The Cleansing Effect of Citrus!

Lemons and limes are very similar in nutritional value and are great sources of  Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium and folic acid. Lemons, however, contain a greater amount of Vitamin C – 30.7 mg. per fruit vs. 19.5 mg. in a lime. Both lemons and limes contain a phytochemical known as d- limonene which has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. In fact an article published in Functional Medicine University reported the following:

In one promising study 43 women with newly diagnosed operable breast cancer electing to undergo lumpectomy were given 2 grams of limonene daily for two to six weeks before their surgery. Results showed that d-limonene supplementation resulted in a 22% reduction in the expression of tumor markers.

Both of these sour fruits aid in cleansing the liver. Though the exact mechanism is largely unknown, there are some logical theories that make a lot of sense.

One such theory is that lemons and limes are known as “natural cleansers” because of their acidic nature which aids in digestion. (Keep in mind, however, that as the body absorbs the minerals it actually has an alkalizing affect.) When your digestive system is working more efficiently, the work load on your liver decreases, thus encouraging the liver to filter out toxins more efficiently as well.

Here are two wonderful teas to try:

• Morning Liver Cleanse Tea
• Energize Your Life With Ginger Tea!