4 Health Benefits of Lemon
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Medically reviewed by Kayla Girgen, RD
Lemons (Citrus limon) are a citrus fruit known for their sour, bitter flavor and bright yellow color. They’re packed with vitamin C and antioxidants that support various aspects of health. For example, lemon water has gained a lot of popularity for helping to reduce the risk of kidney stones, promoting vitamin C intake, and supporting healthy digestion.
Lemons are part of the Rutaceae family along with other citrus fruits. Read on to learn about the benefits and risks of lemon and tips for incorporating it into your meals and snacks.
1. Helps Prevent Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are also known as renal calculi or nephrolithiasis. They're hard deposits made of minerals that build up in your urinary tract and form in your kidneys. Kidney stones affect about 10% of people. Increasing levels of a weak acid called urine citrate and making urine more alkaline can help prevent kidney stones.
Lemons contain a form of citrate called citric acid which helps increase urine citrate levels. Citric acid binds with urinary calcium to help prevent oversaturated urine. It also binds to hard clumps of minerals called calcium oxalate crystals to prevent them from growing and becoming painful kidney stones.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, daily consumption of four ounces of lemon juice concentrate mixed with water may help prevent kidney stones. However, an alkali citrate, like potassium citrate, may be better if your urine pH levels are too acidic. When in doubt, speak with your doctor about your risk for kidney stones and the best prevention options for you.
2. Supports Heart Health
Lemons are rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants that support heart health. Consuming adequate vitamin C protects your cells from damaging free radicals—highly unstable particles that can cause damage to cells if they aren't neutralized. This can help prevent atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries), a condition that increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Phenolic compounds are a type of antioxidant found in lemons that support healthy blood pressure, endothelial function, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Endothelial function refers to how smoothly blood runs throughout your body. Hypertension (high blood pressure), high LDL cholesterol levels, and reduced endothelial function increase your risk of heart disease.
Eating lemons also increases your total fruit and vegetable intake. A large 2017 study found that higher fruit and vegetable intake was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality (risk of death due to any cause).
3. Enhances Iron Absorption
One lemon contains over 30% of your daily value (DV) for vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for iron absorption as well as for reducing your risk of heart disease. It helps you better absorb nonheme iron, which is found in plants and iron-fortified foods like bread and cereals.
Pairing food sources of iron with vitamin C helps you absorb iron more effectively. This can be especially beneficial if you're vegan or vegetarian and consume primarily nonheme iron. It can prevent iron deficiency anemia, a condition caused when your body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body.
Related: 11 Foods High in Iron
4. Prevents Cell Damage
Antioxidants in lemons prevent cell damage associated with health conditions like cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a group of chronic, progressive lung diseases that limit airflow to your lungs and cause difficulty breathing.
Numerous studies have shown that citrus fruits are rich in antioxidants. The antioxidants are present in the juice and flesh, but recent research shows that citrus peel contains even higher amounts of health-promoting antioxidants.
Nutrition of Lemon
One lemon without the peel has the following nutrition profile:
Calories: 17
Fat: 0.2 grams (g)
Sodium: 1 milligram (mg)
Carbohydrates: 5 g
Fiber: 1.6 g, or 6% of the DV
Added sugars: 0 g
Protein: 0.6 g
Vitamin C: 31 mg, or 34% of the DV
Lemons also contain other micronutrients like potassium, vitamin B6, and thiamin. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals needed by your body in small amounts.
Lemons are quite low in calories. Their main nutritional value comes from vitamin C, but they’re also a good source of phenolic compounds and carotenoids. These antioxidants protect against oxidative stress and cell damage linked to chronic disease.
Risks of Lemon
Lemon is generally safe to eat in the amounts you typically find in food and beverages. However, experts aren’t sure about the safety of consuming it in medical amounts, such as from a lemon concentrate supplement, because we don’t have enough reliable information available.
Inhaling lemon for aromatherapy—for example, diffusing lemon essential oil—appears generally safe. However, phototoxicity is one potential risk. Phototoxicity is a harmful skin reaction to light after exposure to chemicals.
Some people may have a sensitivity to citrus fruits. Possible reactions range from mild symptoms like itchiness around your mouth to anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening situation. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you think you may be allergic to citrus fruits. They can help you get tested for allergies and receive treatment if necessary.
Dental erosion is another possible risk of lemons. The acid in lemons can break down tooth enamel, so it’s best to rinse your mouth with plain water after consuming lemon.
Finally, some people with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) find that the acidity of citrus fruits makes their symptoms worse. GERD is a gastrointestinal disorder that occurs when your stomach acid repeatedly flows back into your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach).
Tips for Consuming Lemon
Adding some lemon throughout your day and week may help you increase your vitamin C intake and antioxidant consumption to support health. Here are some tips to eat more lemons and maximize their freshness:
Store lemons in the crisper section of your fridge to maximize freshness
Freeze cut or whole lemons that you’re not going to use to prevent them from going to waste
Add lemon juice or a lemon wedge to water or tea
Marinate meat, fish, or tofu in lemon juice and garnish with lemon slices
Make a simple legume (e.g., chickpea) salad with lemon dressing to enhance absorption of nonheme iron
Use lemon or lemon zest to add flavor to soups, grains, or pastries
A Quick Review
Lemons can add bright flavor and nutritional value to your meals and beverages. They’re packed with vitamin C and antioxidants that promote heart health, help prevent kidney stones and cell damage, and enhance iron absorption.
Try adding lemon to your water or tea, or use the juice and zest of lemons to flavor foods like meats, seafood, legumes, or grains.
Some people have a sensitivity to citrus fruits. The acidity of lemons can also erode tooth enamel and cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Pay attention to possible negative side effects of consuming lemons and reach out to your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
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