Lemon green tea and lemon water are the star drinks of our day. Hot or iced depending on the season, they bring us freshness and health benefits. However, their preparation should not be taken lightly because when certain hygiene rules are not respected, especially in food establishments, they can turn into true nests bacteria. According to Forbes magazine, the zest of citrus is to blame. Illuminations on its dangers.
The consumption of iced tea or infusion continues to grow. When some do not hesitate to associate the lemon for more flavor, others turn to simplicity and adopt lemon water as a cool drink or detox to drink on a daily basis. Yet, according to a study published in The Journal of Environmental Health, the zest of lemon would be problematic.
Scientists looked at 21 restaurants that received a total of 43 visits. During these last, they could take the flesh and the bark of 76 slices of lemon intended to decorate the drinks of their customers. After a laboratory analysis, they discovered that 70% of the citrus fruits were favorable for the proliferation of microbes. They explain that despite the antibacterial properties of lemon, some microorganisms still survive in the peel and flesh of the citrus fruit when cut into slices. Still according to scientists, "including slices of lemon in our drinks can expose us to potentially pathogenic microbes".
What does lemon zest really contain?
Interviewed by Elle magazine, Dr. Philip Tierno, author of The Secret Life of Germs and clinical microbiology professor did not hesitate to confirm the presence of pathogens in the lemon peel. According to him, the skin of the citrus fruit accurately shows traces of secretions from the respiratory system and faeces, such as enterococci, known for their ability to adapt to their environment and norovirus, which can survive in water thanks to its mutagenic power.
In addition, published in the Journal of Food Science, a study reveals that populations of E. coli bacteria present in lemons have spread more rapidly at room temperature than contaminated lemons placed in a refrigerator.
In addition, the level of pesticide residues is not negligible. In fact, according to a study whose purpose was to evaluate the level of contamination of certain citrus fruits including lemon, the results show that 95% of samples from conventional agriculture contained pesticides in the bark.
How to drink iced tea or lemon water healthily:
Now when you drink your iced tea or lemon water, avoid asking for slices of lemon or other citrus on the corner of the glass. Several solutions are available for you to continue to consume your health drink while minimizing the risk of serious infectious diseases. Indeed, it is recommended to use an organic lemon or peel your citrus fruit to remove the zest before slicing and inserting them into your cup of tea or warm water.
On any occasion, it is recommended to thoroughly wash your citrus under running water before using them. If you are still not convinced of their cleanliness, simply squeeze the lemon juice into your cup or decide to grow the lemon at home and the trick will be played.
On the other hand, you should also pay attention to ice cubes provided in iced tea cups, as these can also be contaminated and lead to infectious diseases.
