Lemon Facts

Lemon trees are thought to have been present by 2 AD in Ancient Rome.

The citrus fruit lemons gives flavor to baked goods, sauces, salad dressings, marinades, drinks, and desserts, and  a good source of vitamin C.   Lemons are 5% citric acid.  Ph 2.2.  An average lemon contains 3 tbsp. of lemon juice and the calorie count is 15 calories. 

Lemons are a good source of Vitamin C  Vitamin C is essential for health, and a deficiency can lead to health problems.

The British Navy carries enough lemon onboard their ships to provide the sailors with 1 ounce of lemon juice a day.  The early explorers also knew the value of citrus and took lemons on their long voyages to help prevent or treat scurvy, a life threatening condition that was common among sailors.

Lemons are an excellent source of flavonoids, which are antioxidants which help remove free radicals that can damage cells in the body.  Other benefits include boosting your immune system.

Preventive health benefits

Lemons and lemon juice have antioxidants that may help prevent free radicals from causing cell damage that can lead to cancer. However, exactly how antioxidants can help prevent cancer remains unclear.

Boosting the immune system

Foods that are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants may help strengthen the immune system against the germs that cause the common cold and the flu.

One review found that, while vitamin C supplements do not appear the reduce the incidence of colds in a population, they may help reduce the length of time a cold lasts. Vitamin C may also help boost immunity in people who are undergoing extreme physical activity.

Squeezing a whole lemon into a glass of hot water with a large spoonful of honey, this makes a soothing drink for someone with a cough or cold and the lemon has antibacterial properties.

Scurvy Prevention

Although not common in modern day life, it is worth noting that if a person does not consume enough vitamin C, they will develop a deficiency which is known as scurvy. It is rare in the United States, but it can affect people who do not have a varied diet that includes Vitamin C.  Symptoms can start to appear within a month of not consuming vitamin C.  Symptoms include tiredness, inflamed gums in the mouth, joint pain, slow wound healing. 

The British Navy carries enough lemon onboard their ships to provide the sailors with 1 ounce of lemon juice a day.  The early explorers knew the value of citrus and took lemons on their long voyages to help prevent or treat scurvy, a life threatening condition that was common among sailors in the era of the early explorers. 

Lemons are a good source of Vitamin C  Vitamin C is an essential nutrient and antioxidant.  One lemon weighing 58 grams and contains 30.7 mg of Vitamin C.  This is approximately 1/3 of the daily Vitamin C requirement so adding other foods with Vitamin C into your daily intake is a good idea.  

When is a lemon ripe? Unlike many fruits, lemons do not ripen or improve in quality after picking. People should harvest lemons when they are ripe and store them at room temperature away from direct sunlight.

Food Fact  Lemons pair well with both savory and sweet dishes.  Add a squeeze fresh lemon juice over fish, shrimp, scallops, chicken.

Easy Salad dressing   A squeeze of lemon and small amount of olive oil with herbs is a great healthy alternative to bottled salad dressings as these dressings often contain additional salt, sugar, and other additives, and they can be high in fat and calories,

Although it is true that the nutrients in lemons offer several health benefits, it is difficult to obtain all the necessary nutrients from lemon due to the small amount of lemon typically recommended and consumed… so eat a varied diet and include of foods rich in Vitamin C in your food choices.