Get ready to meet your new main squeeze.
Pucker up, lemon lovers!
They can also be used in myriad delicious ways not just as a seasoning or garnish.
Getty Images.
Ahead, lemon nutrition facts, the health benefits of lemons, and creative ways to eat them.
What Are Lemons?
Oh, and get this: Lemons are botanically classified as berries, according toa 2020 articlein the journalPlants.
The pulp (read: fibrous insides) and juice of lemons are edible.
“Vitamin C [helps create] white blood cells, which produce antibodies,” explains Louloudis.
Antibodies are proteins that recognize harmful germs (e.g.
viruses and bacteria) in the blood and destroy them, according toNational Center for Biotechnology Information.
This, in turn, helps keep your immune system strong and able to fight off foreign pathogens.
Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from damage due to free radicals, says Louloudis.
Chan School of Public Health.
So, with their sky-high content of vitamin C and flavonoids, lemons can help keep illnesses at bay.
Even the vitamin C in lemons can lend a hand in keeping your heart healthy.
Aids Iron Absorption
The vitamin C in lemon is the perfect partner foriron-rich foods.
The acidity of lemons can alsoerode tooth enamel, potentially increasing the risk of tooth decay.
But they’re also found as an ingredient in jams, snacks, frozen meals, and tea.
This part is usually used as a garnish or seasoning, as it has a wonderfully deep citrus flavor.
Lemon Recipe Ideas
Still not sure how to use the fruit?
They are incredibly versatile and teaming with important vitamins and antioxidants.
Stock a bowl in your kitchen or a bag in the fridge to brighten dishes throughout the week.