Lemon – Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects

The Lemon is a fruit that belongs to the citrus family. It is popular all over the world. People use it in cooking, cleaning, and baking.

All the parts of this fruit have a healthy property of their own. You can enjoy sweets made out of lemon peel or drink juice made from it. It is native to northeastern India.

Nutritional Content of Lemon

Lemon contains a variety of nutrients. It includes the following essential components;

• Calcium

• Iron

• Magnesium

• Potassium

• Vitamins A

• Vitamin B

• Vitamin C

• Soluble Fibers

• Citric Acid

• Calories

• Protein

• Carbohydrate

• Minute quantities of fat

Health Benefits of Lemon

Lemon has different health benefits. People use it for many years for different health effects. Some of the health benefits that it has are as follows;

1. Immunity Booster

Ample amounts of vitamin C in lemon help to boost immunity. This vitamin C helps in the formation of white blood cells and leukocytes.

These are the first line of defense in the human body. Hence, the body remains protected from different infection-causing microorganisms.

2. Improves absorption of Iron

Iron is essential for the synthesis of red blood cells. Lemon can be a condiment or a topping for different salads and main-course dishes.

A little dash of lemon on any other food ingredient helps your body to increase the absorption of iron from it.

That means that it is not only beneficial on its own. However, it also increases the nutritional benefits of other food.

3. Antioxidant

There are several healthy constituents present in lemon. These include limonene and Naringenin. Both of these are active compounds.

It helps to eliminate harmful radicals from the body. Lemon oil contains high levels of D-limonene that also has the same properties.

The research was to test the effects of D-limonene as an antioxidant on mice.

4. Digestive Aid

Lemons contain a minimal amount of carbohydrates. Most of these are soluble fibers. Pectin is the main component of the fiber present in lemon.

Pectin helps to improve gut flora. It also helps to slow down the digestion of sugars and starches. However, the maximum benefit of lemon for digestion is when you eat it with the pulp.

Therefore, it is advisable that whenever you are making lemonade, you add the pulp in it too.

MEDICAL USES

1. Kidney Stones

Among the family of citrus fruits, lemon has the highest content of citrate. Citrate binds to the calcium in the body.

It helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones. People who drink lemonade have fewer chances of developing kidney stones.

Lemon water increases the volume of urine, which is one of the ways to prevent kidney stones.

2. Stroke

Lemon contains high levels of vitamin C. The amount is so high that it meets 80% of the required daily intake.

Vitamin C present in lemon helps to dilate the blood vessels and relaxes them. People who regularly consume lemon do not have a build-up of plaque in their arteries.

Dilation of the blood vessels has many added benefits. Such as prevention of heart attack and stroke.

3. Hypertension

High sodium content in the blood is one of the reasons to develop hypertension. Lemon is rich in potassium.

This potassium helps to lower the levels of sodium in the body. Hence, the overall effect of lemon is the maintenance of blood pressure.

Make a habit of drinking lemon water and walking; it will help keep your blood pressure in check.

4. Obesity

Obesity is a problem for many. People often look for remedies to lose weight quickly. According to a study, people who drank lemon juice with honey four times a day lost weight.

Additionally, hot lemon water also helps to lose weight. The mechanism behind this weight loss effect of lemon is still unknown.

Switch your carbonated sweet drinks with lemon water and notice the difference

5. Cold and Flu

Lemon is rich in Vitamin C. Adequate levels of vitamin C gives serves as an anti-infective.

That is because vitamin C helps to boost immunity. It helps the body to stay away from the effects of seasonal flu.

Lemon water or tea is a cost-effective and potent way to fight all of these seasonal infections. Additionally, saponins present in lemon also play they are as antimicrobials.

6. Anti-Aging

Your skin damages as you age. People can notice dark spots and wrinkle prominently. Vitamin C and antioxidants help to prevent damage to skin cells. Hence keeping your skin radiant and young.

It is the reason that the use of lemon is very common in the cosmetic industry. Lemon scrubs help in the effective exfoliation of the skin.

Lemon also contains Vitamin B3, which helps to improve the complexion of the skin.

7. Anemia

Lemon helps to improve the absorption of iron due to the presence of citric acid and vitamin. This characteristic of lemon is important for people suffering from iron deficiency anemia.

So the next time you have food, sprinkle some lemon on it. It will help you keep your blood count normal.

8. Cancer

Lemons contain many compounds that tend to kill cancer cells. Limonene and Naringenin found in lemon has anti-cancer properties.

Lemon is effective against tumors of the tongue and lungs. Rodents were the subjects in this research.

Further research on humans will help to develop a more conclusive result.

9. Pregnancy Health

Folate is essential for pregnant women. Women often consume folate supplements. It helps to maintain the health of the fetus.

Enough amounts of folate help in protecting the fetus from neural tube defects. Lemon contains sufficient amounts of folate.

That is the reason that pregnant women should add lemon to their diet. It will reduce the need to have folate supplements regularly.

10. Hepatotoxicity

An increase in the consumption of alcohol damages the livers. A 2017 study on rats showed that lemon improved severe hepatotoxic effects.

It is, therefore, helpful in preventing liver diseases. This effect of lemon is the least discussed. It will require further researches on humans.

Side Effects:

• Lemon is safe to consume. It has no side effects. Lemon is very common in the list of healthiest fruits.

• Lemon in the form is essential is for inhalation and is very common in aromatherapy

• Application of on skin can increase your chance of getting a sunburn.

• For pregnant or breastfeeding women, there is not much research. Therefore, it is advisable to consume lemon is safe quantities and not over consume it.

• People who drink excessive lemon water may experience reflux or acidity. It is, therefore, not recommended for people with this condition to over-consume it.

• The citric acid in lemon is responsible for damaging the enamel of teeth. Therefore, the health professional does not recommend drinking raw lemon juice. It is essential to avoid applying lemon to the teeth directly.

CONCLUSION

Lemons are the oldest and healthiest fruits, and it tops the list in nutritional content. It is readily available in markets for the entire years. You can make savory or sweets dishes from it. It is helpful in different health conditions.

The side effect of lemon is associated with overconsumption. These side effects are minimal.

Adding lemonade in your daily life is the best thing you can do, and it has multiple health benefits. So go ahead and search from some yummy recipes that you can make at home.