We love to add lemon to water or a recipe to give it a burst of zesty flavour. That’s why it’s one of our favourite ingredients in our fruit and nut bars! But often we tend to avoid eating them on their own due to their sharpness. However, eating lemons has a whole host of benefits. This has even started a trend on TikTok of people eating lemon peels! So grab a lemon, sit back and let us answer the question you’re eager to know, ‘are lemons good for you?’
1.Improves digestive health
Lemons contain an important soluble fibre called pectin. Pectin has been found to have an array of health benefits, including improving gut health. As a result, it can keep your tummy happy and everything working properly which can help prevent more serious diseases developing.
However, like everything else you need to eat lemons in moderation. Too much can actually have the opposite effect and cause an upset stomach. The most recent dietary guidelines recommend an intake of 75 mg of vitamin C found in lemons per day for women and 90 mg per day for men.
2. Prevents kidney stones
Kidney stones can be very painful if left untreated. The NHS lists adding lemon juice to your diet as one of the many ways to prevent this common problem from developing. The citrate inside the lemon, which gives citrus fruits their name, has been found to prevent kidney stones. So much so, that ‘lemonade therapy’ was even administered to patients as a form of alternative treatment.
3. Leaves you feeling fuller for longer
Eating lemons has often been associated with weight loss. However, with any diet fad it’s important to understand the science behind it and why it may work for some people and not others…
Lemons have been found to help those who may struggle with overeating because they leave you feeling fuller for longer. The pectin within lemons has been linked with satiety. This means that your body is satisfied with how much you have eaten and therefore stops you craving more.
4. Reduces the signs of ageing
Natural skin care is a market that just keeps on booming. There are so many different fruits and vegetables that can be great for our skin health, thanks to the vitamins they contain. Lemons are no exception. Due to the high volume of Vitamin C lemons contain, they can be beneficial for our skin. One study found that lemons help to reduce the signs of ageing due to boosting the production of collagen. This can also help with dry skin and wrinkles to leave you feeling fresh and rejuvenated. So, make sure you pick up that glass of lemon water next time you’re at the spa!
Peels can often be neglected. We just throw them in the food bin and eat the yummy fruit inside. But did you know the lemon skin actually packs a whole host of vitamins and minerals? Therefore, they are actually great to eat for our health and well-being. Just make sure you thoroughly wash them first like you would any fruit or veg!
1.Keeps the heart healthy
The vitamins and fibre found within lemons can support heart health. For example, the citrus flavonoids within lemons have been found to promote blood flow which can help protect against heart disease.
Checkout our article on the Heart Health Benefits of Almonds, featuring our Nakd Almond Macaroon fruit and nut bar, for more information on clever foods that support heart health.
2. High in antioxidants
Antioxidants is a buzzword we are hearing more and more. Lemon peels are high in antioxidants that can help the body fight free radicals – molecules that cause harm to our cells. These antioxidants include Vitamin C and D-limonene. D-limonene has also been found to help protect the body against other harmful illnesses like type 2 diabetes.
3. Boosts immune system
Last but not least, lemon peel has been found to improve our immune system. That’s why lemon tea makes you feel all good and warm if you’re fighting off a cold. A significant amount of studies found that lemon tea actually reduces the severity and duration of the common cold by 8% in adults and 14% in children. So stock up the fruit bowl with lemons this winter!
For more information on how to boost your immune system read our useful article on immune boosting foods.
Now you know why lemons are good for you, it’s time to discover all the ways you can add this clever fruit into your diet. One of the most popular ways is by adding lemons to your water. Drinking water already has an array of benefits, but adding lemons gives it an extra kick! If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy drinking plain water then adding the lemon flavour will encourage you to drink more water throughout the day. Lemon water also helps with your metabolism and keeps you hydrated throughout the day.
Love lemons? Then you’ll love all our Nakd lemony goodness. Firstly, you can enjoy our gluten and dairy free Nakd Lemon Drizzle fruit and nut bar. This gorgeous, vegan lemon bar is the perfect accompaniment to your lemon tea! Or why not get creative? You can use our lemon drizzle vegan bar in a number of delicious recipes. For breakfast, why not make our Lemon drizzle overnight oats? Or to really treat yourself, bake our Lemon Drizzle Tarts for the perfect zesty dessert.
Overall, lemons are a pretty clever snack! That one small fruit packs a lot of nutrients and goodness into its yellow shell. It doesn’t matter if you can’t eat a lemon on it’s own as there are so many ways you can enjoy that citrus flavour. From our very own Nakd vegan snack bars and recipes, to lemon water and tea. However you like your lemons, you are sure to reap some great health and well-being benefits from eating them!
For more well-being articles on clever vegan food, read our blogs on carbohydrates and vegan calcium sources.
