Lemon is a peculiar citrus fruit. Did you know that lemons are actually a hybrid fruit? This means that they do not occur naturally in nature and are in fact a result of genetic crossing between orange and citron fruit. Fun fact: even oranges do not occur naturally in the wild and are a man-made hybrid. However, many of the hybrid fruits and vegetables created by man are nutritious and have significant health benefits. The lemon falls in this category too. Apart from making all of our dishes sour and zesty, this citrus fruit is helpful in helping us boost our immunity. Not just that, lemon can also improve heart health. From teas to tarts, the lemon has made its presence felt everywhere. Let us look at a few health benefits of this tangy ingredient:
1) Strengthens Digestive Health
This fibrous fruit is made of a soluble fiber called pectin which is an ally to human health. Pectin improves gut health and slows down the digestion of sugar and starches. This helps to reduce blood sugar levels. In order to reap the benefit of pectin, one needs to eat the lemon pulp. Merely drinking the juice as a sweetened beverage sans the fiber present in the pulp will lead to no significant gut health benefits.
2) Helps Maintain A Healthy Complexion
Lemon is rich in Vitamin C. This vitamin plays a very important role in the formation of collagen which is like a support system for our skin. The damage to skin and hair that comes about from sun exposure, pollution, stress and age can be prevented by making sure that you consume vitamin C in a sufficient quantity. Lemon can also enable our tissues and cells to repair faster, thereby boosting our body’s healing.
3) Supports Heart Health
Vitamin C is known to reduce risk of a heart stroke and heart disease. Lemons are rich sources of vitamin C with one lemon providing upto 31 mg of vitamin C. Along with vitamin C, the other component of lemon that helps to strengthen heart health is the fiber and plant compounds that exits in lemons. These fiber and plant compounds also significantly lower the risk factors for heart disease like high cholestrol. For instance, a study revealed that eating twenty four grams of lemon fiber extract daily for a month reduced total blood cholesterol levels. Hesperidin and diosmin - the two plant compounds found in lemon also help to lower cholesterol.
4) Helps Control Weight
You must have heard of an umpteen number of recipes that advocate the use of lemon to reduce weight. There are a few reasons behind why lemon is hailed as a citrus fruit that can help in weight loss. One possible reason for lemon aiding weight loss could be pectin. Pectin fiber expands within your tummy, helping you feel full for a long time. However, the catch is that - many lemon juice drinks that are promoted to help with weight loss, might not contain lemon pulp which contains the pectin. So for those who do not consume lemon as a whole including its pulp, the promised weight loss could remain a distant dream.