Lemon (Latin name: Citrus limon) is a small evergreen tree of the genus Citrus in the family Rutaceae, which prefers warmth, tolerates shade, and is afraid of heat. The fruit is yellow and oval-shaped, mainly for juice, sometimes also used as a cooking seasoning.

Morphological features

Small tree. Branches less spiny or nearly unarmed, young leaves and flower buds dark purplish-red, pteridophytes broad or narrow, or only with traces, leaf blade thickly papery, ovate or elliptic, 8-14 centimeters long, 4-6 centimeters wide, usually mucronate at the top, with distinct obtuse cleft teeth at the edge. Single flowers in axillary or few-flowered clusters; calyx cup-shaped, 4-5-lobed; petals 1.5-2 cm long, outside pale purplish-red, inside white; often unisexual flowers, i.e., stamens developed, pistils reduced; 20-25 or more stamens; ovary subcylindric or barrel-shaped, slightly narrower apically, stigma capitate. Fruit ellipsoid or ovate, narrow at both ends, usually narrower apically and papillate, pericarp thick, usually rough, lemon-yellow, difficult to peel, rich in lemon-scented oil dots, sarcocarp sacs 8-11-valved, sap cells yellowish, juice acidic to very acidic, seedlets small, ovate, pointed at end; testa smooth, cotyledons creamy white, usually simple or both polyembryonic. Flowering April-May, fruiting September-November.

Medicinal value

Anti-scorbutic: "Already glucuronic acid" (i.e. vitamin C) isolated from lemon juice is an element of ascorbic acid.

Lemon summer appetizer: lemon rind is rich in aromatic volatile components, can produce fluids to relieve the summer heat, appetizer to wake up the spleen. In summer, the summer humidity is heavy, many people are tired, often after a long period of work or study appetite, drink a cup of lemon water, fresh and acidic flavor of people's spirits, but also can open the appetite. In Western cuisine, lemon for seafood seasoning, remove the fishy odor, Southeast Asian cuisine, it is used to cook directly to highlight the sweet and sour taste. Southern Chinese people love to eat roast duck, roast goose, also less lemon as a condiment.

Prevention of cardiovascular disease: lemon is rich in vitamin C and vitamin P, can enhance the elasticity and toughness of blood vessels, can prevent and treat hypertension and myocardial infarction symptoms. Lime contains a component close to insulin, which can make abnormal blood glucose levels lower.

Clearing heat and resolving phlegm: Lemon peel is more effective than citrus in dispelling phlegm. Add lemon juice to warm water and a pinch of salt to cough up phlegm that has accumulated in the throat.

Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory: Lemon is rich in vitamin C, which plays a role in the human body like a natural antibiotic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, enhance the human body's immunity and other effects, you can usually drink more hot lemon water to maintain the body.

Delaying aging and inhibiting hyperpigmentation: Lemon contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C and other nutrients, but also rich in organic acids, citric acid, lemon is a highly alkaline food, with a strong antioxidant effect on the promotion of the skin's metabolism, to slow down the aging of the skin and inhibit the hyperpigmentation and so on is very effective. The main use of lemon in cosmetics is whitening, because it is rich in vitamin C; because of irritation easy allergy, long-term consumption, long acne, not recommended to apply directly to the face.

Elimination of morning sickness: the two Guangzhou region of Chinese medicine writings "Cantonese" recorded: "lemon, Yimouzi, taste extremely acidic, pregnant women with liver deficiency addiction, so it is said that Yimouzi. When ripe, people competing to buy to more than hide and after years of long as yet, the juice can be replaced by vinegar." That is, pregnant women can place some lemon beside the bed, get up in the morning to smell, have the effect of eliminating morning sickness.

Nutritional value

Lemon is one of the world's most medicinal fruits, it is rich in vitamin C, sugar, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin quinic acid, citric acid, malic acid, hesperidin, naringenin, coumarin, a high amount of potassium and a low amount of sodium.

Citric acid is known to prevent and eliminate skin pigmentation, it also prevents colds, stimulates blood production and helps reduce the risk of many types of cancer.

Note: Lemons are generally not eaten raw, but processed into beverages or foods. Such as lemon juice, lemon marmalade, lemon slices, and lemon cakes can perform the same medicinal effects, such as improving vision and dark adaptation and reducing fatigue.

Edible value

Mainly for juice, sometimes also used as a cooking seasoning, but basically not used as fresh food. Because lemons are rich in vitamin C, they are considered to be the nemesis of scurvy.

In Western cooking, lemons can be used as a garnish or an ingredient. Lemon can be used as a substitute for salt and to prevent fruits and vegetables from discoloring. Lemons can flavor soups, vegetables, cakes, ice cream and can be used to make jams. Instead of vinegar, lemon can be used to flavor beef, pork and fish. It can also be added to tea as a flavoring. Lemons can also be eaten dried or candied, as well as flavoring sauces and desserts.

Drinking in water: Wash the fresh lemon fruit or lemon peel, cut it into 2mm thick slices horizontally, remove the seeds and put it directly into a cup of cooled water, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar to drink.

Effects: It can move the qi, dispel phlegm, strengthen the stomach, cure stomach pain, coughing.

Sugar lemon: wash the lemon, sliced, deseeded, according to the proportion of 1 kg lemon slices 2-3 kg sugar, using a layer of lemon layer of sugar method into a porcelain jar or bottle sealed tightly, a week after you can drink (diabetic patients can be used to salt, the same method of sugar, the amount of salt for the amount of lemons 25-30%)

Salted fresh lemon juice: fresh lemon juice, with a pinch of salt. . Take with warm water.

Effects: To promote the production of fluids to relieve summer heat.

Lemon Infusion: Dissolve Crastan Infusion granules in water, then add lemon juice to get a delicious lemon juice drink, with ice is more refreshing and thirst-quenching.

Effects: It is suitable for drinking after meal as it can relieve heat and help digestion.

Honey Ze Lemon: Lemon with salt to wash the outer skin, can also be soaked in salt water for half an hour. Then the lemon two ends to remove the tip, cut into thin slices. In the order of one slice of lemon, one spoonful of honey, all lemons are preserved into a waterless and oil-free glass sealed jar (honey must be preserved over the lemon slices). Cover and store in the freezer. Let it marinate overnight and it's ready to drink. It tastes even better when you pinch out the lemons to brew after three or four days. When brewing, clip out one or two slices, and scoop two spoons of honey lemon juice, together with warm water. (Do not use hot water, it will destroy the nutrients of honey).

Consumption of contraindications

Suitable food: lemon is suitable for summer fever, dry mouth and thirst, indigestion, gastric stagnation, erbic consumption; suitable for vitamin C deficiency consumption; suitable for pregnant women to consume fetal restlessness; suitable for consumption of kidney stones; suitable for hypertension, myocardial infarction patients to eat, it can be played to protect blood vessels, improve the effect of blood circulation.

Contraindication: lemon flavor is very acidic, easy to hurt tendons damage teeth, should not eat too much. Toothache people avoid eating, diabetics also avoid. In addition, gastric and duodenal ulcers or hyperacidity patients should not be used.