A little sweet, a little sour, we all know whose bitter sour – Lemons! Yes, you got that right, the richest in vitamin C, fiber, and other various plant compounds that are beneficial to our health, it is the lemons and the marvelous health benefits of lemons we are going to talk about. Lemons are known as a popular fruit that many of you use in small quantities to add some flavor to food. They are rarely consumed alone due to their sour taste. However, whether consumed in warm water or in food, this tiny round-shaped fruit can provide over 30 mg of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is very essential for health and a deficiency of it can even lead to health problems. You can learn and understand the importance of vitamin C in our previous article, just so you know why we are dealing with lemons as one of the most nutritious ingredients when it comes to health benefits.
Lemons go a long way and the early explorers knew this! Lemons help in preventing and treating scurvy and other kinds of conditions that are quite commonly known. The nutrients lemon offers are responsible for several health benefits and in fact, can help in supporting heart and digestive health too. Besides giving the awesome flavor to food, it can be used in baked goods, sauces, salad dressings, drinks, and desserts too.
A perfect source of vitamin C, you can now explore plenty of ways to use them in food to avoid any potential health risks.
Here are 5 helpful and useful health benefits of lemons:
An excellent source of vitamin c and flavonoids too, lemons act as the best antioxidant as it helps in eradicating free radicals that can damage cells from the body. The nutrients found in lemons can prevent you from many severe diseases and result in boosting overall health and wellbeing.
1. Controls weight
Lemon extracts help in preventing or reducing weight in many ways and is often promoted as a great weight-loss food and here’s a theory! The soluble pectin fiber in lemons expands in your stomach which helps you feel full. This being said, many of you consume lemon as a whole either in warm water as lemon juice or adding flavor to the food. Drinking lemon juice may not promote fullness in the same way, but some theories say that hot water with lemon will surely help in losing those extra pounds.
2. Prevents from cancer
As an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin c, lemons help in preventing and keeping you free from radicals that can be very harmful to your body; and can lead to cancer. While research shows that some plant compounds from lemons and other citrus fruits have anticancer properties, there is no concrete evidence that lemons are the only ones that can fight cancer in humans. However, it reduces the risks of cancer.
3. Increases iron absorption
The most common deficiency of iron is a leading cause of anemia. Foods that are rich in vitamin c can actually be the best form to maximize your body’s ability to absorb iron. In fact, research shows that pica i.e. craving for citrus fruits is a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. Consuming vitamin c does not have to be a high intake as it can trigger other problems such as issues related to gastrointestinal. It is important that you maintain moderate levels of vitamin c and iron to stay healthy. For this reason, it is suggested that you consume iron from dietary sources such as lentils, raisins, animal meats, spinach, and beef. You can also squeeze a little lemon into your salad, spinach that can help maximize the intake of both iron and vitamin c.
4. Boosts overall immune system
Foods rich in vitamin c and other antioxidants help in strengthening the immune system against bacteria and infections or common causes such as cold and flu. The benefits of vitamin c can help reduce the length of time your cold lasts and lemons are considered to be a good source of this. Consuming lemon in hot water not only reduces your chances of catching a cold but also helps in boosting the immune system especially if you are undergoing any physical activities.
5. Prevents risks of kidney stones
Kidney stones are small lumps that form when waste products build up in your kidneys and in order to avoid this, a healthy amount of citric acid is required in your body. This is very common and people who get it once are prone to getting them repeatedly if not taken care of. Since lemons contain citric acid, it can help prevent you from getting kidney stones by increasing urine volume and pH, creating less space for kidney stone formation. Perhaps, just half a cup of lemon juice per day can provide enough citric acid to help prevent you from getting kidney stones.
The Bottom Line
It is true that lemons contain a high amount of citric acid, vitamin C, and offer great health benefits. From aiding weight loss to reducing your risk of anemia, kidney stones, and cancer, lemons are nothing but a health savior. Not just a very healthy fruit, but they also have a favorable, pleasant taste, and smell that makes you want for more and definitely acts as a great addition to foods and drinks too. Let us know how lemons have helped you in coping up with your health in the comments section below.
