Health Benefits of Lemon and Lime
Lemons and limes are citrus fruit from Rutaceae family, offering very similar nutritional profiles and health benefits. Though offering the same benefits, lemon is in fact a hybrid of lime.
Both lemons and limes have a long history of use in traditional medicine. They are a rich source of Vitamin C and folate; they also contain minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients.
In the Indian context, the Hindi word Nimbu refers to both lemons and lime.
Nutritional Facts
Lemon contain abundant vitamin C; it contains nearly half of the daily recommended intake. They contain small quantities of vitamin B6, folate, copper, manganese, and thiamine.
One lemon weighing approximately 58 grams contains 16.8 calories, 5.41 gm of carbohydrates, 1.6 gm of fibre, 1.5 gm of sugars, 0.6 gm protein, 0.2 gm fats, 80 mg of potassium, 30.7 mg of vitamin C, 15.1 mg of calcium, 9.3 mg phosphorus, 4.6 mg of magnesium, 1 mg sodium, 0.35 mg of iron, 0.2 mg of selenium, 6.4 mcg of folate, 0.6 mcg of vitamin A, etc.
Possible Health Benefits of Lemon/Lime…
1/5. Improves Heart Health
1. The folic acid and vitamin C content of lemons reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The vitamin C content of lemon helps in the adequate blood flow through the arteries and veins and restricts blood clots. This decreases the chances of heart attacks and strokes.
2. The flavonoids and potassium content of lemons help decrease the risk of stroke.
3. Limonin content of lemon/lime produces a favourable effect on reducing cholesterol. Limonin decreases apolipoprotein B, which is linked with increased cholesterol levels.
4. The presence of hesperidin in lime lowers the symptoms of high blood pressure.
5. The pectin and limonoid compounds of lemon slow down atherosclerosis.
2/5. Beneficial in weight loss
1. The soluble pectin fibre content of lemon helps in fighting hunger cravings, making you feel fuller for longer thus, promoting weight loss.
2. The fiber content of lemon leads to lower body weight and fat.
3. The polyphenol antioxidants present in lemons helps decrease weight gain.
4. Lemon limits inflammations and accelerates liver activity which sheds extra pounds; this is due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
5.Lemon boosts insulin resistance and decreases the fat level in the body.
3/5. Enhances immunity
1. Lemon is a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants which, strengthens the immune system.
2. The high content of vitamin C in lemon stimulates white blood cell production and it helps protect the integrity of immune cells.
3. Vitamin C protects leukocytes thus, fights against infections, protecting the body from infections.
4/5. Prevents kidney stones
1. Lemons and limes are citrus fruits that contain a good amount of citric acid. Citrate binds to calcium thus, preventing the formation of kidney stones.
2. Intake of lemon water not only increases the urine citrate levels but it also offers the water required to flush out stones.
3. Citrate makes the urine less acidic and also breaks up small stones.
5/5. Other possible benefits
Apart from the above-mentioned health benefits, lemons and lime do offer a few more benefits such as, decreases cancer risk, promotes pregnancy health, helps damaged livers, aids digestion cleanses the system, relieves toothaches and gingivitis, reduces inflammation, helps fight viral infections, detoxifies the body, reduces water retention, improve skin health, relieves a sore throat, lowers the risk of diabetes, promotes hydration, protects against anaemia, and prevents asthma.
Gives the immune system a huge boost. Lemon/lime are a great source of minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients.
How to use lemons?
Lemons can be used in various forms and for numerous purposes. Some of them are as follows:
- In Teas.
- Lemon Bars.
- Lemon Risotto.
- As Lemon Juice.
- As Lemon Water.
- As Lemon Pickle.
- As a preservative.
- For Salad Dressing.
- As Lemon Chutney.
- Lemon Doughnuts.
- In beauty products.
- As Lemon Cocktails.
- Lemon Pound Cake.
- In Cooking and baking.
- Savoury Lemon Recipes.
- To Marinatefish, meat, and chicken.
- As Lemon icing and frosting for baked goods.
How To make Ginger Lemon Honey Tea?
2 slices of lemon, ½ cup of sliced ginger, and ½ cup of raw honey are to be taken and mixed.
Allow it to settle for a few hours. It can be left in the refrigerator overnight.
Juices of both ginger and lemon infuse with the honey, giving thick syrup.
To make a healthy tea, add 1-2 spoonfuls of this syrup to a hot cup of water.
In case you want to make fresh lemon honey ginger tea then add lemon juice, a piece of ginger to boiling water, and cook on simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Later add honey to it.