A very popular food, many virtues are attributed to lemon but not all of them are accurate.
This yellow citrus fruit with juicy pulp is particularly appreciated for its health effects: “Lemon is for me a super food” supports Angélique Houlbert, micro-nutritionist. Its high content of phenolic compoundsmainly in flavonoidsis associated with properties anti-inflammatories, antimicrobial And antiparasitic products, as evidenced by study published in 2020. Polyphenols, particularly present in lemon seed oil, also have an antioxidant effect according to a study of 2021.
Rich in vitamin C good for the liver
Lemon is a fruit remarkable for its vitamin C content: it has 45 mg per 100 g. “This vitamin helps strengthen immune defenses, particularly against viruses. Shas deficiency leads fatigue And skin problems“reminds us of Professor Patrick Marcellin, hepato-gastroenterologist. Above all”citrus fruits, such as lemon, are particularly rich in vitamin Cwhat is very beneficial for improving liver health and fight against the oxidation of liver cells” detailed the specialist in a previous article. A benefit confirmed by Angélique Houlbert: “The liver needs vitamin C because it helps its first phase of detox.” What’s more “the flavonoids present in the fruit have antioxidant properties and protect the cells of the body including those of the liver”.
Two studies of 2017 And 2018, carried out on rats and mice, confirmed the protective effects of lemon on liver damage; however, as the micro-nutritionist points out, there are no studies confirming such benefits in humans. “Lemon is very beneficial for health but we perhaps attribute to him more virtues than he really possesses.” It’s a fruit that seems good for the liver but it won’t work miracles (no food does).
Real benefits on digestion
It is also recommended to help with good digestion thanks to its high concentration of citric acid : “Its acidity will allow food to be better digested, especially when the stomach does not produce enough hydrochloric acid. In addition, its vitamin C helps increase theiron absorption“ argues Angélique Houlbert. Lemon also has the advantage of being significantly less rich in carbohydrates than other fruits: 2.5 g per 100 g on average. Its caloric density is therefore very low and it allows lower the glycemic index overall of a meal. “You can eat as much as you want without causing weight gain.” On the other hand, the idea that lemon can help you lose weight is false: “We must be careful of this type of preconceived idea, there is no food capable of losing weight.“concludes our interlocutor,
Thanks to Professor Patrick Marcellin, hepatologist and Angélique Houlbert, micro-nutritionist and author of “100 GI foods at will” published by Thierry Souccar.