Lemon is a familiar food that appears in many types of drinks and foods, not only providing a delicious flavor but also bringing many health benefits. There is a type of drink made from lemon that is popular with many people, which is lemon soda.
Lemon soda is a cool, delicious beverage, chosen by many people as a refreshing drink on hot days. Soda water and lemon both bring certain health benefits. Please refer to the following article to learn about the uses of lemon soda, how to mix it and how to use it correctly and safely.
Effects of soda water
Soda, especially carbonated soda water, is often known as a popular refreshing drink.
Providing energy (with sugary soda)
Sugary soda provides a quick source of energy, because the sugars in soda can be absorbed into the blood and converted into energy quickly. This can be useful in situations where immediate energy is needed, such as during high-intensity sports activities. However, consuming too much sugar is not recommended because it can be harmful to your health, including weight gain and the risk of diseases such as diabetes.
Improves appetite
Soda water can help improve appetite and increase the feeling of deliciousness, especially when eating foods that are greasy or difficult to eat. Some people also like to use soda in meals to combine with dishes, thanks to its refreshing and sweet taste.
Effective thirst quencher
Soda water can help quench thirst in some cases, especially on hot summer days. However, it should be noted that consuming soda instead of plain water on a regular basis is not the best choice for health, as soda can contain sugar and additives that are not good if consumed in excess.
May improve digestion (temporarily)
Some people believe that carbonated soda helps relieve indigestion and bloating, thanks to its ability to help release gas in the stomach. However, this is a temporary solution and not a cure for long-term digestive problems.
Consume soda in moderation and in moderation to maintain good health.
Health benefits of lemon
Lemons have the following health benefits:
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
Fresh lemons contain many active compounds including: Flavonoids, Limonoids, Kaempferol, Quercetin and Ascorbic Acid, … which function as antioxidants in the body to help protect cells from free radicals.
Vitamin C in lemons is also an excellent antioxidant, helping wounds heal faster by reducing inflammation and stimulating collagen production.
Increased immunity
One of the common effects of lemons is to strengthen resistance and the immune system. The abundant vitamin C in lemons helps strengthen the body’s immune system.
In addition, Vitamin C increases the production of white blood cells, protecting the body against disease and infection, while alleviating the symptoms of colds.
Healthy skin
Vitamin C in lemons is an essential vitamin for the formation of collagen, which has a skin care effect. People who take more Vitamin C are less likely to develop wrinkles and dry skin as they age.
Reduce the risk of heart disease
Another benefit of lemons is to protect the cardiovascular system, specifically against coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. Lemons contain flavonoid antioxidants that reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body, helping to improve cardiovascular health.
In addition, Vitamin C in lemon peel and fruit can reduce the risk of ischemic stroke.
Helps prevent kidney stones
Few people know that one of the benefits of lemon juice is to help prevent kidney stones by increasing the amount of Citrate in urine thanks to the citric acid in lemon juice.
Increase the ability to absorb iron
Iron deficiency anemia causes symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath when exercising, pale skin, dry hair, and dry skin. Lemons are foods rich in Vitamin C that can help prevent iron deficiency anemia.
Reduced risk of cancer
The phytochemicals in lemons such as Vitamin C, Carotenoids and α-tocopherol (Vitamin E) not only reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease but also reduce the risk of cancer. Specifically, Flavonoids act as antioxidants that can help prevent the expression of genes that promote cancer progression.
The phytochemicals in lemons help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and cancer.
How to make cool lemon soda
On hot days, there is nothing better than making a cool glass of lemon soda and enjoying it. Here are instructions for making lemon soda, a drink that is delicious, cheap and easy to make.
Prepare ingredients
- 2 fresh lemons, lots of juice;
- White sugar;
- 1 can of soda;
- 500ml of filtered water.
How to make
- Step 1: Wash the lemons thoroughly and cut about 3 thin slices for decoration. Cut the remaining lemons into pieces, squeeze the juice. You should cut the lemon in half to squeeze more juice.
- Step 2: Remove the seeds from the squeezed lemon juice, pour all the juice into a glass.
- Step 3: Pour 500ml of filtered water into a glass, add about 2 tablespoons of white sugar, if you like it sweet, you can add more sugar.
- Step 4: Add soda water and stir well with chopsticks, add ice and enjoy. You can decorate with a few thin slices of lemon for appeal.
On hot days, there is nothing better than mixing a cool glass of lemon soda and enjoying it.
Harmful effects of regular soda use
Soda abuse leads to the following health risks:
- Soda contains acids such as citric acid and phosphoric acid, which erode tooth enamel, weaken teeth, leading to tooth decay and other dental problems.
- Soda abuse weakens bones. Dark sodas contain phosphoric acid, which hinders calcium absorption, contributing to osteoporosis and brittle bones.
- Soda with sugar contains a large amount of sugar, which increases blood sugar and causes the body to react to insulin when drinking too much, leading to the risk of insulin resistance or diabetes over time.
- Excessive amounts of glucose in soda, when entering the liver, will be converted into fat, causing obesity. Sugar-free diet soda containing artificial sweeteners still causes weight gain when consumed for a long time.
- Drinking soda too often can cause cardiovascular disease.
- Soda containing artificial sweeteners increases the risk of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. Patients are also at higher risk of stroke.
- Soda contains caffeine, if abused it will lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, …
- In addition, phosphoric acid in soda will accelerate skin aging, increase the risk of kidney disease and cause kidney stones.
Potential risks of lemon
You may be allergic. If you are allergic to citrus fruits. Be careful when using lemon. You may experience nausea, abdominal pain, wheezing, vomiting.
Do not apply lemon directly to your skin. This can cause skin irritation, leading to itchy skin, redness and swelling.
Pigmentary dermatitis. In some cases, applying lemon juice directly to the skin can also increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV rays. This leads to pigmentary dermatitis.
Enamel erosion. Excessive consumption of lemon can erode tooth enamel and increase sensitivity due to high citric acid content. So, after eating or drinking lemon, remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly!
Acid reflux. If you have stomach problems, be careful when eating lemon or drinking lemon juice due to its acidity. Other digestive symptoms may include heartburn, nausea, vomiting, etc.
Use lemon properly
Use lemon to drink more water
Fresh lemon can help you if you often provide little water for your body. A tip to help you drink more water is to add a little fresh lemon or lemon juice to your drinking water. The taste of fresh lemon will inspire you to drink water.
Adding a little fresh lemon or lime juice to your water will give you the inspiration to drink water.
Before using, wash the lemon peel
You should wash the outer peel of the lemon whether you intend to use it or not. Because the lemon peel often has bacteria residue stuck to the inside of the lemon, it will be bad for your health if not washed.
In short, after reading the above article, you have known the benefits of drinking lemon soda as well as the harmful effects that can be encountered when used incorrectly. You can mix and enjoy this delicious beverage at home on hot days.