Lemon or citrus is a sour fruit that has many important benefits for health and beauty. It has wonderful medicinal properties which stem from its richness with high levels of necessary nutritional elements such as minerals and vitamins.
Since ancient times, lemon has been used as a juice to drink, a flavor for foods, and as a medication to treat some health problems. It has also been used for aesthetic purposes.
In this article, we are going to talk about this wonderful fruit, its constituents, and its side effects
The word “lemon” is taken from an old French word (Limon). This French word is also taken from the original Arabic word (El-laymounmone). So it is authentically an Arabic word that means: a tree of the citrus family that includes oranges, tangerines, lemons, etc. Besides, lemon is a hybrid of bitter orange, as genetic research has shown.
Researchers have proven that the main cause of the distinctive smell of lemon is a chemical compound named (limonene) It is an organic, hydrocarbon compound that contains just carbon and hydrogen. It is aliphatic and homocyclic.
Lemon contains several organic acids. The most concentrated of these acids is citric acid. It is this acid in particular that gives lemon its sour taste.
At the beginning of the appearance of the lemon fruit, its color is green. This is due to the effect of a chemical compound called chlorophyll which gives plants and fruits their green color. During the ripening stage of lemon, several chemical compounds called Carotenoids and Flavonols work together to give it its yellow color.
Lemon contains the following chemicals:-
It is the compound that gives lemon its pleasant smell.
These are the compounds that give lemon its yellow color during the ripening stage.
Lemon contains vitamin C which boosts immunity. It is very important for the body. As a result of its deficiency in the human body, the person develops a disease called scurvy, whose symptoms include: bleeding gums, and swollen joints.
They are heterocyclic organic compounds of plant pigments that we find in “plastids” and give plants a yellow or orange color.
Examples of these acids are malic acid and citric acid.
It may be odd for some to say that lemon contains sugar because its taste is sour, not sweet. Research has proven that lemon contains an important percentage of sugar. Not only that, the percentage of sugar in lemon is higher than that in strawberry!!. Because of the concentration of citric acid, with its pungent taste, in lemon, you do not feel the taste of sugar.
Lemon contains lots of minerals that are essential for the body. They are sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorous, and magnesium.
Some of these compounds are calcium oxalate, citrine, kaminium, flander, and pectin.
When we squeeze lemon, oranges, or tangerine peel, volatile oils come out and cause pain in your eye if they reach it. These oils are several chemical compounds called Volatile oils. They differ from one plant to another. We can extract them from the peel in certain ways and use them for different purposes, such as perfumes, flavors and aromas of foodstuffs, and many pharmaceutical industries.
The volatile oils in lemons contain many organic chemical compounds such as alpha and beta-pinene, sabinene, alpha-terpinene, linalool, geraniol, farnesene, etc.
Lemon has lots of uses that benefit both our health and beauty. Listed below are some of these uses:
Lemon juice helps to combat cardiovascular diseases, thanks to its richness in potassium, which is important for the health of the circulatory system.
َAdditionally, potassium helps control blood pressure levels and stimulates the body to relax physically and mentally. Similarly, vitamin C helps maintain the heart’s health.
Lemon contains citric acid in high concentrations that exceed other types of citrus fruits such as grapefruit and orange. This acid helps prevents the formation and crystallization of kidney stones.
To treat the scars or acne, put a little fresh lemon juice on them and see what happens. These scars and acne disappear over time. This can be achieved thanks to the skin-lightening properties that exist in lemon.
To answer the how-to question, we say just put a little lemon juice on the place of the scar and leave it for 5 minutes. Then, wash the place very well, and you will see the difference.
Because of their richness in vitamin C, yellow citrus fruits help treat various respiratory problems, including breathing difficulties and annoying asthma attacks. It is very important for our immune system and respiratory health.
Lemon is also an important natural remedy for sore throats as it contains antibacterial properties.
When applied locally and regularly, lemon juice helps break up calluses, especially hard ones. In the same way, acids that exist in lemon help greatly in breaking up gallstones.
Eating foods rich in vitamin C along with foods rich in iron helps to improve the absorption of iron from these foods and improve the body’s ability to utilize it.
Therefore, the use of acids in moderation during food preparation helps to combat anemia.
The benefits of lemon acids are not limited to the above ones, but they extend to getting other benefits which are:
Drinking a glass of warm water with lemon, or a cup of tea mixed with lemon juice, on an empty stomach has incredible and tremendous health benefits and is the simplest natural way to improve your health.
In the following part of this article, you will discover these benefits and how to use lemon properly to avoid its possible side effects.
When eating lemon or drinking its juice, it:
It was found that the antioxidants in lemon significantly reduce weight loss. So drinking water with lemon on an empty stomach every morning is a healthy habit to follow in the diet because it gives a feeling of satiety and fullness.
Water is the best drink to enhance the hydration of the human body. But many people do not like its taste. Lemon can be added to water to enhance its flavor. This is very necessary for the body’s hydration.
One of the benefits of lemon on an empty stomach is that it triggers health and blood vessels. It reduces the possibility of low blood pressure and strokes.
The vitamin C in ci
trus enters collagen and helps reduce skin wrinkles and skin dryness that result from aging and sun damage. It also protects it from acne and pimple problems.
It helps to motivate the digestive system. It makes food easily digestible and prevents toxins from accumulating.
Therefore, people who suffer from constipation should make of drinking lemon juice a daily habit because it is healthy and helps treat the problem of constipation.
One of the benefits of eating this fruit on an empty stomach is that it rids the mouth of the unpleasant smell that may be present in some people.
The presence of citric acid in lemons may help prevent kidney stones. Citrate is a component of citric acid, which makes urine less acidic and may break small stones.
Health professionals have found that lemon has properties that increase its ability to contribute to the prevention of cancer, especially esophageal cancer.
One of the benefits of lemon on an empty stomach, and also if eaten between meals, is that it helps reduce blood sugar levels. This happens thanks to its richness in vitamin C, which regulates sugar levels in the body.
One of the benefits of eating lemon on an empty stomach is that it boosts the respiratory system because lemon contains limonene, which fights Streptococcus bacteria that often constitutes a threat to the respiratory system and the mouth.
Because of the vitamin C that it contains, lemon strengthens the body’s immunity and rids it of various microbes. This contributes to reducing colds, in addition to limiting the formation of phlegm and mucus.
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