Well, gone are the days when we used to hear myths about different food items. Now, science has told almost everything about any eatable and we are learning new things with each passing year. Lemon is a greenish or yellowish berry fruit, rich in Vitamin C, A, B1, B6, magnesium, bioflavonoids, pectin, folic acid, phosphorous, calcium, and potassium and is commonly used in every house for several purposes. Lemon Health benefits are in huge numbers. From weight loss to skincare, it has been very beneficial for humans.
Nutrition:
One lemon weighing 70 grams (g) contains:
- Energy: 100 KJ
- carbohydrates: 7.20 g
- Calcium: 27.7 mg
- Iron: 0.40 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Magnesium: 4.8 mg
- Phosphorus: 9.7 mg
- Potassium: 84 mg
- vitamin C: 33.7 mg
- vitamin A: 0.8 mcg
There are many ways of eating lemons. Lemonade or Lemon water is the best way to consume lemon.
What are The Health Benefits of Lemon?
The biggest Health benefit of Lemon – Weight Loss:
- A lemon a day keeps the Fat away.
You must have heard from many people that eating a lemon does this and does that. However, they don really know how this happens. Don’t worry we have got you covered. Lemons contribute in many ways to weight loss.
Lemon water keeps you hydrated and increases your metabolism. This will help in weight loss. Study shows that 1 glass of lemonade burns calories, thus making it an important weight loss agent. Replacing soda drinks with natural lemon juice will reduce 200 calories per day. It also suppresses appetite. Furthermore, Pectin (a type of fiber) found in lemons, will not allow uncontrollable cravings. All of these result in weight loss.
Lemon Health benefits are directly proportional to Vitamin C quantity:
Lemons are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in reducing the risk of heart diseases, stroke, low blood pressure, and increase immunity.
- Your immune system relies on Vitamin C to work properly.
Vitamin C can essentially improve your body’s natural immunity against any undesirable foreign agent. Therefore, Vitamin C Immunity increasing activity makes it an important agent against Corona Virus too.
Lemon Helps in Digestion
Drinking warm lemon water before breakfast or when you wake up will help your digestive system. The acid in Lemon will help in breaking down food more efficiently. Thus, drinking lemon water reduces the risk of constipation.
Lemon health benefit for Skin:
Lemons are rich in Vitamin C, which helps reduce Sunburn, blackhead, scar, wrinkling, and dry skin from aging. A lemon has Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Septic properties which can rejuvenate Skin. That is why lemon is commonly used in Skin Products.
Protection against Kidney Stones:
The citric acid in lemon reduces urine acidity and sometimes even breaks little kidney stones. Citric acid also increases urination and decreases the formation of calcium kidney stones.
Enhance Liver Performance:
Lemons contain high amounts of Vitamin C- an antioxidant that is needed to manufacture glutathione. Glutathione aids in the neutralization of toxins. So, Lemons help the liver with detoxification. When a lemon is consumed, a liver can make more enzymes than any other fruit or vegetable… That is why the liver works better when lemon is consumed.
Control High Blood Pressure:
Lemon makes blood vessels soft and flexible. This helps in controlling high blood pressure. How? By reducing triglycerides. Triglyceride in your body causes weight gain, which in turn affects Blood Pressure. Thus, lemons normalize Blood pressure.
Strengthen Bones:
Lemon Peels help in improving bone condition. Lemon Peel has high amounts of Calcium and Vitamin C. That is why it is used to improve bones’ health and prevent bone-related diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis.
Besides health benefits, what are the Side effects of Lemon?
Anything consumed in high quantities is dangerous. Lemon is no different. However, few people are allergic to lemon. They must not consume lemon at any cost. Lemon, if consumed in high quantity, has the following disadvantages:
Bad for your Teeth:
Lemon consumed in high quantity can have adverse effects on Teeth. Lemons are highly acidic. They can erode your teeth’ enamel. Using concentrated lemonade can cause damage to cavities. However, a significant damage reduction is observed if you drink lemonade with a straw as the exposure of teeth is less to the acidity of lemon.
Skin irritation:
Lemon’s acidity can cause skin irritation. Excessive dryness and redness are common types of irritations. That is why people with sensitive skin should not try to use lemons on the skin.
Stomach Ache:
Having too many lemons cause a rise in acidity in the stomach which can upset the stomach. It can also lead to nausea and heartburn.
Long Story Short:
Lemon is Super-beneficial for your health. It can improve your immunity, organ health, skin complexion, and bone strength. Moreover, it can also cause weight loss. But, it must not be over-consumed. If you consume it more, then it will negatively impact your teeth, skin, and stomach. Consume it in normal quantity and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle is a choice, not an automatic response!
Also Read: Shocking connection between Eating High-fat foods and Heart failure.
