The lemon, Citrus limon Osbeck, is a species of small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to South Asia, primarily North eastern India. Its fruits are round in shape.
There are over 30 Lemon trees varieties we know.
Avalon Lemons
Avalon or Avon lemon is originated from Florida. It bears some similar traits like other varieties of lemon, especially Lisbon and Eureka. You can easily spot Avalon produce in the supermarket as concentrate juice.
Baboon Lemons
Baboon is a native lemon variety of Brazil. This fruit has bright yellow skin and sour taste that resembles the taste of lime.
Both the rind and the pulps of Baboon lemon can be used as an ingredient to make various types of sauce, including pasta and barbeque sauce.
Bearss Lemons
Bearss is originated from Italy. However, because its actual variety is no longer exist, this lemon is transferred and cultivated in Florida. In addition to its juicy pulps, bearrs lemon is processed for its rind that is rich in lemon oil.
Buddha’s Hand Lemons
This lemon variety is indigenous to Himalayan lower regions. It is also known as Finger Citron in several Asian countries.
Buddha’s Hand is particularly used for temple offering. It also symbolizes happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture.
Bush Lemons
Bush lemon comes from the subtropical areas of Australia. This variety is also called rough lemon because of its thick and hard skin.
While its concentrate for juice is low, bush lemon flesh has a stronger taste that can be a good addition to various savory dishes.
Citron Lemons
Originated from India and Himalayas, citron is the main variety of Buddha’s Hand and some other lemon types, such as Corsican, Greek Citron, and Yemenite Citron.
Dorshapo Lemons
Dorshapo is a Brazilian lemon cultivar that was developed in 1914. The word “dorshapo” actually derives from the names of three plant explorers who developed this variety: Dorsett, Shamel, and Popenoe. Dorshapo taste is less acidic than some other types of lemons.
Eureka Lemons
Eureka is a sweet variety of lemon that bears all year round from a thorn-less tree. It is one of the American lemons that now spread widely in other continents.
In 1858, the initial variety of Eureka lemon was cultivated in Los Angeles, California. Later, in 1877, a horticulturist named Thomas Garey also propagated this variety.
Femminello Lemons
Belongs to the medium-size lemon type, Femminello is one of the oldest lemon cultivars in Italy.
This variety is largely grown in the country and makes up almost three-quarters of Italy’s lemon production per year. Femminello has thick skin and more acidic taste.
Fino Citron Lemons
This variety is less popular to grow because it is born on a tree that has large thorns. In spite of it, the pulps of fino citron produce juice with good quality. Fino is classified into the small lemon type that has a high acidic state.
Greek Citron Lemons
Greek Citron is also known as Corfu Etrog or etrog for short. As the name suggests, this variety was firstly cultivated in Greece circa 500 BCE. It is later exported to several European countries to be used as a fruit offering in the Jewish Succoth ritual.
Interdonato Lemons
Another lemon cultivar from Italy is Interdonato. This variety is largely found on the island of Sicily. It is a large lemon that has smooth skin and almost seedless flesh. Despite its delightful look, Interdonato is not good enough for juice.
Limetta Lemons
Limetta is a native lemon variety of Southeast Asia but also grown in India and some areas in the Mediterranean. This variety is popularly known as a sweet lemon because of its non-acidic taste.
You don’t need to juice the pulps to enjoy the taste of limetta since the fruit can be eaten fresh from the tree.
Lisbon Lemons
Lisbon is one of the most popular varieties of lemon. Although it is originated from Portugal, this fruit is mostly found in America these days, particularly in the state of California and Massachusetts.
Lisbon is considered a good choice for juice because of its seedless flesh
Meyer Lemons
Meyer lemon was firstly developed in China at the early twentieth century. It is a hybrid cultivar between lemon and mandarin. For that reason, this variety is often referred to as orange lemons. Some people also call it mylar lemons.
Ponderosa Lemons
The name “Ponderosa” is derived from a Latin wordponderosusthat means pine tree. It is a hybrid cultivar of lemon and citron. As a result, this variety has bumpy skin like citron but tastes like lemon.
Primofiori Lemons
Primofiori is originated from Spain. Its name can be translated as “first flowers”, due to the fact that it becomes the first fruit which matures during harvesting season. This variety is known for having a smooth and thin peel.
Verna Lemons
Another lemon variety from Spain is Verna, which also goes by the name Spanish Lemon. In general, Verna lemon tree bears fruit twice a year. The fruit has thick skin and juicy flesh, but very sour.
Villafranca Lemons
Villafranca is a sub-variety of Eureka lemon. The skin appearance of this fruit resembles the main cultivar, but its acidic level is lower than Eureka.
Moreover, Villafranca is categorized as winter cropping because the tree only produces fruits during the cool seasons.
Yen Ben Lemons
Similar to Villafranca, Yen Ben is another variety of lemon that bears fruits in the winter. It was first cultivated in Queensland during the 1930s but brought to New Zealand in the 1970s.
Yen Ben is famous for its juice content that can be preserved for long-term storage.
With various types of lemons above, it is clear that this sour, yellow fruit has been largely grown worldwide for a long time.
6 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Lemons
Lemons are high in vitamin C, fiber, and various beneficial plant compounds.
These nutrients are responsible for several health benefits.
In fact, lemons may support heart health, weight control, and digestive health.
Here are 6 evidence-based health benefits of lemons.
1. Support Heart Health
Lemons are a good source of vitamin C.
One lemon provides about 31 mg of vitamin C, which is 51% of the reference daily intake (RDI).
Research shows that eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke
However, it's not only the vitamin C that is thought to begood for your heart. The fiber and plant compounds in lemons could also significantly lower some risk factors for heart disease
For instance, one study revealed that eating 24 grams of citrus fiber extract daily for a month reduced total blood cholesterol levels
Plant compounds found in lemons — namely hesperidin and diosmin — have also been found tolower cholesterol
Summary Lemons are high in heart-healthy vitamin C and several beneficial plant compounds that may lower cholesterol.
2. Help Control Weight
Lemons are often promoted as a weight loss food, and there are a few theories as to why this is.
One common theory is that the soluble pectin fiber in them expands in your stomach, helping you feel full for longer.
That said, not many people eat lemons whole. And because lemon juice contains no pectin, lemon juice drinks will not promote fullness in the same way.
Another theory suggests that drinking hot water with lemon will help you lose weight.
However, drinking water is known to temporarily increase the number of calories you burn, so it may be the water itself that is helping with weight loss — not the lemon
Other theories suggest that the plant compounds in lemons may aid weight loss.
Research shows that plant compounds in lemon extracts may help prevent or reduce weight gain in a number of ways
In one study, mice on a fattening diet were given lemon polyphenols extracted from the peel. They gained less weight and body fat than other mice
However, no studies confirm the weight loss effects of lemon compounds in humans.
Summary Animal studies show that lemon extract and plant compounds may promote weight loss, but the effects in humans are unknown.
3. Prevent Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are small lumps that form when waste products crystallize and build up in your kidneys.
They are quite common, and people who get them often get them repeatedly.
Citric acid may help prevent kidney stones by increasing urine volume and increasing urine pH, creating a less favorable environment for kidney stone formation .
Just a 1/2-cup (4 ounces or 125 ml) of lemon juice per day may provide enough citric acid to help prevent stone formation in people who have already had them .
Some studies also found that lemonade effectively prevented kidney stones, but the results have been mixed. Other studies have shown no effect .
Therefore, more well-conducted studies need to examine whether lemon juice affects kidney stone formation
Summary Lemon juice may help prevent kidney stones. However, more quality research is needed.
4. Protect Against Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is quite common. It occurs when you don't get enough iron from the foods you eat.
Lemons contain some iron, but they primarily prevent anemia by improving your absorption of iron from plant foods .
Your gut absorbs iron from meat, chicken, and fish (known as heme iron) very easily, while iron from plant sources (non-heme iron) not as easily. However, this absorption can be improved by consuming vitamin C and citric acid.
Because lemons contain both vitamin C and citric acid, they may protect against anemia by ensuring that you absorb as much iron as possible from your diet.
Summary Lemons contain vitamin C and citric acid, which help you absorb non-heme iron from plants. This may prevent anemia.
5. Reduce Cancer Risk
A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help prevent some cancers .
Some observational studies have found that people who eat the most citrus fruit have a lower risk of cancer, while other studies have found no effects .
In test-tube studies, many compounds from lemons have killed cancer cells. However, they may not have the same effect on the human body .
Some researchers think that plant compounds found in lemons — such as limonene and naringenin — could have anticancer effects, but this hypothesis needs further investigation .
Animal studies indicate that D-limonene, a compound found in lemon oil, does have anticancer properties .
Another study used pulp from mandarins that contained the plant compounds beta-cryptoxanthin and hesperidin, which are also found in lemons.
The study discovered that these compounds prevented malignant tumors from developing in the tongues, lungs, and colons of rodents .
However, it should be noted that the research team used a very high dose of the chemicals — far more than you would get by eating lemons or oranges.
While some plant compounds from lemons and other citrus fruits may have anticancer potential, no quality evidence suggests that lemons can fight cancer in humans.
Summary Some plant chemicals found in lemons have been shown to prevent cancer in animal studies. However, human studies are needed.
6. Improve Digestive Health
Lemons are made up of about 10% carbs, mostly in the form of soluble fiber and simple sugars.
The main fiber in lemons is pectin, a form of soluble fiber linked to multiple health benefits.
Soluble fiber can improve gut health and slow the digestion of sugars and starches. These effects may result in reduced blood sugar levels .
However, to get the benefits of fiber from lemons, you need to eat the pulp.
People who drink lemon juice, without the fiber found in the pulp, will miss out on the benefits of the fiber.
Summary The soluble fiber in lemons could help improve digestive health. However, you need to eat the pulp of the lemon, not just the juice.
The Bottom Line
Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds that give them a number of health benefits.
Lemons may aid weight loss and reduce your risk of heart disease, anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues, and cancer.
Not only are lemons a very healthy fruit, but they also have a distinct, pleasant taste and smell that make them a great addition to foods and drinks.
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