Lemon in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Many people know that diabetes is caused by a deficiency (type 2) or absence (type 1) of the pancreas's production of the hormone insulin, which is necessary for the absorption of glucose in organs and tissues. In this case, water and carbohydrate metabolism is disrupted, and blood sugar levels increase. This disease is considered incurable, but by following certain rules, a person can live with it. One of them is proper nutrition. The patient has to study the effect of each product on glycemia, counting the so-called bread units (BU). Is lemon allowed for type 1 and 2 diabetes?

Benefits

Citrus fruits contain various kinds of flavonoids such as flavanone glycoside, flavone glycoside and polymethoxyflavone. It has been reported that the flavonoids in lemon fruit (Citrus limon BURM. F) are flavanone glycosides such as eriocitrin (eriodictyl-7-O-β-rutinoside) and hesperidin (hesperetin-7-O-β-rutinoside), naringin (naringenin-7-rhamnoside glucoside) and flannel glycosides such as diosmin (diosmetin 7-O-β-rutinoside) and 6,8 C-diglucosyldiosmetin, [ 1 ] all of which have a number of beneficial health effects in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and also exert anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antiviral effects based on their antioxidant activities. [ 2 ], [ 3 ] Furthermore, previous studies have demonstrated the effects of these flavonoids on lipid and glucose metabolism in animals and humans. [ 4 ]

Hesperidin and naringin, as well as their aglycones, hesperetin and naringenin, reduce the levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol in plasma and liver by inhibiting the liver enzymes involved in the synthesis of cholesterol and triacylglycerol, such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylhylutaryl-coenzyme A and coenzyme A (HM) acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in experimental animals.[ 5 ],[ 6 ] A recent study also demonstrated that hesperidin and naringin are beneficial in improving hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic animals, partly by regulating fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism and affecting the gene expression of glucose regulatory enzymes, and they markedly enhance the expression of hepatic and adipocyte PPARγ protein. In addition, naringenin enhanced fatty acid oxidation in the liver by upregulating the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in peroxisomal β-oxidation in mice.[ 7 ]

Several studies have highlighted lemon as an important health-promoting fruit, rich in phenolic compounds, as well as vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, essential oils, and carotenoids.[ 8 ]

It is used to boost immunity, treat colds, flu, and viral infections. In winter, to prevent diseases, it is added to tea and various potions are prepared to help overcome vitamin deficiency, gastrointestinal diseases, and increase acidity. The fruit also helps with edema, urolithiasis, gout, and liver disease. Recent studies have examined the effect of daily lemon consumption on parameters associated with metabolic syndrome in healthy women and have shown that the amount of lemon consumed had a significant negative correlation with systolic blood pressure. [ 9 ]

The wide use of lemon is due to its chemical composition. Lemon fruits are a good source of nutrition with sufficient amounts of vitamin C. In addition, the fruit is rich in other macronutrients, including sugars, dietary fiber, potassium, folate, calcium, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid. [ 10 ]

As for diabetics, lemon can be consumed, because its glycemic index is only 20, while products whose GI exceeds 55 are considered dangerous for diabetics. There are even special recipes with lemon for the treatment of diabetes.

Contraindications

Along with the mass of positive properties of citrus, it also has contraindications. Lemon can cause harm in case of pancreatitis, peptic ulcer, gastritis with high acidity. In case of inflammatory processes in the mouth and throat, it can worsen the condition, causing additional irritation. Sour lemon can destroy tooth enamel, and also, like all citrus fruits, cause allergies.

When using other ingredients in recipes, it is necessary to compare their contraindications with your diagnoses in order to avoid possible complications.

Lemon Recipes for Diabetes

There are many options for diabetes-friendly remedies that use lemon in their recipes. Here are some of them.

• Frozen lemons for diabetes - the fruit is cut into circles and frozen. This is done for the zest, because it contains many useful substances, and so it becomes softer, not dangerous for the pancreas.

You can also make lemon ice. To do this, wash the fruit, wipe it dry and place it in the freezer for 12 hours, then grate it. The resulting mass is placed in molds and returned to the cold. Add to teas, salads, smoothies.

• Lemon, garlic and diabetes - garlic is rightly called a natural antibiotic, it contains many useful minerals (especially phosphorus, selenium) and vitamins A, C, E, K, group B. It treats cardiovascular diseases, viral and bacterial infections, increases the body's resistance to pathologies, reduces vascular resistance, slows down the breakdown of insulin in the blood, and has a positive effect on metabolism.

All these qualities enable diabetics to live with their diagnosis, and garlic has a low glycemic index. By combining two powerful agents, you get an effective medicine. You can grind citrus and garlic cloves through a meat grinder, add a little honey, mix well, place in a glass container, cover with a tight lid and put in the refrigerator. Take a teaspoon before meals.

• Lemon and honey for diabetes - honey is a carbohydrate, it should also be limited, but the numerous beneficial properties of the bee product, and in partnership with another "healer" lemon in certain portions, will bring a healing effect to the patient. Honey contains enzymes that accelerate metabolic reactions of the body, a large number of organic acids, minerals (salts of calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, etc.), vitamins B2, B6, C, PP, H, E, K, folic acid. It strengthens the immune system, has a beneficial effect on digestion, has a therapeutic effect on inflammatory processes.

You can prepare the following composition: squeeze the juice of 1 lemon, crush the rose hips (30g), add 2 tablespoons of honey. Take no more than 2 teaspoons per day, preferably after the main meal, not recommended at night.

• Tea with lemon, its juice for diabetes - a slice of lemon in tea without sugar will bring both pleasure and benefit. Pure lemon juice is too aggressive an environment for the pancreas, it is also unacceptable for hyperacid gastritis. But it can be diluted with water, bringing the concentration to your taste. A glass in the morning on an empty stomach will wake up and invigorate the body.

• Eggs with lemon for diabetes - nutritionists say that eggs should be present in the menu of diabetics. The daily norm consists of 1-1.5 chicken eggs or 5-7 quail eggs, the latter are more preferable, because they have 5 times more potassium, 4.5 times more iron, as well as protein, amino acids, vitamins B1, B2, A.

In combination with lemon, they are a medicine for lowering blood sugar and preventing the development of diabetes-related diseases. For a single dose, you will need 50 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 chicken or 5 quail eggs. After mixing the ingredients, drink once a day in the morning 30-40 minutes before breakfast. The regimen is as follows: drink for 3 days, take a break for the same amount of time, and so on for a month.

• Lemon and celery for diabetes - this plant contains a unique set of substances that are most valuable for the body: vitamins, minerals, acids, proteins. It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing properties. Slows down the aging process, activates mental and physical abilities, removes uric acid crystals, which alleviates the condition with gout, rheumatism, arthritis.

Celery is recommended for diabetics, as it normalizes water-salt metabolism, among other benefits. Both the root of the plant and its above-ground part are useful. The medicinal substance can be obtained in this way: a medium-sized root and 6 lemons are grated and boiled over low heat for 1.5 hours. Every morning before eating, drink a tablespoon of this remedy.

• Parsley, lemon, garlic for diabetes - parsley is famous for its rich content of vitamin C - a natural antioxidant, it has a lot of keratin, vitamins B1, B2, folic acid, various minerals. But the most valuable for a diabetic is the presence of inulin, which regulates glucose metabolism in the blood.

By enhancing the plant with such useful components as garlic and lemon, you can get a reliable assistant in the fight against sugar. And you can prepare it like this: 300g of parsley, 5 lemons, a head of garlic, twist in a meat grinder, place in a glass container, insist in a dark place for 2 weeks. Take 10g daily in the morning half an hour before breakfast.

• Onion peel with lemon juice against diabetes - the benefits of onions are not disputed, its disappearance from our diet (in the absence of other products containing vitamin C) would lead to mass scurvy, but it turns out that its peel is no less healing.

It contains substances that can boost immunity, have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Decoctions from it are an effective choleretic and diuretic, laxative, and antispasmodic agent.

One of the most important components for the health of diabetics is the biflavonoid quercetin. It protects cell membranes, slows down their aging process, reduces the permeability of vascular walls, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and improves blood circulation.

A healing decoction is obtained by pouring a pinch of husk with a glass of boiling water. After infusing for 10-15 minutes and adding a small amount of squeezed lemon juice, it can be drunk. It is best to do this at night before going to bed.

Reviews

According to many diabetics, following doctors' orders, they also support themselves with folk methods, including lemon treatment. Monitoring glycemic indicators convinces them of the effectiveness of recipes with this fruit.