Different Parts of Lemon, Different Health Benefits for You

Cover photo cred: Today

Out of the family of citrus fruit, lemon would probably be one of the top in terms of popularity. This is not surprising, seeing that lemons are rich in vitamins and other forms of goodness that can enhance your health. Furthermore, they have a unique tanginess and an uplifting scent which make it a good accompaniment to certain foods.

While many people only use lemons for their pulp and juices, it is less wasteful if the entire lemon is utilised, and this can be done. The lemon contains 3 main usable parts: pulp, pith, and peel (or some call it the skin).

Pulp

Pulps are vesicles that contain the juice of the lemon. To extract the juice from the lemon pulp, you can manually squeeze the lemon or simply place it in a juicer.

Benefits: Lemon juice holds so much goodness that you’ll probably want to reach for some now. It is famously known as a rich source of vitamin C, but there are also many other minerals and nutrients that you didn’t know it has, such as potassium, folate, vitamin B6, thiamine, copper, magnesium and vitamin E. With so much healthy goodness, it is no wonder that so many people adopted lemon water as part of their morning ritual.

How to use it: Lemon juice is versatile in terms of its usage. You can add it into water to create lemon water, and lemon water itself also has a host of benefits. Besides that, you may also add fresh lemon juice into your teas instead of buying ready-made lemon teas, which usually is high in sugar and possibly preservatives as well. In terms of food, you can add lemon juice to spruce up your dishes and make them more flavourful.

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Image cred: Dirty Weights

Pith

As with all citrus fruits, the pith is one of the bane of annoyance. It is the bitter part that makes eating citrus fruits troublesome because of the need to scrape it off. However, it is also probably the more misunderstood part of the lemon because of its bitterness. Surprisingly, it contains many nutrients as well, and they can add a boost to your health if you consume them properly.

Benefits: For one, the pith contains fibre which makes bowel movement easier. Also, it is a great source of antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of cancers and lower cholesterol. These are only the tip of the lemon pith iceberg, as there are also many vitamins and minerals in the pith.

How to use it: As lemon piths are bitter, it can be slightly disheartening to swallow it. Instead of enduring the bitter taste, you can add them into smoothies. Smoothies are generally sweet so that would cover the bitterness while letting you enjoy the health benefits of the lemon pith.

Image cred: Youtube

Peel

Lemon peels have an essence of their own. That is why lemon peels are cold-pressed to produce the lemon oils that are usually used in aromatherapy. They are rich in nutrients to help improve various parts of your body. However, it is important to take note that should you wish to use lemon peels, you should always use those from organic lemons. Organic lemons do not have pesticides or layers of chemical waxes, and this makes them safer to consume compared to those commercially grown and farmed.

Benefits: Lemon peels can contain at least 5 times the amount of vitamins found in lemon juice. There are also other chemical compounds that are greatly beneficial to the health, such as salvestrol Q40 and limonene which help to fight cancer, polyphenol flavonoids which can assist in clearing blood vessels that are blocked by cholesterol, and calcium which promotes stronger bones and better bone health.

How to use it: Grate lemon zest over your meats, fishes, desserts or beverages as garnish and an extra boost of nutrients to your food. It is important to reiterate that you should only use lemon peels from organic lemons.

Image cred: Food by Ayaka

Image cred: Food & Wine

Lemons provide a vast amount of health benefits and they also serve as flavourful additions to food. They can also be made into teas, which is what Nilufer Tea specialises in. Nilufer Tea only uses organic Setouchi lemons which grown in hillsides with ample sunshine and fresh ocean air. You can definitely taste the best of nature as the lemon touches your tongue.

With such high quality lemons, the citrus-based teas are not only bursting with lemony flavour and goodness, but they also boost your health one teabag at a time. If you simply want to add a tangy flavour to your beverages, you can also get Nilufer Tea’s heart-shaped lemons. Their cuteness and lovely shape will make your beverage look more beautiful and lift your mood as well.

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