This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 at 1:20 pm and is filed under Fruit. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
For a long time 
Lemons have been used for cold remedies, flavourings for drinks and food. They are approximately 5% acid which gives them that very bitter tart taste. Lets see if it’s cold busting properties live up to these claims.
What is in a Lemon?
Nutrients are based on 100 grams, no peel
- Calories: 30
- Protein: 1.7 grams
- Carbohydrates: 9 grams
- Fibre: 2.8 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Calcium: 27 milligrams
- Phosphorus: 15 milligrams
- Potassium: 145 milligrams
- Zinc: 0 milligrams
- Iron: 0.5 milligrams
- Magnesium: 8 milligrams
- Vitamin A: 3 micrograms
- Vitamin B1: 0.03 milligrams
- Vitamin B2: 0.02 milligrams
- Vitamin B3: 0.18 milligrams
- Vitamin B5: 0.19 milligrams
- Vitamin B6: 0.08 milligrams
- Vitamin C: 53 milligrams
- Vitamin E: 0.24 milligrams
- Folate (folic acid): 10 micrograms
(Not so bitter now - Beeble)
What do these figures mean?
If we concentrate on the important figures that have a high percentage of the RDA (recommended daily allowance - Beeble) that make the Lemon stand out above other fruits. The only nutrient that really stands out is Vitamin C which is a huge 60 % of the RDA.
Why eat a Lemon?
It’s high vitamin C content shows that it really does have cold busting powers that can help with coughs and sore throats. As well as the immune system vitamin C is also good for the digestive system and the skin. What the figures do not show is that Lemons are also known for their anti-cancer properties and their ability to dissolve gallstones.
Add it to your Diet
Well I would not recommend eating a raw lemon as the bitterness could be unbearable. But having the juice and fibrous bits diluted in water is much more palatable. This is becoming a very popular morning drink due to its anti-oxidant properties. Adding it to your fish is also a popular method of getting your daily lemon intake increased.
Other Interesting uses
Lemon juice has acne fighting powers and applying it to the affected parts is said to help. Last but not least we can use the Lemon as a small battery, which we must all have done in science class to power a small light. You may need quite a lot of lemons to power anything else.
Summary
A rather difficult fruit to stomach but you don’t have to consume huge amounts to really benefit from it.
A no fat food you need to add to your diet.
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September 12th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I actually love lemons! So this is good to know, if you ever need a way to use them this recipe is the way to go!
Lemon-Ginger Cheesecake Bars
30 nabisco Ginger Snaps, finely crushed
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) philadelphia Neufchatel Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
Grated peel and juice from 1 medium lemon
2 eggs
2/3 cup apricot preserves
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Sprinkle cookie crumbs evenly onto bottom of greased 13×9-inch baking pan; set aside.
BEAT Neufchatel cheese and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add lemon peel and juice; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing just until blended after each addition. Pour over crumbs in pan.
BAKE 25 minutes or until center is almost set; cool completely. Spread preserves evenly over cheesecake. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until chilled. Cut into 24 bars to serve. Store leftover bars in refrigerator.