and dehydrated lemon peel partially inhibited growth of V. cholerae.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice, diluted to 10(-2), showed complete inhibition of V. cholerae at a concentration of 10(8) CFU ml(-1) after 5 min of exposure time; a dilution of 2 x 10(-3) produced inhibition after 15 min and a dilution of 10(-3) after 30 min.
It can be concluded that lemon, a natural product which is easily obtained, acts as a biocide against V. cholerae, and is, therefore, an efficient decontaminant, harmless to humans.
PMID:11041258
Also consider the part of the lemon that is usually discarded: the peel. For years, supplement companies have coveted lemon peel and produced extracts and citrus bioflavonoid supplements with highly touted benefits.
We prefer simple and natural ways of enjoying lemon and its benefits.
This morning, for example, a hearty, nutrient-dense, low-GI breakfast featured hulled barley (flavored with juniper berries, ginger and tarragon), topped with a fresh, organic lemon cut into petite slices, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds and sprinkled with ground flax seed and a little lemon juice for moisture.
This hearty, very complex-carb tease meal raised glucose levels by only five mg/dL, and it’s likely that the lemons, which slow glucose influx into the blood stream, contributed to the low-GI effect.
If you decide to include whole lemon in the foods you enjoy, make sure to get organic lemons, which are supposed to be free of pesticide residues. We prefer to reduce the odds by cleaning them with a stiff brush before slicing.
As Jo Robinson’s, Eating on the Wild Side, influences CR Way members to include even more fruits and vegetables in their meals, lemons may play a very practical role in food preparation. Limes may be equally beneficial. As we prepare grape tomatoes for use in the day’s meals, we wash them and bathe them in lemon juice to kill bacteria before enjoying them raw.
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