Health Benefits of Lemons

Lemons are a good source of vitamin C and of flavonoids, or antioxidants, which are thought to boost health and wellbeing in several ways.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), citrus fruits may help lower the risk of ischemic stroke in women.

A study of data from nearly 70,000 women over 14 years showed that those who ate the most citrus fruits had a 19 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke than women who consumed the least. Citrus fruits are a good source of flavonoids, which are thought to help protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It is caused by a blood clot blocking the flow of blood to the brain. Lemons and lemon juice are an excellent source of the antioxidant vitamin C.

Antioxidants may help prevent the formation of free radicals that are known to cause cancer, although the exact role played by antioxidants in cancer prevention remains unclear. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, the support system of the skin.

When eaten in its natural form or applied topically, vitamin C can help fight skin damage caused by the sun and pollution, reduce wrinkles, and improve overall skin texture... The risk of developing asthma appears to be lower in people who consume a high amount of certain nutrients, one of these being vitamin C, although further study is necessary. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in developed countries and a leading cause of anemia.

Pairing foods that are high in vitamin C with foods that are iron-rich maximizes the body's ability to absorb iron. Foods that are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants may help strengthen the immune system against the germs that cause cold and flu.

One study has indicated that, while vitamin C supplements do not appear the reduce the incidence of colds in a population, they may help reduce the duration of a cold. Vitamin C may also help boost immunity in people who are undergoing extreme physical activity.

Squeezing a whole lemon into a glass of hot water with a large spoonful of honey makes a soothing drink for someone a cough or cold.
One study, published in 2008, found that when rodents that received lemon phenols along with a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, they did not gain as much weight as rodents that did not receive the lemon-peel phenols. Lemon phenols are present in lemon peel.