how to grow your small business with marketing

West Virginia’s InnerAction Media Launches StoryMaker, Empowering Small Businesses with AI-Driven Marketing

West Virginia-based InnerAction Media (IAM) recently launched StoryMaker, an Software as a Service (SaaS) application that leverages Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to assist small businesses in the US in creating their ultimate 30-second pitch and other crucial marketing orders on demand.

The cloud-based application is founded on IAM’s proprietary “BrandStory” process. This unique approach curates a business’s marketing data, then employs AI similar to ChatGPT, to generate strategic marketing content. The customized content can be published across various platforms including social media, emails, presentations, and even traditional media outlets.

The software’s genesis can be traced back to November 2022, when it was just an idea proposed as part of a project by Vantage Ventures and Executive Director Sarah Biller. Vantage Ventures, an initiative of the John Chambers School of Business and Economics at West Virginia University, aims to foster scalable businesses to address complex challenges.

The idea was then transformed into reality in the “SaaS Factory” initiative, which tasked five WVU students and five West Virginia entrepreneurs to create ten SaaS applications in ten weeks starting in January 2023. Successful software engineer Cary Landis oversaw the project which eventually led to the birth of StoryMaker.

The software also reflects the experience of IAM President and StoryMaker developer, Jim Matuga. “I’ve had the unique opportunity to interview and help thousands of business leaders over the past 35 years. One thing most people struggle with is the question: ‘What’s your 30 second pitch?’” Matuga said. “StoryMaker solves this basic business problem and so much more.”

StoryMaker is hailed as a tool that brings marketing sophistication within the reach of small businesses. It provides them the necessary resources to create effective marketing messaging effortlessly, including their perfect 30 second pitch, social media content, longer form marketing messages like emails and blog content, and even tag lines.

Matuga added, “The right words matter and are essential for most small businesses – to cause people to take action, buy their products or services and increase sales, that’s exactly what StoryMaker does.”

The application also offers a variety of features such as user-defined marketing tones of voice, customizable calls-to-action, blog content writing, social media hashtag generation, and infinite product/service creation. Furthermore, it safely stores the business profile and product/services data in a secure, cloud-based database, and allows users to create unlimited marketing messages as needed.

In an era where effective marketing can make or break a business, StoryMaker appears to be a valuable tool for small businesses, allowing them to compete with larger corporations by offering a level of marketing sophistication that was previously out of reach.

IAM is offering a free 7-day trial of StoryMaker, following which the subscription price is $29 per month as a limited time introductory offer, with the regular price being $99 per month. The application has a Provisional Patent Pending.

As small business owners continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, tools like StoryMaker can offer significant benefits by simplifying and amplifying their marketing messages, providing them with an edge in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

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Image: wv.gov

Allied Global Marketing names Denise Parkinson as VP, business development | News

LA-headquartered analysis firm Allied Global Marketing has appointed Denise Parkinson as VP of business development.

Denise Parkinson

Based in London, Parkinson will work with Clint Kendall, Allied’s CEO; Adam Cunningham, chief strategy officer; and Kelly Estrella, chief of marketing operations.

Parkinson is responsible for identifying and driving strategic new businesses to support the company’s continued growth.

With more than 25 years of experience in entertainment marketing, Parkinson is an industry veteran, having worked across media companies, studios and agencies.

Most recently, she served as global entertainment director overseeing business development for OneFootball, a football media platform with more than 85 million active users, where she established partnerships with the likes of Netflix, Disney and Universal.

Prior to that she was head of entertainment category specialist for IT Media, integrating partnerships and new digital products with clients including Warner Bros, Searchlight and Paramount.

She also previously served as the entertainment director of global and UK for The Telegraph newspaper.

Allied’s team of specialists includes more than 400 people at 24 offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Earlier this year, C21TV gave C21TV his take on Web3 technology and the promise of the metaverse for entertainment versus the reality of present audience engagement.

Skims Campaign Features ‘White Lotus’ Breakout Stars

Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand, Skims, launched a campaign with stars of “The White Lotus.”
Engagement on the post has outpaced the typical response from fans.
A marketing professor outlines why the campaign works and what entrepreneurs can learn from it.

About six weeks after season two of “The White Lotus” concluded, the fan-favorite actors Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannò were featured in a lingerie campaign for Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand, Skims.

On Monday, Kardashian shared images and a video on Instagram of the women, who played Lucia and Mia on the show, for her company’s Valentine’s Day collection. The duo, who starred alongside powerhouse actors like Jennifer Coolidge and Aubrey Plaza in the Emmy-winning series, quickly became beloved characters among viewers, including Kardashian.

“I watched The White Lotus and had to have my girls!” Kardashian wrote in the caption of the Instagram post kicking off the campaign.

Kim Kardashian posted the campaign to her Instagram account.

screenshot, Instagram.com/kimkardashian/

Skims’ inaugural Instagram post for the campaign garnered more than 45,000 likes, while other posts on Skims’ Instagram profile have typically gotten 2,000 to 6,000 likes. The TikTok video campaign has more than 1.1 million views, compared to the brand’s usual range of 30,000 to 70,000 views.

“Part of what the Skims brand represents is real, everyday women use this product to uplift themselves,” said Jared Watson, an assistant professor of marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business. “Now more than ever, what’s aspirational to many is not necessarily perfection.”

Watson added that with this campaign, Skims is leveraging characters who are both relatable and aspirational to evoke that perception of the product.

Here’s why the latest Skims campaign works and what other business owners can learn for their brand marketing, according to Watson.

Relatability and emotion contributed to the campaign’s virality

@skims This Valentine’s Day, everybody’s wearing SKIMS. Introducing breakout stars and real life best friends Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannò together for #SKIMS ♬ original sound – SKIMS

Watson said the relationships we build with onscreen talent are what makes campaigns like Kardashian’s so effective.

“Parasocial relationships are one-way relationships we form with people on television or on the internet where it feels like we know them,” he said. “That’s what Skims is doing fantastically here. For fans of ‘The White Lotus,’ we feel this source of pride, like ‘here’s our friend getting a platform.'”

Watson speculated that most of the campaign’s value would be in the form of a new or strengthened affinity for the Skims brand from customers. He added that while it’s too early to tell whether the campaign is a financial success for Skims, it’s likely to increase traffic to the brand.

Fans of “The White Lotus” are likely checking in on their favorite stars on social media, which could lead them to engage with the Skims campaign to feel even more connected, he said.

Joining cultural conversations can help businesses of all sizes

To be sure, Kardashian, who has an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion, has the social and financial capital to convince major players to join her ad campaigns; for example, the former Victoria’s Secret supermodels Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Candice Swanepoel modeled for Skims last year.

~~But business owners with smaller budgets can find other ways to engage in cultural conversations to support their marketing, Watson said.~~

For example, pizza chain & pizza sends out marketing text messages pegged to pop-culture headlines that also correspond to sales promotions, he added. Small-business owners can mirror this strategy for events like the Super Bowl or a highly anticipated episode of television to attract customers.

~~What’s more, sharing timely posts on social media that are related to these moments is another way to organically draw more social engagement to your brand’s page.~~

~~“You’re not going to be able to emulate the reach of Kim Kardashian overnight,” he said. “But you are able to contribute to these pop-culture conversations.”~~

How To Overcome Jet Lag

Are you preparing for a vacation and traveling by plane? There are ways to shield your body against jet lag and overcome it, reducing the symptoms that can ruin your vacation.
Why do we get jet lag?
Jet lag occurs when we travel by plane and change two or more time zones, this disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm. The symptoms are a result of the circadian rhythm being detuned. The circadian rhythm is the pattern that our body follows within a 24-hour period. This rhythm essentially determines when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. It also affects other functions in the body, such as hormone synthesis, digestion and body temperature.
Our body regulates these rhythms, with the guidance of the brain. But of course there are external factors (such as light) that affect these rhythms. For example, when light enters the eyes, a message is sent to the brain to stop producing melatonin (the sleep-promoting hormone).
Air travel makes jet lag even worse because the body is moving much faster than the brain, which needs time to understand the time changes. Jet lag means the body is out of sync with the day and night of our destination. Our body has the ability to adapt to environmental changes, but it takes time. In general, the evidence shows that when we fly to the east the jet lag is more intense than when we fly to the west. This is because the body can adjust more quickly to going to bed later than going to bed earlier.
Other factors that contribute to jet lag are:
when we sit for long hours on the plane
the lack of oxygen and reduced air pressure in the airplane cabin
the increased temperature in the cabin and low humidity, which can cause dehydration
How to tell if you have jet lag: the symptoms
Jet lag occurs when you travel by plane to different time zones. Some biological rhythms such as sleep-wake and the human growth hormone secretion adjust almost immediately to local time, while others, such as body temperature, cortisol secretion, and the ability to sleep adjust gradually and much later.
The most common symptoms of jet lag are:
Exhaustion
Dizziness
Decreased concentration
Reduced performance
Constipation or diarrhea
Insomnia
Decreased appetite
Headaches
Night vision disorder and limited peripheral vision.
Jet lag affects each person differently. In general, the symptoms are more severe when one travels long distances. This is because longer distances require the body to adapt more. If the journey lasts many hours, then it may be difficult for one to sleep as the body adjusts to the new time zone.
The duration of jet lag depends on many factors. These include how far we travel, our circadian rhythm and our overall health. Many people who have symptoms of jet lag feel better within a few days of arriving at their destination. For some people, it can take a week to feel like themselves again.
How to overcome jet lag
1. Set your watch
Set your watch to the time of the country you are visiting as soon as you get on the plane. This is a psychological trick that will help the brain adapt to new data more easily. Remember that the body uses three parameters to set your biological clock: daylight, eating times and sleeping times.
2. Sleep on the plane
Whether or not you will sleep during the flight depends on whether the flight is during the day or at night and whether you are traveling east or west. If you want to sleep during the flight, prefer to do it when it will be night at your destination, even if that means it will be noon at your local time. In this way you prepare your body to enter a new rhythm.
To sleep on the plane, an eye mask and earplugs are essential. A few drops of lavender oil can also help you relax.
If you fly east you will fall asleep earlier than usual. If you don’t sleep on the plane, you will be quite tired upon arrival and will be reasonably sleepy at bedtime.
3. Make the right food choices
Rich meals can cause sleep problems and upset your stomach. Therefore, it is good to eat lightly. When you get to your destination, protein will help you stay awake: smoked salmon with scrambled eggs is a perfect breakfast, while carbs will help you sleep (so choose a pasta meal three hours before bed).
4. Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and too much caffeine to compensate for dry airplane water, which increases the chances of dehydration.
5 Move to the new time zone
Don’t be tempted to keep calculating what time it is in your home country. When you arrive and it’s daytime don’t be tempted to rest the first day. Avoid sleeping, even if you feel tired. Keep yourself busy, but not too busy. Daylight helps reset the body’s biological clock. In general, remember that with large time differences it is good to stay awake and sleep at the usual bedtime in your new destination.
6. Get out in the sun
Light helps the body recognize that it’s time to wake up. Artificial light (light bulbs emit) have the same benefits as natural light if you can’t go outside.
7. Exercise
Take a walk upon arrival to beat sleepiness.
8.Drink cherry juice!
Cherries regulate the body’s biological clock, as they are a natural source of melatonin. Two servings of cherries or cherry juice a day will help your body recover from jet lag.
9. Take melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the human body that plays an important role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Taking a melatonin supplement 20 minutes before going to bed can help reduce jet lag symptoms.

Meta Offers New Business Certification to Showcase Your Facebook and Instagram Marketing Expertise

~~Digital marketing agencies take note: Meta has launched a new certification for businesses, which will give you another way to showcase your Meta marketing expertise to prospective clients.~~

~~The new program aims to highlight businesses whose staff have accumulated a level of knowledge about Meta’s platforms, via its Blueprint training courses.~~

~~As explained by Meta:~~

“A Meta Certified Company is a company or organization that is recognized for their advanced expertise on the Meta Platform. For the first time, we’re offering Certification at the Organizational level, awarded to companies who achieve a threshold of individual Meta Blueprint certifications in specific focus areas.”

~~As you can see there are five different company certifications available:~~

~~MetaMedia, Certified Company~~
~~Meta Marketing Science, Certified Company~~
~~Meta Creative Strategy, Certified Company~~
~~Meta Community Management, Certified Company~~
~~Meta Spark, Certified Company~~

~~For each, a percentage of your employees will need to have undertaken the respective Blueprint training, which then enables you to apply for official recognition.~~

~~What are those percentages exactly?~~

So at least 20% of your staff have to undertake individual certification courses via Meta’s Blueprint offering. Those courses are free, but taking the certification exams does cost money, so there is a level of business expense involved in the process.

Meta’s Blueprint courses, in general, are not very difficult, although they do give you a good overview of the various elements of Meta’s systems, which Meta clearly thinks is enough to then approve full certification for businesses that reach these benchmarks.

“Once you are confirmed as a Certified Company, you will receive the following: confirmation of your achievement, your credential, guidance on bragging rights, and a trophy to display in your company office.”

~~A trophy? How about that?~~

~~It could be a good way to showcase your Facebook and Instagram marketing expertise, and win more business as a result.~~

You can apply for Meta’s new company certification here, where you can also find full overviews of the coursework required to meet the above-noted training thresholds. Once your staff has done the courses, you can enter the relevant details and verify their credentials via Meta’s system.

Sugar And Its Natural Substitutes

Added sugar has been linked to many serious diseases, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Fortunately, there are many ways to sweeten foods without adding sugar. There are many natural sweeteners that people often use instead of sugar. These include coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup and molasses. While these natural sweeteners may contain more nutrients than regular sugar, your body still metabolizes them in the same way.
The natural sweeteners listed below are slightly ‘less bad’ than regular sugar. Nevertheless, they are still forms of sugar.
Why sugar is bad for you
Sugar interferes with your body’s hormones that regulate hunger and satiety. This can lead to increased calorie intake and weight gain. It also impairs your metabolism, which can lead to increased insulin and fat storage. In fact, many studies have found a strong link between sugar and obesity. Simply put, people who consume the most sugar are much more likely to become overweight or obese than those who consume the least. High sugar intake is also associated with some of the world’s deadliest diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Stevia
Stevia is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of a South American shrub scientifically known as Stevia rebaudiana. It contains zero calories and is not associated with weight gain. Several studies show that stevioside, which is one of the sweetening compounds of stevia, can reduce high blood pressure by 6-14%. It has also been shown to lower insulin and blood sugar levels, which can help fight diabetes.
It is worth noting that the two different sweetener compounds extracted from the stevia plant – stevioside and rebaudioside A – have slightly different tastes. Products labeled “stevia” may contain one or both of the above compounds in varying amounts. This is why some varieties taste better than others.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol, with a sweetness similar to sugar. It is extracted from corn or Finnish birch wood and is found in many fruits and vegetables. Xylitol contains 2.4 calories per gram, which has 40% fewer calories than sugar. It also does not increase sugar or insulin levels. Xylitol is generally tolerated, but its consumption can cause side effects in the digestive system such as bloating and diarrhea.
Erythritol
Like xylitol, erythritol is sugar alcohol, which contains even fewer calories. Erythritol contains 0.24 calories per gram and 6% of the calories of regular sugar. Your body does not have the enzymes to break down erythritol, so most of it is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and excreted unchanged in your urine. Therefore, it does not appear to have the harmful effects of regular sugar. In addition, erythritol does not increase blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Studies conducted show that its consumption is safe for the human body and has no side effects.
Coconut sugar
Coconut sugar comes from the sugary liquid that circulates in the coconut plant. It contains some nutrients, such as iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, as well as antioxidants. However, coconut sugar is still very high in calories and contains the same number of calories as regular sugar.
Honey
Honey contains trace elements of vitamins and minerals, as well as an abundance of beneficial antioxidants. Eating honey can help increase the levels of antioxidants in your blood. High levels of antioxidants in the blood are associated with a lower risk of disease. In fact, honey has been shown to improve several disease risk factors. One study found that consuming honey for eight weeks significantly reduced “bad” LDL cholesterol and blood triglycerides in people with diabetes. It also increased the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.
However, in the same study, an indicator of blood sugar levels called HbA1c increased, which is not good. Another study found that consuming honey reduced levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of inflammation. It also lowers homocysteine , another blood marker associated with the disease. In addition, both studies showed that honey has slightly less harmful effects on blood sugar levels and metabolism than regular sugar.
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is a thick, sugary liquid produced by cooking the sap of maple trees. It contains a good amount of minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and manganese. It also contains at least 24 different types of antioxidants. Two test-tube studies have shown that maple syrup may also have anti-cancer benefits , but more research is needed to confirm. While maple syrup contains some beneficial nutrients and antioxidants, it is very high in sugars. It has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, but still raises blood sugar levels. Like coconut sugar and honey, maple syrup is a slightly better option than regular sugar, but should be consumed in moderation.
Molasses
Molasses is a sweet, brown liquid, which has a thick syrup-like consistency. It is made from boiled sugar cane or sugar beet juice. It contains an increased amount of vitamins and minerals, as well as various antioxidants. In fact, molasses contains more antioxidants than honey and maple syrup. Additionally, its high potassium and calcium content may benefit bone and heart health.
Sugar substitutes to avoid
Agave Nectar
Agave nectar is produced by the agave plant. It’s often promoted as a healthy alternative, but it’s probably one of the unhealthiest sweeteners on the market. It consists of 85% fructose, which is higher than regular sugar. As previously mentioned, high amounts of fructose are closely linked to obesity and other serious diseases.
High fructose corn syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener made from corn syrup. It is commonly used to sweeten processed foods and soft drinks. As its name suggests, it contains a lot of fructose. It can increase the risk of weight gain, obesity, diabetes and other serious diseases such as cancer. It is just as harmful as sugar and should be avoided at all costs.

The Drums | Activision Blizzard’s Head Of Business Marketing’s Top 5 Predictions For 2023

~~As marketers wake up to the fact gaming isn’t to be ignored, Jonathan Stringfield outlines how the space will evolve this year and where attention needs to be directed.~~

Whereas 2022 signaled a partial return to social normalcy given waning concerns around the pandemic, we enter 2023 with economic abnormality looming. Soaring inflation, crashes in the technology industry and the threat of a more durable recession have caused the broader consumer, marketing and technology landscape to adopt a less optimistic outlook.

And yet, as was the case during the depths of the pandemic, an otherwise negative set of circumstances allows us to look at sectors such as gaming in a new light. The immense levels of attention directed towards gaming in recent years was a much-needed wake-up call for marketers who realized that gaming could not be ignored, the subsequent evolution over the coming year will demonstrate that it is not going anywhere.

1. Return to growth

Technology research firm NPD has continuously forecasted a decline in consumer spending around gaming hardware and accessories, which has been construed as an end to a pandemic-gaming boom. While it is certainly true that consumers spent more on gaming during the height of the pandemic, reductions in spend may stem from a number of factors: broader macroeconomic pressure from a potential recession, mixed availability of the latest generation of consoles and premium computers GPUsand a number of high-profile game releases facing delays due to development issues related to the pandemic.

Regardless of the cause, this slowdown is largely being viewed as a temporary correction and the gaming audience on the whole continues to grow. A number of highly anticipated titles and more general availability of gaming devices in 2023 will mark a turning point for the industry, putting it back on a consistent growth trajectory even while consumer spending may be otherwise strained. While gaming is not recession-proof, the deep levels of fandom within gaming allow the industry to be extremely recession-resilient.

2. Gaming goes Hollywood

The quantity and quality of TV or film adaptations have been increasing in recent years, with some 25 feature-length films and almost 30 TV adaptations announced or in some form of production. We may be on the cusp of a break-out year for video game adaptations, with two of the most anticipated projects scheduled for release in 2023: The Last of Us TV series on HBO Max (based on the game series of the same name) and The Super Mario Bros Movie in theaters April 2023. While such adaptations are becoming increasingly common, what has changed in recent years is the extent to which these projects now stay true to the source material, given that past reinterpretations for TV and movie audiences have led to some infamous flops (including the last time Super Mario Bros was on the silver screen).

With traditional media providers increasingly leveraging gaming IP or shoring up capabilities to make games themselves, such as Netflix establishing new gaming studios, the potential for transmedia (where a story is told across multiple forms of media) across gaming and traditional video becomes that much greater. Marketers who are intimately familiar with advertising on TV or movies may find themselves becoming acquainted with gaming whether they like it or not.

3. VR unready

~~Every year we’re made to feel like we’re on the precipice of VR becoming mainstream, and every year it simply… doesn’t.~~

The 2021 Holiday season featured great deals on VR headsets, stocking expectations for a breakout year in 2022, and yet the 2022 holiday season only has the same hardware to offer… but this time with some games packaged in. In many respects, packaging games with headsets is a much better way to drive consumer adoption than a temporary sale.

More powerful hardware and attractive price points will help, but all the metaverse hype in the world will not propel VR to critical mass with consumers. The potential for VR and the metaverse face the same roadblock: Without compelling content, even the best technology in the world will fail to attract meaningful attention.

Moreover, in both the case of VR and metaverse, gaming represents the best and most viable experiences within these respective technologies. The most meaningful advancements in emerging technologies such as VR or metaverse won’t come from those specific technology sectors, so much as the games industry.

4. Decrypt esports

The crypto world had a very, very bad 2022: The year began with historic scams in the NFT/web3 space and will be ending with a broader crash in cryptocurrencies due to a number of crypto exchanges failing. While more direct efforts such as blockchain-powered games will continue to soldier on in search of a hit, propped up by a massive influx of VC dollars amid broader industry turmoil, the more tangible effects of the long crypto winter in gaming will be more subtle .

A number of esports stakeholders have relied on sponsorship money from the cryptocurrencies industry, who were interested in esports for the same reason as any other marketer: The audience is largely young, technologically savvy men who are difficult to reach through more traditional media. Lacking the same revenue levers as traditional sports, esports has become particularly reliable on sponsorship dollars and the pullback of a major industry will continue to challenge monetization.

This short-term pain may develop into long-term strength in 2023, as the esports the industry is challenged with pushing innovation towards more revenue models, lacking funding from potentially unstable partnerships.

5. A new era

If 2022 began as a year where attention towards the gaming industry reached new heights, 2023 begins as a year where the biggest trends in gaming represent inflection points: new trajectories for industry growth, a potential diversification of revenue models in competitive gaming, and increasing visibility for gaming across a wide variety of media.

While the trends identified above are those which are most likely to have a more immediate impact on the industry in 2023, they are far from exhaustive. Longer-term shifts in gaming will continue throughout the year: the inevitability of cloud-based gaming where gaming content can be accessed on any device, multi-platform and mobile-exclusive releases of formerly PC or console-based IP, and the increased utility of gaming engines for world-building beyond making games.

Although marketers are largely in the early stages of engaging with gaming in a serious way, drawn by the potential to connect brands with a broad and deeply engaged audience, the savviest marketers will realize that understanding gaming provides a unique perspective on technological and business innovation.

~~Jonathan Stringfield is the vice-president of global business research and marketing at Activision Blizzard.~~

Lemons – Nutritional Value And Benefits

Yellow and juicy, with sometimes sour and sometimes bitter-sweet taste, fresh aroma and amazing properties. Lemon, the fruit of the citrus family, is associated with many different uses in our everyday life, because it is not only used for cooking and desserts, but also as a disinfectant-cleanser, as an aromatic ingredient in beauty products and perfumes, and also as a therapeutic medicine. But are they really as beneficial as they are touted? The answer is yes and a lot of them.
The widespread use of lemons has led to confusion about their nutritional value, with many wellness techniques circulating around them, often without proper claims or recommendations. Below are the four most frequently asked questions about lemons with the best possible answer, according to nutritionists.
Four frequently asked questions about lemons
1. Is lemon water any good after all?
Adding lemon to water is a healthy way to flavor it without adding calories. It’s also a good reason to get a small amount of vitamin C and calcium when you drink lemon water.
2. Can consumption of lemon reduce belly fat?
Just like other fruits, lemons are a very good source of nutrients with very few calories. However, there is no solid evidence that lemons can help you lose weight or reduce belly fat.
3. Do lemons lower blood pressure?
Although it is not clear whether eating lemons directly lowers high blood pressure, previous research has found that people who regularly eat lemons and take daily walks have lower systolic blood pressure.
4. How long does it take to detoxify the body with lemon water?
Lemon has a reputation as a super detox ingredient, but studies do not exactly support that conclusion. It’s important to remember that plain water – without lemon – is enough to naturally flush toxins from the body while promoting better digestion, hydration and kidney function.
5. What is the nutritional value of lemons?
According to the USDA, one lemon contains:
Calories: 18.8
Protein: 0.72 grams
Fats: 0.2 grams
Carbohydrates: 0.5 grams
Dietary fiber: 1.8 grams
Sugar: 1.6 grams
Calcium: 16.9 grams
Iron: 0.39 milligrams
Potassium: 89.7 milligrams
Sodium: 1.3 milligrams
Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, folic acid and magnesium, which provide the body with sufficient amounts of these minerals needed daily.
6. What are the main benefits they offer the body?
They contribute to better immune function
As one clinical report explains, the vitamin C that is abundant in lemons can boost immune function, reduce inflammation and possibly help fight infections.
They protect against the onset of chronic diseases
According to the National Institutes of Health, getting enough vitamin C by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The vitamin C in foods like lemons is thought to reduce oxidative damage throughout the body.
They prevent the occurrence of kidney stones
Kidney stones are made up of calcium, uric acid and oxalate, according to the Mayo Clinic . These start as fragments and then can grow into painful stones. Lemons could potentially prevent kidney stones because they contain citric acid, which binds calcium. According to Harvard Health, 80 to 85 percent of kidney stones are made up of calcium.