by: Dr. Craig A. Maxwell
Many of my patients have come in to the office and told me proudly that they’ve given up drinking soda. Now, when they eat out at a restaurant, they enjoy a chilled glass of water or seltzer with a nice, juicy lemon wedge. Imagine their surprise when I tell them they should skip the lemon wedge. So should you. Restaurant lemons are not good for your health. Here’s why.
Could There Be Feces in Your Restaurant Lemon?
If you’re the type who drops the whole lemon wedge into your water after squeezing out the juice, you could be adding feces to your drink. Even though there is a sign on most bathroom walls reminding chefs and wait staff to wash their hands after using the bathroom, many do not. This is unfortunate because it’s a good way to spread bacteria and disease.
Unlike other vegetables, fruits, and food products prepared in the kitchen of your favorite restaurant, lemons don’t require washing because nobody eats the skin. It’s the same with limes, oranges, or grapefruit. This means any dirt, bacteria, debris, saliva, phlegm, or feces that end up on these fruits will be directly transferred to your glass. The number one culprit: fecal contamination from employees not washing their hands after using the bathroom.
Gross but true.
Lemons at Restaurants – Sneaking Pesticides into Your Water
Another problem with lemons at restaurants is most of them are not organic. Because of this, the lemon not only may contain traces of dangerous biological matter, it may be loaded with pesticides as well. According to a Swiss study, pesticides and 38 different chemical compounds were identified in 95% of conventionally-grown citrus fruits. Since your lemon is not washed before it is cut and placed in your drink, you’re consuming them!
A Twist of Lemon Done the Right Way 
A nice, refreshing twist of lemon is a great way to enjoy a cold glass of water. The next time you go out to a restaurant, bring a slice of organic lemon with you. Wash it, cut it, and place a wedge or two in a baggie. Order your iced water and wait for the waitress to bring it to the table. Squeeze and plop in your lemon after she’s left and nobody will be the wiser. Or just forget the the lemon altogether.
Boost Your Immune System to Avoid Disease
No matter how careful you are, you can’t avoid all disease. However, you are meant to have a much stronger and more effective immune system than you probably already do. Fifty years ago or more, a second thought was never given about letting our children play in dirt but that’s because we didn’t have a plethora of synthetic pesticides. Our soil quality was better. Our diet was rich in whole-food nutrients. It wasn’t processed. GMOs were unheard of. In today’s modern society, you need to do everything you can to bolster your immune system and keep it strong.
Here’s what I recommend:
Dietary Changes
The cornerstone of good health is a nutrient-rich diet. If you’re not eating well, you’ll be much more susceptible to disease. This is why I tell all my patients to begin reading food labels when they go to the grocery store. Being familiar with the ingredients in food is the first step to changing unhealthy eating habits. The more organic vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds, legumes, organic poultry, organic fish, and healthy fats (coconut oil, avacado) you consume, the healthier you’ll be.
Add A High-Grade Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement
Many mass produced, store-bought vitamin and mineral products are not well absorbed and contain additives. Diamond Nutritionals’ Foundation Vitamins offer immune-boosting nutrition you can trust to bolster your immune system.
These nutrients include:
Vitamin A – 7,500 IU
Vitamin C – 500 mg
Vitamin D3 – 500 IU
Vitamin E – 100 IU
Vitamin K – 50 mcg
Thiamine – 25 mg
Riboflavin – 25 mg
Niacin – 25 mg
Vitamin B6 – 38 mg
Folic Acid – 400 mcg
Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
Biotin – 200 mcg
Panthothenic Acid – 150 mg
Calcium – 100 mg
Iodine – 113 mcg
Magnesium – 200 mg
Zinc – 10 mg
Selenium – 100 mcg
Copper – 1 mg
Manganese – 2.5 mg
Chromium – 200 mcg
Molybdenum – 25 mcg
Potassium – 50 mg
Choline Bitartrate USP – 50 mg
Inositol – 50 mg
Mixed Tocopherols – 50 mg
Lipoic Acid – 25 mg
N-Acetyl-Cysteine USP – 25 mg
Rutin – 25 mg
Lutein – 3 mg
Boron – 1.5 mg
Lycopene – 1 mg
Vanadyl Sulfate Hydrate – 1 mg
Lemons are great for your health. They’re packed full of vitamin C and hydration-boosting electrolytes to protect you from disease. The next time you enjoy a refreshing glass of lemon water, be sure your lemon is organic and wash it just the same.