Lemon - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, tips and many more

 

                    Lemon/Nimbu

Lemon  is  an  important  medicinal  plant  of  the  Rutaceae family that originated in tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia. It has a  distinctive  berry  with  its  internal  parts  divided  into  segments. 

Lemon fruit (Citrus limon) is one of the most widely consumed fruits, either directly or used in soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and cooking. Lemons are rich in citric acid, vitamin C, and polyphenols, which confer various health benefits, such as the alleviation of fatigue and lipid-lowering effects.

It shows Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiparasitic, digestive, carminative, anti flatulent, lipolytic, anti-aging, hepatoregenerating and cardioprotective properties.

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It has different names in different languages such as Marathi name(nimbu, limbu),  Hindi name(jamiri nimbu, khatta, pahari nimbu),  English name(lemon),  Telugu name(dabba),  Tamil name(ezhumicchgai, elumicchai),  Kannada name(dodda nimbe, brihat nimbe),  Malayalam name(cherunarakam),  Persian name(kalanbak, lemu-e-tursh),  Arab name(limoon, qalambak),  Urdu name(bara nebu, lembu, lemu, nembu)

Vitamins and minerals content

Vitamins : B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, Choline

Minerals : Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus Potassium, Zinc

• The  fruit  juice  mainly  contains  fruit  acids,  mainly  citric  acid (8%) and  sugars. Lemon peel  consists  of  two  layers: The  outer layer (pericarp,  zest) contains  an  essential  oil (6%),  which  is composed  of  citral (5%) plus  traces  of citronellal  and  limonene (90%),  α-terpineol,  geranyl  acetate  and  linalyl. The  inner  layer (mesocarp),  in  the  other  word,  contains  no  essential  oil  but  a variety  of  coumarin  derivatives and  bitter  flavone  glycosides. It also  contains a  very  little  potash,  sugar  and  gum. 

• The most important group of secondary metabolites in the fruit includes flavonoids and also other compounds, such as phenolic acids, coumarins, carboxylic acids, aminoacids and vitamins. 

• lemon is determined by its high content of phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids (e.g., diosmin, hesperidin, limocitrin) and phenolic acids (e.g., ferulic, synapic, p-hydroxybenzoic acids). The essential oil is rich in bioactive monoterpenoids such as D-limonene, β-pinene, γ-terpinene.

             - flavonoids such as: flavonones(eriodictyol, hesperidin, hesperetin, naringin); flavones(apigenin, diosmin); flavonols(quercetin); and their derivatives.

             - There are mainly two such compounds in the juice in the category of phenolic acids—ferulic acid and synapic acid, and their derivatives.

• The following fatty acids have been identified in C. limon pulp oil: behenic acid, erucic acid, gondoic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, margaric acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, pentadecanoic acid, and stearic acid.

• Essential oil obtained from pericarp are: limonene (69.9%), β-pinene (11.2%), γ-terpinene (8.21%), (Figure 4), sabinene (3.9%), myrcene (3.1%), geranial (E-citral, 2.9%), neral (Z-citral, 1.5%), linalool (1.41%). 

• The essential oil of the C. limon leaf differs in composition from oil obtained from pericarp. Its main compounds include: limonene (31.5%), sabinene (15.9%), citronellal (11.6%), linalool (4.6%), neral (4.5%), geranial (4.5%), (E)-β-ocimene (3.9%), myrcene (2.9%), citronellol (2.3%), β-caryophyllene (1.7%), terpne-4-ol (1.4%), geraniol (1.3%) and α-pinene (1.2%).

• The analysis of C. limon pulp showed the presence of aminoacids (asparagine, proline, alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamine, threonine and valine), organic acids (citric acid and malic acid), sugars (glucose, sucrose, β-fructofuranose, β-fructopyranose, myoinosytol and scylloinosytol) and osmolites (stachydrine, ethanol and methanol) 

• Citric acid, ascorbic acid, and caffeic acid in the lemon flower are the  acids  found  in  citrus.  Caffeine  is  present  in  flowers  and lemon  tree  leaves.  

• Mucilage is present in the seed, peel, and pulp of citrus fruits, it is a fiber-like and forms a gel-like structure which mixed with water. Citrus fruits have a higher ratio of fiber (soluble and insoluble) which reducing cholesterol levels, besides that; citrus seeds have psyllium, with improving the digestives system, and enhancing the elimination of cholesterol.

Properties and benefits

• Rasa (Taste) – Amla (Sour)

• Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light to digest), Teekshna (piercing)

• Taste conversion after digestion – Amla (Sour)

• Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)

Effects on Tridosha – unripe lemon decreases Vata and kapha but increases Pitta. Ripe lemon decreases Pitta and Kapha.

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Benefits

• Vakrashodhi – lemon juice, when used to rinse or when consumed, leads to cleansing of oral cavity. Hence lemon juice is a good remedy for bad breath or tongue coating problems.

• Rochana – Lemon increases digestion power.

• Dantaharshana – Being sour in taste, it may cause tingling sensation of the teeth.

• Trushna Nivarana – It relieves thirst. Hence, lemon juice is one of the preferred drinks to quench thirst.

• Shula Nivarana – relieves abdominal colic pain. This is the reason, lemon juice is the first home remedy, used for gastritis pain and colicky pain due to indigestion. This is the reason, it is the ingredient of innumerable Ayurvedic medicines used in digestive disorders

• Kasa Nivarana – Lemon is extremely useful to relieve cough. It soothes the mucosa of the throat.

• Kaphotklesha, Chardi Nivarana – It helps to relieve excessive accumulation of Kapha in stomach, leading to vomiting. Hence, lemon juice is consumed whenever one suffers from nausea, excessive salivation, vomiting etc.

            - In such cases, two types of outcomes are predicted, either the nausea is relieved or the person vomits and expels out all the excessive, vitiated Kapha out of the body, due to lemon. It has cleansing action over the stomach, when there is excess of Kapha (heaviness, excessive gastric secretions and indigestion).

• Hrutpeeda – relieves pain in chest region, due to gastritis.

• Trushnahara – Relieves excessive thirst.

• Amadoshahara – It relieves Ama, a product of indigestion and malabsorption (A condition that prevents absorption of nutrients through the small intestine).

• Asya vairasya hara – Relieves bad breath

• Hrutpeeda – relieves pain in chest region, due to gastritis.

• Vahnimandyahara – it promotes digestion. Hence, it is an ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines for indigestion such as

• Krumihara – It relieves intestinal worms.

• Vataghna –Balances Vata.

• Dipana, Pachana – Digestive, improves digestive enzymes

• Laghu – Light to digest

• Useful in abdominal colic caused due to imbalance of Vata, Pitta and kapha.

• Visha hara – It is a natural detoxifying herb. This is the reason, it is used in the purification procedure of many mineral ingredients, such as Iron pyrite.

• Varnya – improves complexion and skin texture

• Pushtiprada – it nourishes the skin.

                 - Being sour, it enters into the deeper pores and brings about cleansing action.

> lemon juice is

• Deepana – improves digestion strength

• Teekshna -Piercing

• Sugandhi – good smelling

•Mukha Shodhana – mouth- cleanser,

• Balances Kapha & Vata 

• Krimighna – anti- infective.

• Pachana – It helps digestion of food.

Uses, Health benefits and application

1) Famous recipes for weight loss : Drinking a glass of hot water, mixed along with 1 – 2 spoons of lemon juice extract, early in the morning, on empty stomach decreases fat deposition.

2) Lemon juice, rind, and peel are used in a wide variety of foods and drinks. The whole lemon is used to make marmalade, lemon curd and lemon liqueur. Lemon slices and lemon rind are used as a garnish for food and drinks. Lemon zest, the grated outer rind of the fruit, is used to add flavor to baked goods, puddings, rice, and other dishes.

3) Cough and Cold : Most of the respiratory conditions including cough and cold are mainly due to Kapha, which has cold as its one of the qualities. So, during cough and cold, if you consume anything that has cooling nature, Kapha increases worsening the condition. As lemon is hot nature it helps reducing Kapha and indirectly cough and cold. If you add sugar and water, it increases coldness, so don't take lemon juice along with sugar and water. 

       - Take a lemon juice along with pinch of ginger and pepper, that would add more hotness and bring in extra qualities to fight against cough and cold.

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4) Lemon juice is also used as a short-term preservative on certain foods that tend to oxidize and turn brown after being sliced (enzymatic browning), such as apples, bananas, and avocados, where its acid denatures the enzymes.

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5) Adding lemon juice to iron-rich foods improves the absorption of iron in the body. Hence, if you have iron-deficiency anemia, increasing your intake of iron-rich foods is not the only solution. Add lemon juice also to such foods for better bioavailability of iron.

7) When the fruit is consumed entirely in raw from, it is gets digested slowly since it is heavy for digestion. When taken along with food it increases the taste of food and the digestive agni too. Vata gets pacified and kapha pitta gets increased when taken in raw form.

8) Whole lemon is cut into pieces and it's pickle is made which is stored for long time. After done, put this pickle for 10-15 and then the pickle is eaten which imparts amazing taste with Nutrition. This pickle is stored for long time also. With the aging of 2-3 months it's taste gets improved.

9) The leaves of the lemon tree are used to make a tea and for preparing cooked meats and seafoods.

10) Lemons is the primary commercial source of citric acid before the development of fermentation-based processes.

11) Lemon oil is used in aromatherapy and perfumery in large quantities.

           - Lemon consumption or even inhalation of the aroma (aromatherapy) has shown that mood and tension, nervousness, anxiety, exhaustion, swelling and fatigue have been improved  and even reduced. Lemons are also expected to increase concentration, so many air spray and  cooling machines are scented with lemon. Some individuals even squeeze some lemon  drops and inhale.

12) Lemon leaves are taken and dipped in a cup of hot water. To this, small quantities of turmeric powder, salt, cumin seeds and jaggery are added and a soup is prepared. This soup is consumed by sipping. This is useful in the treatment of morning sickness of the pregnant, nausea, vomiting, tastelessness, indigestion, flatulence etc.

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13) Lemon juice is used to make lemonade, soft drinks, and cocktails. It is used in marinades for fish, where its acid neutralizes amines in fish by converting them into nonvolatile ammonium salts. In meat, the acid partially hydrolyzes tough collagen fibers, tenderizing it. In the United Kingdom, lemon juice is frequently added to pancakes.

14) Various researches showed that eating lemon peel can reduce cholesterol effectively. This is  not because of lemon peel pectin level, but because of various active ingredients in the peel.

15) One part of lemon juice mixed with six parts of jaggery syrup added with cloves and pepper results in a cold drink which is best among the cold drinks. It is very light, alleviates vata dosha, stimulates digestive fire, improves taste perception and helps to digest all types of foods.

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16) The famous cold drink in india is lemon water(nimbu-pani)

                 - It not only provide coldness in summer but also improve taste, digestion and many more.

                 - Add lemon juice and jaggery in water with some amount of Ginger and clove and enjoy this delicious drink. 

17) Adding lemon juice to food preparations or drinking lemon water in addition to a low-fat diet prevents deposition of fat and cholesterol in the body. Vitamin C present in lemon also inhibits oxidation of LDL and prevents clogging of the arteries.

18) Kidney stones or nephrolithiasis is a relatively common disease. The citric acid present in lemon inhibits the formation of kidney stones by preventing the urine from becoming too acidic. It also prevents the development of mineral crystals into kidney stones. Hence, adding fruits like lemon, which is an excellent source of citric acid, is an effective way to prevent and treat kidney stones.

19) The citric acid in lemon juice enhances the absorption of calcium and magnesium from the foods. These minerals help in lowering the blood pressure by dilating the arteries. This makes sure that the blood flows smoothly without putting any pressure on the inner walls of the arteries. It soothes and maintains the flexibility of blood vessels and arteries, thus lowering high blood pressure.

20) Squeeze some fresh lemon juice on soups and curries. In Indian restaurants, lemon pieces are often served with Indian food preparations to enhance the flavor of the food.

21)  The peel can be used in the manufacture of pectin, a polysaccharide used as a gelling agent and stabilizer in food and other products.

22) Lemon might be beneficial in managing scurvy and associated symptoms.

       - Scurvy is due to vitamin C deficiency. In scurvy, the blood vessels become weak and leak to cause abnormal bleeding. Symptoms associated with scurvy include fatigue, joint stiffness, joint pain, spongy and bleeding gums, fever, jaundice and loss of teeth. Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C which is a potent antioxidant and is necessary for the synthesis of collagen. Collagen provides strength to the blood vessels. Vitamin C also helps in absorption of iron thus, reduces the risk of bleeding and iron deficiency in people suffering from scurvy.

23) Lemon soothes the itching and alleviates the rash, reduces the age spots, and cleanses the face. 

24) Juice of half lemon in a bucket of water during bath will help to remove bad odour of sweat during  summer  season.  Lemon  with  turmeric  powder and rose water is used to improve the skin complexion. It helps to fight skin damage caused by sun and pollution.

25) Lemon is also a very valuable  raw  material  in  the  manufacture  of  stain  removers, detergents, perfumes made of oil extracted from the skin, etc.

Note : 1) Overconsumption of lemons can wear away the enamel of your teeth, which increases the sensitivity of teeth.

            2) Excess lemon intake can worsen the symptoms of GERD and gastric ulcers. Because lemons are acidic in nature, eating too many lemons can trigger heartburn in such individuals.

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