Lemon myrtle is native to the subtropical rain forests of southeastern Australia and central Queensland, and is a plant in the family of herbs called by various names such as lemoncented, lemonscented myrtle, and ironwood. As the name suggests, lemon myrtle, characterized by a refreshing lemon scent, is an excellent herbal plant, which removes the fishy smell and odor of meat and fish dishes, and at the same time adds flavor and aroma. It is also widely used as a major additive in making herbal teas, pasta, sauces, cookies, dressings, and ice cream.
Lemon myrtle is also known to have various beneficial effects on the body because it contains a lot of vitamin C and vitamin B group components in addition to citral, which can be said to be the main ingredient. It is said that since ancient times, Aboriginal people of Australia have used it a lot as a healing plant to cure various diseases due to the various effects based on the various nutritional components of lemon myrtle. Now, let’s take a look at the main effects of lemon myrtle and the information to be aware of when ingesting them one by one.
Main Benefits of Lemon Myrtle
1. Antioxidant action
The most important and representative ingredient of lemon myrtle is citral. The citral component is a type of monoterpene contained in lemons and oranges, and it can be said that the strong sour taste and flavor of lemon are due to this citral component. These citral components make up about 90% of lemon myrtle, and it is known that this amount is about 10 times higher than that of lemon. In addition, lemon myrtle is also rich in vitamin C, which is also an ingredient with excellent antioxidant properties that prevent cell oxidation.
The complex antioxidant action of citral and vitamin C is known to have an excellent effect in protecting the human body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. In particular, as free radicals are known to be the main culprits that weaken the immune function, they are effective in strengthening the immune system through the removal of free radicals.
2. Skin health
Free radicals are well known not only as a weakening of the immune system, but also as a major factor in promoting aging due to cell destruction and damage. Lemon myrtle contains abundant antioxidants that neutralize free radicals that cause skin aging, which is known to help improve skin wrinkles and manage elastic and healthy skin. Due to the effect of lemon myrtle to prevent skin aging and damage to the skin, various cosmetics and various beauty-related products using lemon myrtle extract have been recently launched. In addition, lemon myrtle is known to have excellent antibacterial and sterilizing properties, so it can help improve the symptoms of various skin diseases including atopy.
3. Bronchial health
Lemon myrtle’s excellent antibacterial properties are known to help relieve inflammation in the bronchial tubes and protect the respiratory system. Not only is it effective in relieving frequent coughing, but it is also said to be very helpful in preventing and relieving symptoms of colds and bronchitis. It is also effective in protecting the bronchial tubes, which are easily damaged by fine dust, and is said to have a beneficial effect on the prevention of various respiratory and bronchial-related diseases caused by allergies based on its excellent sedative effect.
4. Nerve stability
Lemon myrtle is said to be effective as an herbal tea that is excellent for nerve stabilization. It is said to be helpful in relieving nervous and anxious minds and at the same time relieving tense nerves. In addition, lemon myrtle is reported to have a beneficial effect on improving sleep disorders and insomnia caused by sensitive nerves and stress. In addition, it is known that there is no caffeine at all, so it can be said that lemon myrtle has no side effects caused by excessive consumption of caffeine.
Other benefits and precautions for ingestion
In addition to the many benefits mentioned above, lemon myrtle may also help protect your eyesight and improve blood flow. It is also known to have beneficial effects in improving the symptoms of stomatitis caused by inflammation in the oral mucosa, including removal of bad breath.
Lemon myrtle can be used as fresh or dried leaves, and when dried, the lemon flavor becomes stronger. Also, if you cook for too long, the lemon myrtle’s characteristic lemon flavor will disappear, so it is recommended to cook with this in mind. And although there are no known side effects related to lemon myrtle and side effects caused by drinking too much, drinking an appropriate amount rather than an overdose is probably the most healthy and effective way to consume.
