Six Secrets of Citrus, Bananas & Cranberries

FEELING FRUITY

Six Secrets of Citrus

Great for general skin health and acne
Lemon juice contains citric acid, when applied onto the face it can help to remove dead skin. It also promotes skin elasticity and enables new skin growth. It flushes out your pores and keeps your skin fresh and glowing. You can apply pure lemon juice onto your skin if you can bare the sting. Otherwise mix the lemon juice with warm water and drink it. You shouldn't drink the lemon juice straight because citric acid can be harmful to the enamel on your teeth.


Lemons rid your body of toxins
Warm water and lemon juice enhances the ability of the liver to remove toxins from your body. It aids the body's digestive system and helps remove waste from your body. It can help with weight loss, constipation and diarrhoea. Experts say it's best to be taken in the morning or before bed.


Relaxing with lemons
Lemon can be useful for sufferers of anxiety. Naturopaths say it's calming for the nerves and the heart. It naturally relaxes the blood vessels in our bodies so it can assist with haemorrhoids, varicose veins and spider veins.


Lemons destroy intestinal parasites
Lemons may appear acidic but once digested with warm water, the potassium in the juice creates an alkaline environment. Intestinal worms and bacterial infections like Candida thrive in an acidic environment. Lemons balance out the pH environment so parasites can't survive.


Lemon juice prevents bladder infections
Lemon juice is a diuretic. The pH level in lemons can change the acidity of the blood and the urinary tract. The vitamin C content provides anti-oxidants and supports the immune system to reduce bacteria. For best results drink fresh lemon juice added to warm water in the mornings.


Little known fact about lemons
Did you know? Before dish detergent was invented, Mexican bar tenders used lemons and limes to clean the beer glasses. Over time, the beer began to have a hint of lemon flavour to it and now this is the trademark for Mexican beer.

Benefits of Bananas

Bananas- a good mood food
Research shows bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can be converted to serotonin inside the body. Serotonin helps to send messages from one area of the brain to another. If serotonin levels are depleted, messages cannot be received properly and the body cannot function at its best. This means eating bananas can create an increase in sexual desire, it can assist with sleeping, memory functioning and learning.


Bananas support for general health
An average sized banana contains 400mg of potassium- about 11 per cent of your daily needs. Research suggests potassium is an important mineral that can help to regulate blood pressure, heart function and reduce the risk of stroke. Potassium is also an electrolyte, it helps the muscles to contract properly during exercise and reduces cramping. So eat bananas before or after exercise.


Bananas help in bowel function
Bananas have a high content of fibre and can assist in regular bowel function. Diarrhoea depletes your body of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, hydrogen phosphate and hydrogen carbonate) and makes you feel weak. Eating bananas can restore electrolytes, and supports the body to regain its normal strength.

Keeping healthy with Cranberries

Cranberries can maintain a healthy cardiovascular system
Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins. What are they you ask? Medical research suggests proanthocyanidins can reduce fatty materials like cholesterol, building up in the walls of your arteries. Drinking cranberry juice increases the amount of good cholesterol in your system.


Cranberry reduces the chances of bacterial infections

Pure cranberry juice produces hippuric acid in the body. Hippuric acid prevents bacteria's from sticking to the walls of the bladder and the uterus, which might cause a urinary tract infection. Cranberries have also been associated with reducing the amount of bacteria in your mouth that causes dental plaque. Research suggests the chemical in the juice blocks bacteria from sticking to the teeth.

Cranberries are high in anti oxidants
Anti oxidants are proven to protect human cells from oxidative damage. They provide stronger immune system resistance to flues, colds and viruses. They reduce the likelihood of all cancers, and act as an anti-aging agent for all the cells in the body.

If symptoms persist consult your medical practitioner.

Author: Tamie Wexler