Is Lemon an ordinary fruit? This might be the question on the minds of a lot of people. Read to the end as we unravel this mystery.
What are lemons?
Lemons are greenish-yellow fruits that are classified as citrus: other fruits in this category are oranges, limes, and grapes. They are species of a small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India, Northern Myanmar, or China and its scientific name is Citrus limon.
It is preferable to use Lemon as a dessert, flavor, or garnishing due to its sour taste though, they are very rejuvenating and refreshing. If you are still wondering Is Lemon just an Ordinary fruit? Some of the other ways Lemon can be used is to make the well-known lemonade beverage or joined with other recipes to create different beverages like Chapman.
Moreso, they are generally a great source of vitamin C and fibers, lemons contain a great number of plant compounds and minerals. This fruit is evidently a repeller of heart diseases, cancer, and kidney failure. That’s not all, lemons have other health benefits that will be also outlined in this article.
Nutritional Value Of Lemons
Lemons contain less fat and protein but are abundantly rich in water and carbs. This is to say that a medium-sized lemon provides barely 20 calories.
However, 88 – 89% of a lemon contains water while 10% is basically carbs. Carbohydrates are the primary component of fiber as well as simple sugars like sucrose, fructose, and glucose.
The fiber in lemons is Pectin which has great effectiveness in lowering blood sugar levels by slowing down the rate at which the body digests sugar.
Vitamins in Lemons are mostly
- Vitamin C: This acts as an antioxidant and is important for skin health, the immune system, and injuries.
- Potassium: Diets that are highly rich in potassium can lower blood pressure levels and also coordinate heart functions.
- Vitamin B6: This vitamin converts food into useful energy in the body.
Recall that lemons have plant compounds, what are these plant compounds?
They are organic bioactive components of plants that have a number of positive health effects. The plant compounds in lemons may have beneficial effects on cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. In lemons, you can find the following plant compounds:
- Hesperidin: This is also an antioxidant that strengthens blood vessels and prevents atherosclerosis – this is the building up of fatty deposits inside the arteries.
- Citric acid: This is most abundant in citrus plants that are organic, lemons inclusive. They prevent the formation of kidney stones.
- Diosmin: This is used in some drugs that affect circulation because they improve the muscles and reduces chronic blood vessel inflammation.
- D-limonene: This is found in lemon peels and lemon grasses too. D-limonene contains essential oils and is responsible for the distinctive aroma of lemons. It can reduce heartburn, and relieve stress and stomach reflux.
- Eriocitrin: It can also be found in lemon peels and their juice. It can also be effective for stomach pains and cramps that come with menstruation.
Note that most of these plant compounds are not found in just lemon juice, the whole fruit (peel excluded) should be eaten for maximum effect.
Health Benefits of Lemons
Lemons are the best organic citrus plants and have the most beneficial activities.
1. Heart health
Eating fruits high in vitamin C has been scientifically proven to reduce heart disease risk due to the rate at which people die from heart disease and heart complications is alarming.
Also, a high intake of these vitamins reduces stroke and lowers cholesterol levels which can also cause heart problems.
2. Prevention of Kidney Stones
The citric acid in lemons can reduce kidney stones in the body. Studies have shown that lemon and lemonades can be effective to minimize kidney stones.
3. Anemia prevention
Anaemia is an iron deficiency disease and is most common in teenagers and pre-menopausal women.
Lemons contain some amount of iron but since it is richly blessed with vitamin C and citric acid, these two vitamins increase the absorption of iron from other foods. Hence, since lemons enhance the absorption of iron, it is safe to say that they can prevent anemia.
Two plant compounds hesperidin and d-limonene found in lemon, help majorly in reducing the rate of cancer in the body. Breast cancer is an example of one of the diseases lemons reduce growth.
Negative Effects Of Lemons
As a popular saying goes, “Most advantages come with disadvantages too”, lemons also have some adverse effects on the body and health generally.
Citrus fruits can cause some allergic reactions in some people. They can also increase the rate of skin infections and diseases particularly, in people who have cases of dementia.
Finally, lemons when eaten too much can cause irritation in the teeth and grossly reduce dental health due to their acidic contents.
It is impossible to overstate the advantages of lemons, which are a common citrus fruit worldwide. They are the safest option for you if you’re seeking a health boost. You need to consume lemon in moderation to reduce the accumulation of too much citric acid in the body. Eating a lemon or drinking a cup of lemon juice every day are good options.
Do you still think lemon is an ordinary fruit? Drop your comments below.