Lemons are packed with plentiful health benefiting nutrients.
The fruit is low in calories, only 29 calories per 100 gram, one of the lowest
among citrus group. Lemon contains no saturated fats or cholesterol, but is wealthy in dietary fiber (7.36% of RDA). Its acidic
taste is due to citric acid. Citricacid is present up to 8% in its juice.
Citric acid is a natural preservative, aids, digestion. Most of studies found
that citric acid plentiful to helping in dissolve kidney stones. Lemons, like
other citrus fruits, are exceptional source of ascorbic acid and provide about
88% of DRI). Ascorbic acid or vitamin-C is a powerful water soluble natural
anti-oxidant. This vitamin is helpful in preventing scurvy. Besides,
consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps body develop resistance against
infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the
blood. Lemons like oranges contain a diversity of phytochemicals. Hesperetin
and naringenin are flavonoid glycosides commonly found in citrus fruits.
Naringenin is found to
have a bio-active effect on human health as antioxidant, free radical
scavenger, anti-inflammatory, and immune system modulator. This substance has
also been shown to decrease oxidant injury to DNA in the cells in-vitro
studies. And also contain diminutive level of vitamin A, and other flavonoid
anti-oxidants such as α and ß-carotenes, beta-cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin and
lutein. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A
also requisites for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is also
essential for vision. Consumption of natural fruits rich in flavonoids helps
body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers. Total ORAC value, which
measures the anti-oxidant strength of 100 g of fresh lemon juice, is 1225 µmol
TE (Trolex equivalents).They also an excellent source of B-complex vitamins
such as pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, and folates. These vitamins are vital in
the sense that body has need of them from external sources to replenish. Lemons
contain healthy amount of minerals, like iron, copper, potassium, and calcium. Potassium
in a significant component of cell and body fluids assists control heart rate
and blood pressure.
