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Lemon Juice vs The Common Cold

Since the days of ancient Rome, the lemon has been used as a medicinal treatment. Lemon juice has been used in this country to treat the common cold for ages. Sure, you may think it's an old wives tale or a treatment only used by your grandmother before the drugstore were stocked with multitudes of cold medicine. But it really does work. Why does it work though? Let’s look at the properties of lemons and the common colds to find out.

The lemon, like any other fruit, grows on trees. The fruit does not develop from the flowers on the tree, but rather are present with the flowers. Lemons are thought to be a hybrid fruit—originating from the citron and the mandarin. Lemons have a bright yellow skin that is thick and pale yellow pulp. Lemons are hearty fruit with a strong pungent fragrance. One whiff can give you an energy boost.

So how does the common cold work? Colds are caused by a virus that mutates. There are numerous strains of the common cold, too many to count. The average person is likely to catch two or more colds per year. Because the cold is caused by a virus, much to our disappointment there is no easy cure. Modern medicine can only treat the symptoms. So when your doctor diagnoses you with a cold, they usually send you home with a prescription for lots of rest and fluids.

The problem with colds is that they wreak havoc on your entire body. Your cold may start innocently enough with a sniffle. Before long it progresses to more intense and debilitating symptoms: a sore throat, headache, chest congestion, fever, aches, sneezing, and chills. It's inevitable that if one person in the house has a cold, everyone is sure to get a taste of it no matter how much you wash your hands before touching things or disinfect the house. And if one child in daycare has it, your child is sure to pick it up. A cold virus is highly contagious and is easily passed from person to person. Moreover, it may take a week or two for the virus to run its course and leave your system. With today's busy lifestyles no ones likes to be out of commission for two weeks nor can they afford to be.

Here’s where the lemon and its medicinal juices come in as a natural remedy for cold symptoms. The juice of one lemon contains over eighty percent of the daily recommended value of Vitamin C! Talk about packing a vitamin punch!! Vitamin C has been proven to boost the immune system. When more white blood cells are present to fight infection, the life of the offending virus is reduced. Instead of taking pills, drink lemon juice mixed with warm water and a splash of honey. The water cuts the acidity of the lemon. The honey is added for a more pleasant taste. Lemon juice also decreases the toxicity of the virus in the body. Your entire body won’t be wracked with pain and suffering like it is when the cold is untreated. In effect, lemon juice shortens the duration of the cold. That is welcome news for anyone who's ever suffered through a cold.

The proof is in the pudding - or in this case the lemon. When you first notice cold symptoms, begin drinking the lemon mixture right away. Twice a day should provide enough Vitamin C to do the job. Your body won’t be filled with medicines that leave you feeling groggy and disoriented. Compare your outcome and recovery time to past colds where over the counter medications were used. See how much quicker you recover and how much better you feel. Stay well the natural way. Your friends and family will thank you for not passing your cold onto them.