Lemon – Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Summer is coming, and on a hot summer day, nothing is more refreshing than a glass of lemonade. Lemonade makes you feel calm and refreshed right away.

Lemon is a fruit with a flavour. Even a small amount of lemon juice can make a big difference in food and drinks. Adding a few drops of lemon juice to curries, soups, or drinks makes them taste better.

What is lemon?

Lemons have always been around. Citrus lemon is the scientific name for this bright, round fruit that comes from the family of flowering plants called Rutaceae. This bright yellow citrus fruit is full of citric acid, which gives it a tangy, sour taste. Even though they can be found all over the world in different shapes and sizes, lemons come from Assam and other parts of Myanmar and China.

Nutritional value of lemon:

Lemon is full of vitamin C and also has B6, copper, potassium, magnesium, zinc, flavonoids, antioxidants, phosphorus, and vitamin B6. It doesn't have many calories or fat. The lemon's vitamin C also makes it easier for the body to absorb iron.

Lemon for weight loss:

Lemon juice is a great drink for your overall health because it is full of important vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibres. Lemon juice can help you lose weight because it burns fat. But you don't have to drink lemon juice all day if you want to lose weight. Just adding it to your daily diet is enough. If you drink lemon juice every day, your body will change quickly from fat to fit.

Best time for lemon water:

Mornings are said to be the best time to drink lemon water.  It is said that mornings are the best time to try to lose weight because that's when your metabolism is the fastest.

Health benefits of lemon:

1. Prevents Wrinkles 

It's all the ascorbic acid, which is another name for vitamin C. Since your body can't make it, you have to eat things that contain it. It helps your body make collagen, which gives your skin its fullness and elasticity. If there isn't enough, it will start to crease. Yes, that's also a natural part of getting older, but with the right vitamins and food, you can slow it down.

2. Boosts energy level

Thiamin and riboflavin are vitamins that help turn the food you eat into the energy you need. They are part of a group of vitamins called B complex. In addition, they help your cells grow and do their jobs. You can get a small amount of what you need every day from just one medium-sized lemon or lime.

3. Packed with Antioxidants

Vitamin C, phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential oils, and coumarins are all abundant in lemons and limes. They are part of a group of substances called antioxidants that protect the body. They work together to fight the bad guys, called free radicals, which damage your cells and cause diseases and other health problems.

4. Kills bacterias:

Their high acid content gives your salad greens just the right amount of sour taste. It also kills salmonella bacteria which could reside on your food, your chopping board, or your kitchen counter. If you want to make sure your greens are clean, a mixture of half vinegar and half lemon juice should kill most of the bacteria in about 15 minutes.

5. Prevents Kidney Stones

High levels of citric acid in both the fresh fruit and the lemon juice concentrate can double the amount of citrate in the urine without changing how much urine is passed. Studies have shown that drinking lemonade or lemon juice concentrate can keep you from getting kidney stones by making your urine contain citrate, which stops crystals from forming.

6. Helps with throat infections

When a person has an infection in their throat, they are often told to take lemon cough drops. This is because lemons have antibacterial properties that will lessen the effects of the bacteria and make you feel better.

7. Supports hair growth

Lemon has a lot of vitamin C, which helps collagen and hair growth by making hair follicles work harder. If you have been losing hair, mix two tbsp of lemon juice with aloe vera gel and put it on your scalp 30 minutes before you take a bath. Then, rinse it off with a gentle hair cleanser.

Best ways to use lemon:

Warm water with lemon and honey:

One of the best things you can do for your body in the morning is to drink a mixture of warm water, lemon juice, and honey. This is a detox drink that helps you get rid of waste. The taste of lemon is sharp and makes a great way to start the day.

Lemon pickle

If you like the taste of lemon, you will salivate at the thought of lemon pickle just like we do. Lemon pickle is made in most Indian homes and eaten with meals. It is healthy because it uses the whole fruit, including the skin, which is full of nutrients. Most lemon pickles are made with water instead of oil. But when it comes to pickles, you should be careful not to eat more than two teaspoons per day.

Lemonade

One of the best things about summer is a tall glass of lemonade. Lemonade is easy to make. All you need is water and lemon juice. If you want to improve the taste, you can add salt, sugar, and chaat masala. During the hot months, people in north India also like to drink a drink called shikanji after meals or in the evening. Some people even mix lemonade with soda instead of water, which is not as healthy, so try to avoid the fizz if you can.  

Lemon in salads 

If you find salads boring, you can spice them up by squeezing lemon juice on them. With lemon juice, honey, and vinaigrette, you can make the most delicious and healthy salad ever. A squeeze of lemon on a green salad can also make it taste good. Add some chaat masala for more flavour.