"Does lemon also block kidney stones?"...What happens to your body when you eat lemon?

Excellent for preventing kidney stones

Stones can form anywhere in the urinary tract and are hard masses that cause pain, bleeding, infection, or obstruction of urine flow. Small stones may cause no symptoms, but large stones can cause significant pain in the area between the back ribs and the hip joints. Increasing the levels of a weak acid called urinary citrate and making the urine more alkaline can help prevent kidney stones.

Lemons contain citric acid, which helps increase the level of citrate in urine. Citrus beverages, including lemon, can raise urinary citrate levels and minimize stone formation. However, studies have shown that the amount of beverage consumed has a greater impact than the type of beverage. According to the National Kidney Foundation in the United States, drinking 4 ounces (110-125 ml) of lemon concentrate daily may help prevent kidney stones.

Strengthen your heart health

Lemons are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that strengthen the heart. Adequate intake of vitamin C helps protect cells from active oxygen. This can help prevent atherosclerosis, a condition that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries. It also contains two plant compounds, hesperidin and diosmin, which are known to lower cholesterol.

Eating lemons also increases vegetable intake. According to a large-scale study conducted in the UK in 2017, the more fruits and vegetables people consume, the lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death from all causes.

Prevention of cell damage

The antioxidants in lemons prevent cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The COPD mentioned here refers to a respiratory condition characterized by abnormal inflammatory responses in the lungs caused by inhalation of harmful particles or gases.

Looking at previous studies, citrus fruits like lemons are rich in vitamin C, a primary antioxidant that protects cells from damage caused by reactive oxygen species. They also help prevent cell damage and strengthen the immune system, so eating citrus fruits when tired can protect the body and help prevent illnesses like colds. These substances are present in the flesh of lemons as well, but are found in much higher concentrations in the peel.

Enhanced iron absorption

One lemon contains more than 30% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Vitamin C plays an important role not only in iron absorption but also in reducing the risk of heart disease. This helps in better absorption of non-heme iron proteins found in plant-based foods, bread, cereals, and iron-fortified foods.

It is good to consume only lemons, but it is recommended to eat them together with foods high in iron content. Oysters can be an example. Eating lemons and oysters together helps with iron absorption and also has the effect of reducing the fishy taste of oysters.

Precautions when consuming lemon

Lemons found in drinks or food are safe to consume in any amount. However, experts point out that concentrated lemon products, such as lemon concentrate, may include medically unverified products, so caution should be exercised when determining intake. Some people may have sensitive reactions to citrus fruits. In such cases, to check for allergies, one can apply lemon juice to the inside of the mouth and wait to observe any reactions.

Lemons have a high acidity and can pose a risk of eroding teeth. Lemon juice is a strong acidic substance with a pH of 2.2, and prolonged contact with teeth can cause erosion. To prevent dental erosion, it is recommended to brush your teeth 30 minutes after consuming lemons. The time it takes for the acidic environment in the mouth to return to its original alkaline state through natural neutralization is approximately 30 minutes after eating.