What Are Lemon/limes?
Lemons are the most popular and well-known citrus fruits that can be easily found in the market. There are many common properties between lemons and limes but they are also distinctly different. Limes are small and green while lemons are large and bright yellow. Lemons contain double the amount of Vitamin C present in limes. Lemons are slightly sweeter but limes have a bitter taste.
Citrus fruits and their related species originated in Southeast Asia and Australia. Lime is native to northern India, Myanmar, and northern Malaysia. But now it is grown throughout the tropical and warm regions. The origin of lemon on the other hand is not known. They are believed to be cultivated first in northeast India, Assam, Burma, and China.
How Are Lemon/limes Used?
Lemon and limes were traditionally used as ornamental plants but with the discovery of their various health benefits, they are now shipped throughout the world.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Lemon/limes?
Heart health:
Lemons are rich in vitamin C. One lemon provides 31 mg of Vitamin C which is half the daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. Research has shown that eating fruits that are rich in vitamin C reduces the risk of heart disease and also lowers the chances of suffering from a stroke. The fiber present in the lemons also contributes to the reduced risk of heart disease because a study revealed that eating citrus fiber daily reduces the level of cholesterol in the body. Compounds found in lemon hesperidin and diosmin also lower blood cholesterol levels.
Anemia:
The deficiency of blood in the body is called anemia and many different factors contribute to anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by the deficiency of iron. Although lemons contain a very small amount of iron they protect against iron deficiency anemia by increasing the absorption of iron in the body.
Iron from animal sources is absorbed easily in the body but the plant source iron is not absorbed very well. The citric acid and Vitamin C present in lemon increase the absorption of plant-based iron in the body. Thus, protecting the body from anemia.
Boost immunity:
Limes strengthen the immune system due to the presence of vitamin C. A test-tube study showed that Vitamin C increases the production of white blood cells in the body. White blood cells are your defense against foreign agents that enter your body. Vitamin C also helps in treating colds and flu. Vitamin C present in limes also helps in wound healing by producing a protein known as collagen.
Healthy skin:
The vitamin C present in limes improves the production of collagen- a protein that keeps the skin firm. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps in reducing oxidative stress in the body. Reactive oxygen species and free radicals result in oxidative stress that causes you to age faster. Limes are an inexpensive way to get healthy and younger-looking skin.
Kidney stones:
Kidney stones are small crystals that can form in your Kidneys when your body contains high levels of stone-forming minerals. Citrus fruits including lemon and lime can reduce the risk of kidney stones by producing compounds that bind those stone-forming Minerals and eliminate them from the body. Studies showed that people who eat citrus fruits are less likely to get kidney stones.
What Makes Lemon/limes An Anti-cancer Food?
A healthy diet is key to reducing the risk of cancer. Some studies found that people who hate citrus fruits have a reduced risk of cancer. Test-tube studies showed that the compounds found in lemon have the potential to kill cancer cells but human and animal studies are still needed. Other studies indicated that the compounds present in lemons like limonene and Naringenin have anticancer effects. D-limonene is a compound found in lemon oil and animal studies confirmed that it has anti-cancer properties. Other compounds present in citrus fruits like hesperidin and cryptoxanthin stop the metastasis of malignant tumors. Flavonoids present in limes stop the expression of genes that are involved in Cancer progression.
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