Lemons are a genetic hybrid between sour oranges and citrons. They have been revered for their medicinal healing properties since the ancient times of the pharaohs. Historically the ancient Egyptians would utilize lemons as a useful tool for healing themselves from certain poisonings and illnesses due to their various antinociceptive properties.

     The wide variety of potent vitamins and phytonutrients found in lemons are notorious for their abilities to boost the immune system, decrease inflammation, and regulate various biological processes such as blood glucose fluctuations, cortisol overload, insulin resistance, and gastrointestinal functioning.

     Among the various phytonutrients found in lemons, the most unique and powerful of them all is a polyphenol compound know as limonene. It has been shown to possess very potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and it has proven to be a very valuable nutritional component for relieving stress/anxiety and assisting our natural biological healing processes.

     For example, the presence of limonin has been show to increase the activity of various natural detoxification enzymes such as glutathione s-transferace(& peroxidase), quinone reductase, and superoxide dismutase. In certain studies, limonin has been shown to more than double glutathione activity in certain liver detoxification pathways and sky rocket superoxide dismutase activity in various kidney cells.

     Additionally, limonene has proven to help our bodies regulate certain stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrin and to also modulate anxiety related neurotransmiters such as GABA and Adenosine A2A. Optimizing receptor activity and sensitivity in order to allow for better adaptability to exogenous stress stimuli.