Lemon: Introduction, Importance & Benefits

The lemon (citrus limon) is a species of small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Rutacease, native to South Asia , primarily Northeast India.

Lemon trees are a small ever green trees that tend to spread fast. They grow up to 10- 12 feet tall in cultivated plantations. This tree flourishes extremely well in ideal temperate and tropical environment. Having said that if exposed to extremely cold and frosty climate they will tend to drupe and wither or it may harshly affect their growth. The stem of this tree often adorns sharp stout thorns protecting the flowers and the fruits. A fully grown lemon tree bears a refreshing white flowers with fragrance that heals the soul.

This small round shaped fruit has a deceptive size as it houses many health benefiting nutrients that is even better than larger fruits belonging to this family.

There are many ways to enjoy lemons, but they taste very sour and are usually not eaten alone or as a whole fruit.

Importance of lemon

Lemon are a popular fruit that people use in small quantities to add flavor to food. The benefit of consuming lemon early morning with a glass of lukewarm water is a remedial measure to weight loss and also detoxification Lemon give flavor to baked goods, sauces, salad dressing, marinades, drinks and desserts.

Health benefits of lemon

Lemons are the great source of vitamin C and fiber and contain many plant compounds, minerals and essential oils. One 58 gram lemon can provide over ,30 miligram of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for health and deficiency can lead to health problems. Eating lemons may lower your risk of heart disease Cancer and kidney stones. The plant compounds in lemon and other citrus fruit may have beneficial effects on cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Lemon are an excellent source of vitamin C and flavonoids, which are antioxidants. Antioxidants help remove free radicals that can damage cells from the body. These nutrients can help prevent disease and boost health and well-being.

Consumption of lemon can treat various ailments such as throat infections, constipation, obesity, dental problems, high blood pressure, skin problems etc. these treatments are not any new discoveries but have been popular since generations. Lemon also aids in strengthening the immune system as it cleanses the stomach and keeps impurities at bay.

There are some of the possible benefits of consuming lemons :

Lowering stroke risk

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It can happen when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain.

A study of data from nearly 70,000 women over 14 years showed that those who ate the most citrus fruits had a 19% lower risk of ischemic stroke than women who consumed the least. According to a 2012 study, the flavonoids in citrus fruits may help lower the risk of ischemic stroke in women.

Cancer prevention

Lemon and lemon juice are an excellent source of the antioxidant vitamin Cm Antioxidant may help prevent free radicals from causing cell damage that can lead to cancer. However, exactly how antioxidants can help prevent cancer remain unclear.

Preventing asthma

People with asthma who consume higher amount of vitamin C and other nutrients when they have a cold may experience fewer asthma attacks, according to one review. The author found evidence that vitamin C also benefitted people with bronchial hypersensitivity when they also had a common cold.

Prevents kidney stones

Citric acid may help prevent kidney stones by increasing urine volume and increasing urine pH, creating less chance for kidney stone formation.

Improve digestive health

The main fiber in lemons is pectin, a form of soluble fiber linked to multiple health benefits. Soluble fiber can improve gut health and slow the digestion of sugar and starches. These effects may results in reduced blood sugar levels.

Increasing iron absorption

Pairing food that are high in vitamin C with iron-rich foods maximizes the body’s ability to absorb iron.

Boosting the immune system

Foods that are high in vitamin C and other antioxidants may help strengthen the immune system against the germs that cause the common cold and the flu. Vitamin C may also help boost immunity in people who are undergoing extreme physical activity.

Weight loss

In a 2008 study, rodents who consumed lemon peel phenols with a high fat diet for 12 weeks gained less weight than those who did not consume lemon. Drinking hot water with the lemon loses the weight.

Support heart health

As lemon is the good source of vitamin C.One lemon provides about 31 mg of vitamin C, which is 51% of the reference daily intake (RDT). Research shows that eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, it’s not only the vitamin C that is thought to be good for your heart. The fiber and plant compounds in lemons could also significantly lower some risk factors for heart disease.

Beauty benefits of lemon

Lemon is considered to be natural bleach and is a key promoter skin lightening agents. Sun tans and black heads can be very easily treated by applying lemon juice on cleansed face. Applying lemon juice on scalp also helps in keeping dandruff at bay. Vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, the support system of skin. It prevents the damage of skin like sun exposure, pollution, age and other factor can result in skin damage. A 2014 mouse study suggested that either eating vitamin C in its natural form or applying it tropically can help prevent this type of damage.

Medicinal uses of lemon

Lemon contain high medicinal value, powerful antibacterial properties. Lemon juice has many health benefit can be used for different purpose like therapeutically uses, natural antiseptic to control asthma, headaches, pneumonia and arthritis etc.

Lemon is used to treat scurvy, a condition caused by not having enough vitamin C. Lemon is also used for the common cold and flu, H1N1 (swine) flu, ringing in the ears ( tinnitus) , Meniere’s disease and kidney stones. Lemon is packed with Anti inflammatory properties that can cure a host of health issues. Drinking lemon water daily will help fight respiratory tract infections to a great extend. It can also help cure sore throat and inflammation of tonsils.

Lemon juice

Consumption of lemon juice is very advantageous for treatment of kidney stones, apart from that it also reduces the chances of getting strokes as it cools down the body temperature. Lemon juice has many health benefit can be used for different purpose like therapeutically uses , natural antiseptic to control asthma, headaches, pneumonia and arthritis etc.

Propagation of lemon

Propagation of lemon trees is possible by seed, cuttings, layering, budding or grafting. Budding and grafting require compatible rootstock and scion wood. Growing from seed, cuttings, or by layering is much easier for the average gardener to successfully manage. The method of propagating a lemon is usually a process involving more than two steps. Initially when one must ensure that the seed is best propagated when stored in a greenhouse environment. The seed must be sown during the month of March as the germination process hits a start between 2-3 weeks at a temperature of 13°c. The seedlings should be taken extra care of as they tend to wear off if not kept well hydrated and ventilated. One interesting fact about lemon seeds are that they are polyembronic in nature, this translates to them possessing more than one seed in them. These seeds are a result of two genetically identical parents and it also does not carry any viruses present in the parent plant. Once the seeds are a little big enough to be pricked out one must plant them in individual pots and ensure that they are kept inside the greenhouse for three growing seasons in order to safe guard them against cold winters on the outdoors.

Thus, lemon possesses numerous characteristics, such as antimicrobial, antifungal, anti inflammatory, anticancer, depurative and antiscorbutic etc. Nepal scholars and government organization have named lemon as an excellent candidates for export. Lemon are an excellent choice of crop for Nepali farmers as they have many uses such as: juice, fragrance, flavors, health Benefits, medicinal, cosmetics, economic value so proper package including the involvement of government, research and funding of lemon, work on improved varieties of it through mutual collaboration of universities, researches, private sector should be done to enhance the adaptability of the crop.

Writer: Menuka Khatri (Student, Bsc. Ag IAAS Paklihawa Campus)