Is lemon a fruit? What are fruits, their meaning and lemon
One of the most commonly grown and used citrus fruits in cooking is lemon. It is used in many recipes, cakes, cookies, juices, etc. I’m sure all of you have used it on some occasion, even just to add a little juice to romaine squid. Despite such great popularity, many people ask themselves the following question: Is lemon a fruit?
This doubt appears many times, and not only in the case of lemon. Therefore, we will explain it in this article what is considered fruit and whether there is one lemon or not. So if you want to clear your doubts, I advise you to continue reading.
What are fruits and how are they classified?
Before we answer the question whether a lemon is a fruit or not, let us first explain what fruits are and how they are classified. When we talk about the fruit of a plant, we refer to edible fruits obtained from certain vegetables, both cultivated and wild. It is usually eaten as a dessert, and some can be served fresh or cooked. The fruit is usually eaten when ripe. Moreover, they can be used to prepare jellies, juices and jams.
It is worth emphasizing the nutritional value of fruit. Its water content is very high and can reach up to 95%. It’s no wonder that they are low in calories, which makes them great allies in losing weight. Also yesThey are luxurious in minerals and vitamins.
Speaking more broadly about the vitamins fruit contains, it is worth mentioning what vitamins they offer two kinds of different from the same:
- Vitamin A: It is found mainly in kiwi and strawberries.
- Vitamin C: It predominates in peaches and plums.
Although it is true that fruits are distinguished primarily by their high vitamin content, we must not forget about it they also offer other ingredients critical for our health, such as fiber, carbohydrates, proteins and flavors.
fruit classification
When it comes to classifying fruits, we can do it in different ways. One of the most common is due to its taste:
- Sour fruits: On a nutritional level, it should be noted that they assist reduce uric acid and cholesterol levels.
Examples: eggplant, chayote, guava, orange, cucumber, pineapple, grapes and some varieties of apples. - Semi-acid fruits: They are distinguished by a high content of protein with high biological value.
Examples: strawberry, guava, lime, tangerine, mango, peanut, cashew, peach and tomato. - Sweet fruits: Sweets are more compatible with each other. From a nutritional point of view, they are luxurious in both vitamins and minerals. Of course, they are not compatible with acidic or neutral fruits.
Examples: apricot, cherry, custard apple, dates, pomegranate, currant, soursop, higo, melon, papaya, pear, pitahaya, watermelon, sapodilla and some plum varieties, guava, apple, medlar and grapes. - Neutral fruits: These are the richest in nutrients necessary for our body, such as minerals, vitamins, proteins and trace elements.
Examples: avocado, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, chestnut, coconut, macadamia nuts and nuts.
We can also distinguish different types of fruit according to its seeds:
- Stone or stone fruits: They have a challenging shell and their seeds are usually huge. An example would be quince.
- Stone fruit: It has several tiny seeds. These include apples and pears.
- Cereal fruits: They have numerous miniature seeds, like figs.
Then we can also distinguish dried fruits and fresh fruits. The first one is subjected to a drying process and consumed a few months after harvest. However, fresh ones are eaten immediately or a few days after harvesting.
We cannot forget berries. This group includes tiny fruits which, apart from being cultivated, also usually grow on wild bushes. These types of fruits include, for example, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
Fruits and their importance in the diet
As we mentioned earlier, Fruits are foods very luxurious in various ingredients critical for our body. Moreover, due to their high water content, they have very few calories, which is beneficial if we want to lose weight. Of course, don’t overdo it, too much is never good. The most recommended fruits if we want to lose weight include apples, pineapple, oranges, strawberries, kiwi, melon, pear and watermelon.
While it is true that fruits are great for weight loss, it is also critical to consume them if that is not our goal. It is the basic food of a balanced diet. Its daily consumption provides us with mineral salts, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants necessary for the health of our body. Moreover, the fruit promotes the elimination of toxins.
Lemon: Fruit or not?
Now that we know what fruits are, let’s answer the most critical question: is a lemon a fruit? The answer is yes. Lemon is a tiny, yellow, sour citrus fruit. It is an extremely valued source of citric acid and ascorbic acid, i.e. vitamin C.
It is part of the species Citrus lemonsbelonging to the genus Citrus who in turn comes from the family Rutaceae. Lemon is an oval fruit that can reach a length of seven to twelve centimeters. Its color is yellow and It has glands containing crucial oils. As for the pulp, it is divided into segments in which the sour juice is located. Depending on the lemon variety, there are tiny seeds inside that are slightly round and slightly pointed.
Lemon juice is widely used to add flavor to both foods and drinks and also prevents scurvy. Lemon oil is also used for aromatherapy. This perfumed liquid is obtained by extracting it from the peel of the fruit. Lemon is also used in the pharmaceutical industry for preparing various medicines and at home as a natural and home remedy.
Related article:
What is the difference between lime and lemon?
properties of lemon
Why is lemon used so often? This is not only because of its taste, but also because of this fruit It also has several properties that are very beneficial to our body. We will comment on them below:
- Affluent in minerals and vitamins: Lemon contains a huge amount of vitamins B and C and some minerals such as calcium, selenium, iron, magnesium and potassium. While the vitamins contained in this fruit assist in the proper functioning of blood vessels and the nervous system, the minerals assist strengthen bones and produce collagen.
- Supports digestion: Despite its very high acid content, lemon really aids digestion. Whether taken alone or with other foods, this fruit will benefit the digestive process in our body.
- Affluent in antioxidants: It is not without reason that lemon is so widely used in the so-called detoxification diets. This fruit helps detoxify the body by eliminating toxins. In addition, its antioxidant properties also assist prevent premature aging.
- Helps prevent anemia: Thanks to its high content of vitamin C, lemon helps fight fatigue, anemia and colds. Additionally, this vitamin helps in the formation and better absorption of iron from plant foods. It should also be noted that vitamin C helps defend our body.
- Increased liver protection: Since lemon stimulates the secretion of bile, its consumption helps the liver perform its functions.
- Lowers cholesterol levels: Due to its low fat and calorie content, lemon is an ideal ally in lowering triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Metabolize fat faster: Because lemon helps synthesize and digest fats in the body, it is perfect for apply in slimming diets or for the prevention of excess weight.
Other benefits of lemon
In addition to the properties mentioned above that are beneficial to our body, Lemon also offers other benefits for various uses. The novel options are:
- This is flavorizer great for our home.
- can be used as disinfectant. In fact, there are many cleaning products that contain a bit of lemon.
- Can be used as natural insecticide.
- there is lemon natural peeling perfect for the skin.
- This fruit also helps with skin reduce discolorations and fight acne.
I hope that it has already become clear to you that lemon is a fruit and why. Without a doubt, this is a very good option for growing at home because it is used quite often. If you want to learn more about this topic, you can find more information on lemon tree care here.