When life gives you a lemon, say thank you. This article will show why we must thank the popular, versatile citrus fruit lemon for its merits.

Lemons are an integral part of our diet; one can juice them, squeeze them over food, create desserts with them, pickle them, and consume them in many other ways. This tiny fruit adds flavor and freshness; however, lemons are rarely consumed alone due to their intense and sour taste.

Interestingly, while lemons are naturally acidic, they become alkaline after we digest them. We usually find lemons in the grocery store’s vegetable section, but are they vegetables or fruits?

By definition, a fruit is a seed-bearing structure that develops from the ovary of a plant. So yes, lemon is a fruit, a kind of berry with a leathery rind. Lemon’s yellow peel contains essential oils; the fleshy interior comprises separate sections or pistils with fluid-filled sacs and five to ten seeds which are typical fruit characteristics.

The lemon tree, citrus Limon, is a small evergreen species in the flowering plant family Rutaceae. It is native to South Asia, primarily North eastern India. A study of its genetic origin suggests that lemon is a hybrid of bitter orange and citron.

Lemon contains many vitamins( niacin, thiamine, choline, pantothenic acid, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B6) and minerals (calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc), which are essential for the human body.

Compounds in lemons may reduce Low-density lipoprotein levels (LDL), referred to as bad cholesterol, in the blood. ¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003767/

Detoxifies The Body And Fights Water Retention

Lemons play an active role in flushing out bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs). They have antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antiviral properties due to alkaloids. ²https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12482628, ³https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15186844/ Lemons are also naturally diuretic and can fight water retention in the body.

Improves Skin Health

Lemons have anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, making them one of the best natural foods for the skin. A 2014 study suggested that eating foods rich in vitamin C can help prevent skin damage from sun exposure, infections, pollution, and aging. ⁴https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09168451.2014.915728

Boosts Immunity

The vitamin C in lemons is great for boosting immunity and fighting colds and flu. It may reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of respiratory tract infections. ⁵https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16373990/ Vitamin C is also vital for immune system functioning, wound healing, and helping the body absorb iron from foods. ⁶https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16373990/

Ayurveda encourages a whole lemon in a glass of hot water with a large spoonful of honey for someone with a cough or cold.

Fights Kidney Stones

Lemons have a high concentration of citrate, which helps reduce the risk of kidney stones. ⁷https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17919696/, ⁸ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17382731/ Lemon juice can be an alternative treatment for urinary calcium stones in patients with hypocitraturia (low urine citrate levels), a risk factor for kidney stone formation. ⁹https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18946667/

May Help Prevent Cancer

Lemons are an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin C, which may help prevent free radical damage that may lead to cancer. ¹⁰https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1591317/

Adding lemon juice to water with or without honey can make it easier to enjoy while benefiting from its health-promoting properties and nutrients. There are many merits to drinking warm water with lemon juice, especially in the morning, as it positively affects gut health. ¹¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6616395/

Adding lemon juice to hot water adds citrus flavor and adds nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to the water. ¹²https://www.ejpmr.com/home/abstract_id/220 Hydration plays a significant role in our overall health and well-being. During sleep, the body dehydrates for at least eight hours.

Giving the body ample water after waking up is a great way to hydrate and energize the body and mind. Adding a bit of lemon juice may make the water tastier and add the health benefits of lemons. Plus, drinking lemon water instead of juice or soda can be beneficial since it reduces added sugar intake.

Related Article: Why Water Is Important for Health? | Optimal Water Intake Per Day

Flushes Out Toxins

Lemon water might help detoxify the liver. A Chinese study of mice suggested that lemon juice might reduce or even reverse the liver’s excessive alcohol consumption effects. ¹³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5439254/

Boosts Energy 

A concoction of honey and lemon with warm water is a natural power-packed drink that can boost energy levels in the morning and during workouts.

Fights Bacteria

Honey and lemon juice generally possess antibacterial properties and are used in alternative medicine to treat respiratory tract infections. ¹⁴https://actascientific.com/ASMI/pdf/ASMI-01-0023.pdf.

Detoxifies The Body

Water with lemon and honey is a naturally detoxifying drink. If you prefer a sweeter drink than lemon and water alone, drinking lukewarm water with lemon and moderate amounts of pure or organic honey on an empty stomach can be beneficial.

Helps In Digestion

Lemon and honey in warm water may reduce constipation and promote digestion. This drink is beneficial in cleansing the colon and might help prevent obesity and elevated triglyceride levels. ¹⁵https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4910284/

A dietitian may advise drinking a glass of warm water with lemon first thing in the morning if you want to lose weight. There are a few reasons for this advice.

Warm water increases body temperature, which increases the metabolic rate and allows the body to burn more calories. Drinking warm water and lemon may also help break down body fat. ¹⁶https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14671205/ The drink can increase fullness, which can help with weight loss. ¹⁷https://www.ejpmr.com/home/abstract_id/220

In 2016, 84 premenopausal Korean women with a high body mass index (BMI) followed a lemon detox diet or another diet for seven days. Those who followed the lemon detox diet experienced more significant declines in insulin resistance, body fat, BMI, body weight, and waist-hip ratio than those on the other diets. ¹⁸https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6336301/, ¹⁹https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25912765/

Remember that lemons have a high acid content, so their juice may affect people with mouth ulcers and patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Including lemons and lemon water in the daily diet can improve health and physical well-being, especially if one wants to lose weight.

What do you think about the article? Have any questions? Let me know in the comments below!