"When life gives you lemon, make lemonade."
This proverbial phrase has stuck around since time immemorial - and for a good reason. Few fruits can be as versatile as lemons. On their own, they might be a bit too sour to the taste, but when paired with sweet or savoury flavours, they spice things up a notch.
Apart from their culinary uses, lemons actually house a multitude of health benefits. Starting your day with a glass of warm water with lemon can go a long way in protecting your health. Read on to find out how incorporating lemons into your diet can offer a plethora of various health benefits!
Although lemons are high in citric acid, once digested, their minerals are dissociated in our bloodstream, which actually helps to alkalise our bodies. More often than not, our bodies are more acidic due to the large amount of meat and carbohydrates we consume. Consuming insufficient fruits and vegetables, which are alkaline in nature, can also result in an imbalanced body pH. A body pH that is too acidic can result in various diseases - such as eczema, acne, and premature aging.
Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which can help to fight cravings and make you feel full for a longer period of time. Thus, before every meal, drink a glass of lemon water with honey to prevent over-eating, and prevent the extra pounds from packing on!
Lemons have a high vitamin C content, which are powerful in boosting the immune system. By enhancing T-cell proliferation, Vitamin C helps to prevent allergies. However, since Vitamin C is not synthesised by our bodies, we have to religiously ensure that we hit the daily requirement of 500mg a day. While Vitamin C tablets can help to do the trick, turning to natural fruits and vegetables is still the best way.
A cup of warm lemon water can go a long way in clearing up your skin and giving you that fresh, clear complexion you have always wanted. The high Vitamin C and antioxidant content in lemons help to reduce skin aging by improving collagen production. No wonder Vitamin C facial products are always such a hit!
Incorporating lemons into your diet, be it through eating them directly or adding them to a glass of water, can help to improve digestion by increasing bile production, and flushing out toxins and unwanted materials out of the body. Lemons can also reduce symptoms of indigestion such as bloating.
The high content of citric acid in lemons can help to lower the risk of kidney stones, a study conducted at the American Urological Association reveals. Citric acid can help to eliminate or slow down the formation of kidney stones by forming urinary citrate, which helps to reduce the formation of crystals.
Although scurvy is no longer as prevalent as it was before, it still affects some adults, who are severely deficient in Vitamin C. In order to keep this debilitating disease at bay, ensure that you consume a sufficient amount of Vitamin C a day!
Lemon has always been known for its naturally detoxifying properties - many people add lemons into their detox plans to help them flush out toxins from their body. By acting as a gentle and natural diuretic, lemons increase the rate of urination and helps to increase the rate of toxin removal from our body.
Vitamin P, which are bioflavonoids that help Vitamin C perform its function, are found in lemons. Vitamin P can help to strengthen blood vessels and therefore improve blood circulation, reducing the risk of high blood pressure.
Lemons are also high in potassium, which works hand-in-hand with sodium to transmit signals from the brain to the nervous system. Low potassium levels in the body can actually result in anxiety and depression.
As seen above, a small, unassuming lemon can actually house so many health benefits - there's no reason now to not incorporate lemons into your diet! If you are finding difficulty doing so, try the Floral Blossom Tea, or the Lemon Chamomile Tea from Nilufer Tea for an all-natural way of incorporating lemons into your diet. Nilufer Tea only uses lemons sourced from Setouchi, a quiet city in the Southern Okayama Prefecture in Japan. These lemons are organic and 100% pesticide and impurity free.
Acai berries? Nah, lemons are a much cheaper and accessible alternative. Be it directly from the fruit, or from herbal teas, be sure to get your fix of lemons today and reap the multitude of health benefits!
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In the colour spectrum, yellow is the brightest colour and the most striking to the human eye. That radiance and brightness can be found in one of the more detoxifying fruit: lemon.
Hailing from Setouchi, Nilufer Tea's heart shape lemons are pretty on the eyes and healthy for consumption. The plantations that grow the lemons receive ample sunlight, water and lots of fresh air. As a result, the lemons take on the qualities of the environment and are translated into tasty lemons.
Due to the plantations' practice of ethical farming, no pesticides are used and the lemons are organically farmed. You can simply go to the farm and take a bite of the lemon without worrying the chemicals culminating in your body. The farmers take pride in their plantations and have painstakingly ensure that only best lemons are given to you.
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You might be wondering: how does the lemon become a heart shape?
Image cred: @askafrench on Instagram
When the lemon is still young and growing, a heart-shaped mold is used to cover the fruit. As the lemon continues to grow, it is shaped into the mold and becomes a heart shape.
Shop online here for your lemons!
Being part of the citrus family, lemons contain high amounts of vitamin C which brings us an array of benefits. It helps our cells to regenerate so that our skin remains youthful, decrease the bad cholesterol that causes health problems, prevent scurvy, and also helps our body to absorb iron better.
But vitamin C is not just lemon's forte of rich nutrition. Unlike other citrus fruits, lemons have a unique sour taste that holds a hint of sweetness to give you a bit of that sour buzz. That is why lemons are often used in different cuisine to give a splash of freshness to the dish.
Lemons are undoubtedly more sour than other fruits as it contains more citric acid. This acid helps to improve the process of digestion and also the production of digestive juices. As a result, lemons can help to cleanse the gut and remove toxins through bowel movement.
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Just like a heart shape lemon, Nilufer Tea aims to bring you the heart of wellness. These lemons are not only pretty, but also healthy. At the same time, we support these small farms which place ethical farming at the heart of their profession. Due to the high quality control by both the farmers and Nilufer Tea, heart shaped lemons can be limited and are only available at the peak of its harvest. But like everything that is worth having, sometimes we just have to wait.
As now is the optimal harvest, Nilufer Tea is ready to ship all orders of heart shape lemon! Get yours here now for yourself or as a gift for someone special.
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Heart shaped lemon is very insta worthy ! Feel free to contact me if you are interested in 🙂
info@nilufertea.com
When one think of Japan, the names of big cities come to mind, such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. As more people become more well-travelled, they are starting to take interest in less well-known areas, and one of them is Setouchi.
Setouchi consist of various islands located along the coastline. With a rich history and fascinating landmarks, it has become one of the more visited areas in Japan. While every main attraction is a highlight that vividly shows Setouchi’s uniqueness, these are the 5 reasons why you must definitely visit this region:
If you are an avid user of Instagram, you would have realized that many people have been posting photos and pictures with a seemingly floating shrine. This place is no other than Miyajima Island! The grand red shrine that you have been seeing so often in photos is the Itsukushima-jinja Shrine which is a revered a World Heritage site.
At high tide, the shrine seems to be standing on waters, raising questions and creating a shroud of mystery. But in fact, the waters covering the bottom of the pillars create this illusion. It is at low tide where you would be able to see the strong foundations that have been supporting the grand structure for decades.
Besides being an Instagram-worthy addition to your collection of photos, the shrine is also said to bless those who make offerings to the God that resides there. Folktale or not, it has definitely not stopped anyone from wishing and making offerings at the shrine.
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| Address |
|---|
| 1 Chome-7 Dōgomachi, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime-ken 790-0843, Japan |
| How to get there |
| From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station. Then, take the ferry from Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima Pier. |
| Entry Fees |
| Free |
| Website |
| http://visit-miyajima-japan.com/en/culture-and-heritage/spiritual-heritage-temples-shrines/sanctuaire-itsukushima.html |
Located in the east of Matsuyama, Dōgo Onsen is one of the most famous hot springs in Japan. This could be partly due to the fact that it was the inspiration for the hot spring setting in the movie Spirited Away.
Image cred: nice-moves.com
The hot spring takes on the appearance of a Meiji Period wooden public bathroom that has existed for more than 100 years! If you are in the area, you definitely shouldn’t miss a trip to Dōgo Onsen.
| Address | 1 Chome-7 Dōgomachi, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime-ken 790-0843, Japan |
| Opening hours | |
| How to get there | From Matsuyama Airport, there is bus to Dōgo Onsen. You can also take the train from Okayama Station to Matsuyama Station, then change to the train to head towards Dōgo Onsen Station. |
| Entry Fees | |
| Website | http://www.dogo.or.jp/pc/ |
Spanning 15 kilometers, Taishaku Valley is arguably one of the most beautiful places in Japan. It includes massive hills and majestic flowing waters which lends to the magnificent view and scenery that one can discover. If you come here in autumn, you can witness the bright red and orange leaves floating gracefully in the air. You don’t have to go too far to see a beautiful autumn.
While every stone, rock and structure are nature’s gift by itself, the most prized possession is possibly the On-bashi Bridge. It is 90 metres long, 19 metres wide and 40 metres high! And the most amazing of all is that having made of limestone, it is an all-natural bridge. With its size, it is easily one of the three largest bridge in the world.
| Address | Jinsekikogen, Jinseki District, Hiroshima Prefecture 729-3602, Japan |
| Opening hours | All day, but some facilities and activities may have fixed hours |
| How to get there | By Shinkansen, take the railway system Shin-Osaka to Okayama. |
| Entry Fees | No entry fee but you would have to pay for other activities such as entering the caves (¥250) |
| Website | http://taishakukyo.com/ http://gethiroshima.com/museums-attractions/taishaku-kyo-gorge/ |
Tahoto Tower, or some call it Tahoto Pagoda, is a beautiful red-lacquered structure that stands on high ground, overlooking almost the whole of Miyajima. Its history dates back to the 15th century and was built by the powerful Abo clan in that era. Even if its history bores you, the place wouldn’t disappoint. Although you can’t enter the pagoda, the surroundings offer a great view of the island and of Itsukushima Shrine. It is particularly beautiful in spring as light pink flowers shower the place with its beauty.
| Address | 70-2 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture 739-0588, Japan |
| Opening hours | All day |
| How to get there | Travel by foot or by taxi from Miyajima Pier |
| Entry Fees | Nil (No entry into the tower) |
| Website | http://visithiroshima.net/things_to_do/attractions/shrines_and_temples/tahoto_pagoda.html |
While not a location or area, the Setouchi Triennale is something that all art lovers should come to Setouchi for. Started in 2010, it is a contemporary art festival that you shouldn’t miss, because if you do, you have to wait another 3 years for it. The festival showcases the pieces and products from people across different islands and also from overseas, each with their own unique sense of style and art. With the aim of revitalizing the life and population in the region, the Setouchi Triennale certainly succeeded in its original intention.
| Address | Changed every event and held at various places |
| Opening hours | Depends on the year |
| How to get there | Depends on the location of the art festival |
| Entry Fees | May subject to change |
| Website | http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/ |
While Setouchi is not yet as much visited as the bigger cities, it definitely has the potential to climb to the top. Already, the region has been gaining popularity due to various locations, and it is only a matter of time Setouchi becomes one of the top tourist attraction of Japan. While locations are key in rejuvenating the area, at the end of the day, it all comes down to the warmth and hospitality offered to those who visit Setouchi.
