Lemon is alkaline and contains a lot of citric acid, which helps limit the deposition of uric acid in the body. As a result, lemon can contribute to preventing gout attacks. When drinking enough water, lemon juice also helps increase urine output and dilute uric acid levels.
Many people find lemon juice sour and bitter. In fact, just wash the lemon and put it in the freezer for about 45 minutes before slicing and soaking it in water will help reduce the bitterness significantly. Another way is to leave the lemon fresh at room temperature for about a week before use.
In addition, you should remove the seeds and thick white membranes at both ends of the lemon before soaking, as these are bitter parts. You can also add a little sugar or honey to make lemon juice easier to drink. However, drinking sugary lemon juice daily can lead to weight gain, so people who need to control their weight should only use it at a moderate level.
Mixing lemon juice with warm water above 60 degrees Celsius helps release the aroma of essential oils and flavonoids in the lemon peel. Vitamin C in lemon is quite heat-resistant, so it will not be lost much when mixed with warm water. Therefore, you can rest assured to use warm water to mix lemon juice.
However, hot lemonade sometimes creates a stronger sour feeling because high temperatures make the sourness clearer. If you find it difficult to drink, just let the water cool down or add a few ice cubes and it will be easier to drink.
To choose delicious lemons, prioritize fruits with yellow-green skin, green stems. If stems are peeled off or wilted yellow, lemons may have been harvested a long time ago. Hold the lemon in your hand, if it feels heavy, it is a watery lemon. Gently squeeze, if the skin is thin and the flesh is elastic, it is delicious lemon. In addition, you can lightly scrape the skin; if it emits a characteristic aroma, it is fresh and quality lemon.
