From fat breakdown to detoxification... When healing is needed, this [Cooking]

My son... he eats lemons very well too...

Lemon, which becomes too sour and is hard to use.

I knew lemons were good, but I didn't realize they were this beneficial.

Reduces inflammation and also decreases weight...

Lemon's citrates also prevent kidney stones...

I should make use of lemons... I should also drink lemon juice diluted in water in the morning.

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When minor ailments become a daily routine, or when after a serious illness your condition doesn't return to what it was before. The problem at such times is that you have no idea what to change or where to start. Even an expert with over 20 years of experience as a nutritionist said it took five years to break free from this vicious cycle. This is a personal story vividly experienced by Director Jung Sung-hee of the 'Bright Nutrition Classic Institute (BNCL)'. After conducting clinical experiments herself, she managed to bring her inflammation levels back to normal and lost 20 kg in weight. She says she only truly realized the importance of food after falling ill. What ingredients do dedicated nutritionists who genuinely care about health management love? Find out what kind of foods they eat and how they prepare them in COOKING <Food That Changes Me>.

Food that changes me ① Lemon

Lemon. Photo from Pixabay

 

 

"How did you remove it?"
This is a frequently asked question after losing weight and becoming healthier. People who know that I majored in food are also very interested in "what I ate to become healthy." My answer is always the same. "I tried to eat fresh ingredients carefully." To be more honest, the main ingredient in that answer is actually 'lemon.'

Vitamin C, B vitamins, flavonoids, and citric acid are the main nutrients in lemons. I will briefly explain the functions of each. First, Vitamin C protects liver cells through its antioxidant action and neutralizes toxins in the liver. It also helps regenerate antioxidants like glutathione. Through these actions, it can slow cellular aging and reduce inflammation.

Vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B6, folic acid) plays an important role in maintaining nerve and immune functions, energy production and metabolism, and cell function, as well as in cell division and DNA synthesis. Additionally, flavonoids in lemons reduce oxidative stress in the body. By preventing cell damage caused during metabolism, they can conserve the energy used in the liver's detoxification process.

Citric acid, which imparts a sour taste, helps promote enzyme activity in the liver, effectively aiding in the processing and removal of toxins. Additionally, lemons stimulate bile secretion related to fat metabolism, aiding in the breakdown of fats during digestion. For someone like me, who was experiencing widespread inflammation and a sudden deterioration in liver detoxification and recovery, it is the perfect ingredient.

Lemon that promotes smooth metabolism and strengthens immunity
From the perspective of Ayurveda, the functions of lemon are similar. In India's traditional medicine, Ayurveda, it is said that life is healthy when food, sleep, and mind are in balance. At this time, 'innate constitution' is important. Because one must correct the balance according to their own constitution to live healthily.

In Ayurveda, lemon is believed to promote the flow of metabolic processes from the body and mind downward. To explain it simply, it helps in eating well, digesting well, and excreting well. Especially, children are sensitive to changes in the air and often have lingering coughs. Coughing is a phenomenon where the flow of the body rises from below to above. Lemon can change this flow direction and help it descend from above to below.

The method is simple. Squeeze the juice and mix it with water, and that's it. Our family has a routine of waking up in the morning and drinking about 100cc of lukewarm water with a little lemon juice added. We also make the children drink it, and if their throats feel comfortable, they might refuse to drink it, but when they have a slight cough, they swallow it without complaint.

Actually, my first encounter with Lemon started much earlier. It was during the postpartum period when I was breastfeeding. With the addition of Lemon's vitamin C to my breast milk, I hoped for my baby's health, so I would squeeze fresh lemons myself or dilute organic lemon juice in water and drink it through a straw. Perhaps as a result, the dark spots that had begun to form near my eyes during pregnancy disappeared while I was breastfeeding.

Lemon, the star of the dining table

Lemon. Photo from Pixabay

Lemon is a frequently used ingredient in my house, just as much as any main ingredient. It is an essential part of salads. When making leaf vegetable salads or chopped salads, I always prepare a basic dressing with lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper. When making nut-based sauces, I use both lemon and lemon zest. Roasted root vegetables such as carrots, beets, radishes, and sweet pumpkins are baked in the oven and then dipped in sauce, which doubles the flavor and nutrition.

When eating daegu fillet steak or salmon steak baked in the oven with herbs, lemon is always essential, and just before eating chickpea hummus, I naturally squeeze a piece of lemon into it. When blending kale or spinach raw, I also make sure to add lemon. Both are vegetables rich in nutrients beneficial to health, but because oxalate and potassium can accumulate in the kidneys and potentially cause kidney stones, I include lemon. Consuming lemon together with these helps prevent the formation of kidney stones, as the citrates in lemon play a protective role.

Even if I don't particularly use them for cooking, I often place a few lemons on top of the kitchen cabinet. This small, oval-shaped fruit with a refreshingly bright yellow color naturally lifts my spirits just by looking at it. And the scent is wonderful! The citrus aroma that escapes from the peel stimulates my appetite, which had been lost due to the heat.

Everyday life always flows by busily. Even while thinking about taking care of your health, actually practicing it is difficult. As you spend each day busy, there may be times when you find yourself in uncomfortable physical situations, big or small. Discomfort can be a signal that an illness is developing inside your body. If you sensed a small sign today, why not start getting familiar with lemons from now on?

Jeong Seong-hee cooking@joongang.co.kr