Health Benefits in Lemons

Yellow in color, sour in taste, lemons provide more health benefits than just a refreshing zing to dishes. Lemons are high in vitamins and antioxidants. They help prevent scurvy and treat a wide variety of conditions.

Calories

One medium lemon contains just 15 calories.

Juice

Lemon juice has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It can be added to water for a refreshing drink. Hot lemon juice is used as a treatment for respiratory ailments. It can also be used for gingivitis, mouth ulcers, throat infections and inflammation of the tongue.

Diuretic and laxative

Lemons are diuretics and increase urinary output. They are used to help in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Lemons are also used as laxatives.

Antiscorbutic

One lemon provides 40 percent of the FDA recommended dose of vitamin C. This makes lemons effective at stopping scurvy.

Febrifuge

Lemons are used to reduce fever. In Chile, the seeds of the lemon are available as a fever reducer. Lemon balm is also used as a fever reducer.

Hiccups

Sucking on a slice of lemon may stop hiccups.

Tea

Lemon juice enables green tea's antioxidants to work more effectively in the body.