History
The lemon is believed to have originated from China or India where it has been grown for about 2500 years. With its high vitamin C content, the lemon was an important food source for sailors, mine workers, and many other professions to prevent the development of scurvy. Scurvy is a consequence of vitamin C deficiency, which was a common problem in the 19th century.
The use of lemon spread to Europe including Spain in the 11 th century due to the Crusaders. From Spain the lemon was brought with Christopher Columbus in 1493 to the United States and has been grown in Florida since the 16th century. Today lemons are commonly grown in the United States, Greece, Italy, Spain, Israel, and Turkey.
Lemon Facts
Citrus Limon, also commonly known as lemon, belongs to the citrus fruits and can be characterized as oval shaped, yellow peeled fruits, with flesh divided into eight to ten segments. Lemons grow during the summer with the peak months being May, June, and August. However, the fruit is available year around.
There are various types of lemons of which some are sweet and some are sour. The most common types found on the market are the Eureka and the Lisbon. Both are sour in taste, but have slightly different appearances. The Eureka has a more textured skin, has a short neck, and possesses seeds, whereas the Lisbon lemon is round with a smooth skin and often lack seeds. The most common sweet lemon that is becoming more popular at restaurants is the Meyer lemon.
To select a lemon at the grocery store one should pay attention to the thickness of the skin. A thin peel means a juicier fruit with more flesh. Also the color should be yellow without any green color for optimal ripeness and sweetness. Lemons can be stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight for a week, but in the refrigerator for four weeks. However, to obtain the largest quantity of juice bring the lemon back to room temperature or put it in warm water for a couple of minutes.
Always wash the lemon to remove bacteria and excess pesticides before cutting into it. If a recipe calls for lemon zest, buy an organically grown lemon to avoid the pesticides.
Lemon is commonly used in cooking and its juice adds a distinct refreshing taste to salads, chicken, fish, desserts, and many other food items. In addition to taste, it adds nutrients and is a great addition to the daily fruit consumption.
Nutrition
Nutrition information for 1 medium lemon: calories: 17,carbohydrates: 5 g, protein: <1 g, fat: 0 g, cholesterol: 0 g, fiber: 2 g, sodium: 1 mg, vitamin C: 31 mg, potassium: 80 mg
Lemons are nutrient dense and are great sources of vitamin C, which is the most prevalent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body. Free radicals could damage healthy cells and cause inflammation. Due to the antioxidant effect of vitamin C, lemons are believed to help prevent osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Vitamin C also plays an important role in collagen formation thus help healing of bruises and other wounds. In addition, vitamin C has shown beneficial effects in the prevention of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.