Back in the summer of 2012, I was approached by a 34-year-old male who was overweight and dealing with some health issues. He was planning to propose to his girlfriend, which meant a wedding in the near future, so he wanted to get in shape for the big day. Let’s call him Louis, after one of the most famous trumpet players of all time—you’ll understand why in a minute.

A Solid Start—With an Unexpected Problem

Louis started training with me three days a week, and in no time, he lost a considerable amount of weight. I recommended a high-protein, high-fat, low-carbohydrate dietary approach, which he followed religiously. Part of that plan involved eating a healthy salad every day for lunch.

After two months, Louis was down 24 pounds, his skin had improved, and his energy levels were soaring. Then, one Monday afternoon, he came in for a workout—and immediately passed gas! In fact, he passed gas nearly every set that session. It sounded like a trumpet in an orchestra!

At first, we thought it was the result of a weekend cheat meal, but by Wednesday, the symphony was in full force again—just as loud and frequent as it had been on Monday. The strange thing was that since starting his new eating plan, Louis’ flatulence had significantly decreased, almost to the point of being non-existent. Something was triggering this unexpected change.

Identifying the Culprit

“What are you eating differently?” I asked.

“Nothing, John Paul. I swear!” Louis replied. “I’m having the floors stained at my house, so I’m staying at my parents’ place for the week. My mom is making me everything on the plan. I haven’t strayed whatsoever!”

“Did you have a salad for lunch?”

“Yes, I always do.”

“What dressing did your mom use?”

“She put olive oil, some sea salt, and red wine vinegar. The vinegar is homemade; it’s not store-bought.”

“Okay, here’s what I want you to do. Tell your mom to use lemon instead of vinegar and let’s see if that makes a difference.”

“Sure, no problem.”

The Surprising Solution

Two days later, during our Friday afternoon workout, something interesting happened—or rather, something didn’t happen. There was no flatulence. Lots of grunting, but no tooting! Both Louis and I noticed the change. When he switched to using lemon instead of vinegar, his stomach felt much better, and the gas disappeared.

This isn’t an isolated case. I’ve seen it many times. That’s why I was able to pinpoint the cause so quickly. Females tend to feel bloated, and males experience flatulence after eating a salad with vinegar. That doesn’t happen when lemon is used instead.

The Benefits of Lemon Over Vinegar

Although lemons are acidic outside the body, inside the body they have an alkalizing effect. Other than apple cider vinegar with the mother (here’s why it’s beneficial), most kinds of vinegar are highly acidic both outside and inside the body. They can also contain chemical additives, preservatives, dyes, sugars, thickeners, artificial fragrances, and even lead.

I’m a big fan of lemons. They’re highly nutritious and offer numerous health benefits. Lemons can:

• Detoxify the body
• Aid digestion
• Enhance blood circulation and regulate blood pressure
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Strengthen the immune system

Don’t Discard the Seeds!

Most people consume lemon juice and sometimes the peel, but they discard the seeds. That’s a mistake! Lemon seeds have antiseptic properties. They help prevent and treat fungal issues, fight against parasites and worms, and even have potential cancer-fighting properties.

Seeds are potent detoxifying agents. Throwing them away means discarding valuable nutrition and natural medicine. Listen to what Health Ranger Mike Adams has to say on the topic: watch here.

Take-Home Message

Instead of vinegar in your daily salad, add lemon—and don’t forget to eat the seeds!