One of the most noticeable fruits that one could find on western supermarket shelves is the ubiquitous lemon. From the one hand, we know that it has potent cleansing properties – on the other hand, due to its ability to be sharp in taste, many will avoid it – so how can this well known fruit act as a natural health remedy – what is the health benefit of lemon fruit? Lemons are very useful foods for nutrition and general health. First of all, we can look at their nutritional content. Most people who have heard about lemons will know that they are reported to have a high amount of vitamin C, such as also other fruits in the citrus fruit group. It is said that a lemon fruit will typically give around 3 tablespoons of juice and that it can be noted that by allowing them to come to room temperature that can allow for them to be squeezed more easily – also if they are unrefrigerated for extended periods they may develop mold.

In terms of the amount of vitamin C that they can give, it is said that from 100g (excluding peel), they provide 64% of the required amount for daily living. They can also provide fairly small amounts of vitamin B6 (6%) and iron (5%). Additionally, they provide smaller RDAs of other nutrients such as calcium, pantothenic acid (B5) and in terms of their food preserving qualities, the juice can be used as a short-term food preservative. As regards the amount of calories that they provide, per 100g, it can be 29 kcal.

In relation to the health benefit of lemon fruit, the d-limonene in lemon oil can be used as a nontoxic insecticide. As regards aromatherapy, there was a comprehensive scientific study done by Ohio State which showed that the aroma of lemon oil from aromatherapy did not influence the human immune system – however, it could be said to enhance mood. Moreover, due to the low pH level of lemon juice, this can be used as an antibacterial.

(ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon)

Similar to apples or bananas in the UK perhaps, the orange is seen as a typical fruit that people may eat on a regular basis rather than something more unusual and perhaps more expensive such as mangos etc.. In terms of the nutritional value for oranges’ health benefits, it is said that they can provide a 54% RDA on the basis of 100g consumed. In addition to this very high level, the same amount of the fruit can provide 4% of a daily requirement for calcium and in addition 9% for Thiamine (Vitamin B1) and 5% of Pantothenic acid (B5). It also has other nutrients including Vitamin B6 and Folate (Vitamin B9).

As regards other nutritional values, the 100g of fruit will provide 46 kcal and have 2.4 g in fiber. One thing that people might want to be aware of, is that due to an orange’s low PH level, they can be threatening to teeth and so for example it might in this regard be a bit better to juice an orange and drink it, then clean your mouth etc., rather than cut it into quarters and use your teeth to juice it that way.

In relation to oranges’ health benefits, one can see that they are readily available all around the year for example in the UK and may also not cost so much relative to some more exotic fruits – although of course with the increasing of prices, they may still be relatively costly. Also, due to their greater adaptability to be juiced, their consumption can be very simple and even if you do not fork out some electric equipment, they can also be juiced manually. Moreover, another benefit of oranges which could be protected against if one is careful is that as fruits go, they are relatively robust to take around as opposed to a ripe pear etc., which could be damaged easily.

(reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_(fruit))