Lemon - medicinal properties and harm, composition and calorie content

Lemon is one of the most beneficial fruits for human health. The fruit is not only eaten, but also used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Lemon will help you lose weight and tone up after exercise in the gym. The fruit is rich in minerals and vitamins, and primarily vitamin C.

Lemon is a low-calorie product that you can and should eat during your diet, as it speeds up your metabolism. Regular consumption of the fruit strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of infectious diseases.

Lemon composition and calorie content

The chemical composition of lemon is rich in vitamins, macro- and microelements that can saturate the body, regardless of the method of use: in its own form, in the form of juice with water, tea with a slice of fruit or dishes with lemon juice dressing. The calorie content of lemon is low and is 29 kcal per 100 g.

The energy value of lemon juice per 100 g is 16.1 kcal, and the calorie content of the fruit zest is 15.2 kcal. The calorie content of a lemon without a peel, respectively, is 13.8 kcal per 100 g. Sun-dried lemon has a high calorie content, which equals 254.3 kcal per 100 g. If you add about 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to a glass of water, then the calorie content of the drink without honey or sugar will be 8.2 kcal per 100 g.

Note: on average, the weight of 1 lemon is 120-130 g, which means that the calorie content of 1 piece. - 34.8-37.7 kcal.

Nutritional value of lemon peeled per 100 g:

• carbohydrates - 2.9 g;
• proteins - 0.9 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• water - 87.7 g;
• organic acids - 5.8 g;
• ash - 0.5 g.

The ratio of BZHU per 100 g of lemon is 1: 0.1: 3.1, respectively.

The chemical composition of the fruit per 100 g is presented in the form of a table:

In addition, lemon contains fructose - 1 g, sucrose - 1 g, glucose - 1 g per 100 grams of product. As well as polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3.

© tanuk - stock.adobe.com

Benefit for health

The beneficial properties of lemon are associated not only with strengthening immunity during the cold season, but also with help in losing weight. The most obvious health benefits of the fruit are as follows:

1. Lemon is primarily used as an ingredient in dishes, which is very useful for saturating the body with vitamins that are part of the product. Moreover, the fruit stimulates the production of leukocytes, due to which the immune system is strengthened and the body is cleansed of toxins and toxins.
2. Consuming fruit pulp or lemon juice on a regular basis is good for joints, as lemon can help reduce inflammation in arthritis.
3. Lemon affects the condition of blood vessels, strengthens capillaries and improves blood circulation, as a result of which pressure decreases and the risk of developing varicose veins decreases.
4. The fruit is useful for people who have nervous work or have increased irritability, as lemon prevents mood swings and reduces the likelihood of emotional breakdowns. In addition, lemon essential oil has anti-stress properties. The fruit has a positive effect on brain function and prevents the development of degenerative diseases.
5. Lemon has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system and helps to fight infectious diseases, tonsillitis, asthma and other pathologies of the respiratory system. The fruit relieves sore throat and mouth.
6. The systematic use of the product helps in the treatment of diseases such as hepatitis C. In addition, lemon juice helps to stop the process of liver enlargement.
7. Lemon is good for kidney and bladder function. It is an effective prophylactic agent for gout, hypertension, kidney stones, kidney failure.
8. Lemon juice reduces redness and irritation caused by insect bites or contact with poisonous plants such as nettles.

Lemon is used in the fight against cancer: to some extent, it contributes to the destruction of metastases in breast, kidney or lung cancer. In addition, fruit juice is recommended for use by athletes before and after physical training, as it promotes rapid recovery.

Note: frozen lemon almost completely retains the composition of vitamins and macronutrients, so it has the same beneficial effect on the human body as fresh fruit.

Medicinal properties of lemon

Due to the high content of ascorbic acid in lemons, the product has medicinal properties, and it is often used in folk medicine. The most common uses for lemon:

1. During colds, lemon pulp is added to hot tea and eaten on its own. In the case of drinking lemon, along with hot liquid, more vitamins A and C enter the body, which help fight infectious diseases. You can brew tea with lemon leaves.
2. Systematic consumption of the fruit normalizes the digestive system and relieves constipation due to the presence of fiber in the product. In the treatment of constipation, massage is prescribed using lemon essential oil.
3. The product helps to normalize blood pressure. And thanks to the iron in the blood, which is part of the lemon, the process of the appearance of red blood cells is accelerated, so the fruit is recommended to be added to the diet for people suffering from anemia.
4. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, the fruit is effective in treating sore throats. Lemon is recommended both to eat in its own form, and to gargle with lemon juice.

Moistening a cotton ball with lemon juice diluted with water can help relieve redness from burns.

Slimming lemon water

Many people know that the morning should be started with a glass of water. In order for the procedure not only to prepare the stomach for the first meal, but also to accelerate the metabolism, it is necessary to drink water with lemon to speed up the process of losing weight.

Those wishing to lose weight are advised to drink room temperature water with a few tablespoons of lemon juice in the morning on an empty stomach and at night, about an hour before bedtime. You can add half a teaspoon of natural honey to such a drink in the morning.

Lemon juice, pulp and zest are useful for adding in the preparation of various dishes, for example, salad, porridge, or as a sauce for serving fish.

A glass of water with lemon juice drunk on an empty stomach increases acidity in the body, which stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and speeds up the metabolism. During sports, it is also recommended to drink water with added juice to speed up the process of losing weight.

There are many lemon diets, but nutritionists do not recommend adhering to strict diets, from which it is difficult to exit correctly, but to revise the diet and increase the amount of fluid consumed per day to 2-2.5 liters.

Scientists have proven that lemon essential oil reduces hunger and suppresses appetite by interrupting other delicious food odors. It is also used for body wraps and massage treatments to accelerate weight loss.

© Wako Megumi - stock.adobe.com

Cosmetic application of the fruit

Lemon is widely used as a cosmetic at home:

1. You can lighten your hair with lemon juice mixed with coconut oil. You need to apply the mixture to your hair and go out for a walk on a sunny day.
2. Lemon will help to discolor freckles on the face and body, as well as age spots. To do this, soak a cotton pad with lemon juice and apply to the appropriate areas of the skin.
3. To lighten the skin on the face, lemon juice is added to a moisturizer.
4. Lemon juice will strengthen your nails. Make a hand bath with lemon pulp and olive oil.
5. Lemon juice will relieve dandruff by massaging it into your scalp.

The juice has been successfully used as a face tonic to relieve acne.

Harm to the body

Eating lemon for allergies or eating a poor quality product can be harmful.

Contraindications to the use of the fruit are as follows:

• a stomach ulcer or any inflammatory process in the digestive tract;
• gastritis;
• pancreatitis;
• kidney disease;
• individual intolerance.

Important! Drinking undiluted lemon juice is not recommended, as the drink is acidic and can harm the stomach. In case of problems with the digestive tract, it is also not recommended to drink water with lemon on an empty stomach.

The contraindications for eating frozen lemon are the same as for fresh fruit. The zest can only have a negative effect on the body if it is spoiled.

© Christian Jung - stock.adobe.com

Outcome

Lemon is a healthy, low-calorie fruit that can help you not only diversify your diet, but also lose weight. The fruit is widely used in folk medicine and home cosmetology. The product has a positive effect on health, strengthens the immune system and has a minimum number of contraindications.

Watch the video: Benefits of Lemon (May 2025).