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Many of us have grown up with the knowledge that lemon contains vitamin C and that vitamin C is good for the immune system. Is it true? And how much of the vitamin should you get in you? And how much vitamin C is in a lemon? Here’s everything you need to know about vitamin C and lemon!
As part of the rue family, the edible lemon, known for its culinary use, adds wonderful flavor to pastries. Who does not just love a lemon meringue tart? Lemon juice, with its astringent flavor, is also used to enhance the flavor of fish. How much vitamin C is in a lemon is also well worth knowing about because vitamin C is an antioxidant and a vital nutrient for our health.
What is it good for?
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, belongs to the group of water-soluble vitamins. The main function of vitamin C in the body is to act as a coenzyme and aid in the body’s production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that is found in the body’s connective tissue, blood vessels, cartilage, and bones.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress, is good for the immune system, and necessary to maintain your energy level.
In addition, vitamin C contributes to the body’s absorption of iron. The composition of the meals affects the absorption of iron and the availability increases if the diet contains plenty of vitamin C.
The Lemon is packed full of goodness
Now that you know how important Vitamin C is, you may want to know how much vitamin C is in a lemon, but it can be useful to also know of all the other vitamins and minerals that the lemon has.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant. Not consuming enough vitamin C can bring on scurvy, something many people used to get long ago but which can still be brought on today with a vitamin C deficiency.
With a lack of vitamin C, a person can develop fatigue, inflammation, joint pains, a feeling of being below par, and even depression. Also, with vitamin C helping the body to absorb iron, those deficient in iron can develop anemia and will need to up their vitamin C intake.
Just one lemon that weighs in the region of 58 grams can give you a pocket full of goodness, some of which are –
- Calcium 15.1mg
- Energy 16.8 calories
- Iron 0.35mg
- Potassium 80mg
- Vitamin A 0.6mcg
- Magnesium 4.6mg
Available throughout the year, the lemon, scientifically known as Citrus Limon, has so many health benefits that it is hard to think of life without this particular citrus fruit. It’s a great source of vitamin C and fiber, and it is thought that eating lemons can lower your risk of heart disease.
The citric acid in lemons can also dilute urine and decreases your risk of kidney stones. But the question remains ‘how much vitamin C is in a lemon? There is about 53mg of vitamin C if you were to squeeze a lemon and get yourself 100g of juice.
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, so important for immune function. The lemon also provides us with other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B6 and potassium.
Lemons and limes get themselves the names of food powerhouses and superfoods. The oval-shaped fruit has a yellow, roughish outer peel and the peel can also be eaten as they contain nutrients as well.
How much Vitamin C is in a Lemon?
For most adults, the recommended daily intake of vitamin C is about 80mgm but in some instances, the requirement for vitamin C will be higher. It is believed that you get more vitamin C in the peel of the lemon – 129mg per 100g of the peel.
How much vitamin C is in a lemon? As already mentioned, you get 53mg of vitamin C with the juice in the same serving size. Most people go for the juice of the lemon as opposed to eating the peel, so the most relevant vitamin C content is from the juice.
According to the World’s Healthiest Foods, 2 ounces of lemon juice can give you a 31% of the RDA of vitamin C. An entire lemon has 139% of what is the recommended vitamin C intake.
To benefit most from lemons, food experts encourage us to buy certified organically grown foods to avoid fruits exposed to heavy metals and pesticides. Lemons stay fresh when kept at room temperature for about a week.
How does your lemon tree grow?
It goes without saying that the best fruits and vegetables come from having been cultivated in healthy soils. So how much vitamin c is in a lemon will also depend on its growing conditions.
Why not grow your own lemon tree? Lemons prefer to grow in warmer climates, but they can be grown in cooler climates too. There are many types of lemon trees available, and the small Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree just as an example produces a medium-sized fruit that is juicy and somewhat sweeter than your regular lemon.
It is a hardy lemon tree and in a pot will only grow to 4 to 6 feet tall. It will already be bearing fruit after 1 to 2 years of planting, and with good soil, you can be sure you are getting s supernatural vitamin C.
Stock up with healthy lemons
Lemons are sour and highly acidic and you are highly unlikely to want to add one into your fruit salad. Because they are so full of vitamins, they are regarded as one of the healthiest fruits there are and there are other ways to benefit from their goodness.
You already know how much vitamin C is in a lemon’s juice and peel and the lemons other attributes are not just hearsay but it’s a fruit that has been scientifically tested to show that our health will be all the better when we start eating more of these bright yellow citrus fruits.
