Bright yellow lemon fruits cause different associations in people. Someone will recall its sour taste, and someone - of unusual benefits. Particularly relevant is the question of its use during the cold season and the peak of respiratory diseases. But do we all know about this plant and its fruits? For many, the question remains: "Is lemon a fruit or a berry?" Some do not know about its properties and contraindications. Consider the quality of lemon in more detail.
What are berries?
Speaking in the language of nerds, a berry is a fruit that develops from one ovary. This is a fleshy fruit, which, as it ripens, forms into an edible pericarp. But there are many erroneous opinions about the belonging of some plants to a particular group.
In everyday life, it is customary to call all small fruits berries. Usually they have a round shape, a specific taste, juicy pulp and seeds. In nature, there are edible and inedible berries. Botanists include berries: bananas, watermelons, grapes, gooseberries, persimmons, tomatoes, pumpkins and many other fruits.
Lemon - what is it?
Is lemon a fruit or a berry? Traditionally, it is considered a fruit, but this is a misconception. It is classified as altered berries. All fruits of citrus plants, orange, lemon, kumquat, in botany it is customary to call "oranges". They have their own distinctive features, thick peel, juicy pulp inside, but are still considered berries. They develop from the upper ovary, which is typical for this category. All berries are characterized by a bright color in relation to the surrounding background. This attracts animals to them, which help spread the seeds of plants.
The bright color of many berries is explained by the presence of pigments in them, the most common of which are polyphenols. These are excellent antioxidants that are beneficial to the human body. That is why many berries were identified by botanists in a separate category of "superfruits." Lemon, a fruit, as it is commonly called in the people, which has many useful properties.
The benefits of lemon
Lemon (fruit or berry, it doesnβt matter in this case), although it has a specific and very sour taste, but has a lot of useful properties. Everyone knows about it and consume this product in large quantities during a period of high risk of catching a cold. Is lemon really so useful and can it replace medicines? It is not worth using it as an alternative to pills, especially when the disease has already made itself felt. But as an aid in the fight against the disease and a source of vitamins, it fits perfectly.
Its beneficial properties have been known since antiquity. Many hundreds of years ago, in Greece, lemon was used as an antidote. Ancient doctors endowed it with healing properties. They used lemon to treat lung diseases and against scurvy. The fruits were attributed many more healing properties, which indicates their exceptional properties.
Lemon Composition
Any citrus fruit, lemon and orange, contains a record amount of vitamin C. Almost everyone knows this. But besides this, the fruits of lemon contain many more useful substances. First of all, they have a lot of citric acid, vitamins and mineral salts. These components are very important for the full functioning of the body. But this is a general outline. In more detail, lemon, a very popular fruit, contains vitamins D, B, A, P. It is also possible to find elements such as iron, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, magnesium, cobalt, manganese and other minerals.
Pectin and fiber, which are part of the lemon, have a very beneficial effect on the intestines. But the most important, useful element is citric acid. It helps to cleanse the body, improve vision, blood circulation and increase immunity. But we must remember that most of the nutrients are concentrated not in the pulp, but in the peel of the fruit.
Contraindications
Lemon is a fruit that has some contraindications to its use in food. Since its fruits contain many potent acids, in large quantities they can also lead to disruptions of the body. Firstly, it is an allergic reaction. High levels of citric acid can cause a negative reaction. Even for cosmetic purposes, lemon can only be used after an allergy test. In case of peptic ulcer, one should also be careful in consuming these fruits. These contraindications are single. In general, lemon can be called one of the most healthy fruits.
Fruit or vegetable?
Some people who are not experts in botany may wonder: "Is lemon a fruit or a vegetable?" The word "fruit" is translated from Latin as a fruit. According to the information in the dictionaries, a fruit is a juicy sweet fruit that grows on trees and shrubs. Vegetables are also the fruits of plants, but not sweet, suitable for consumption even in raw form. According to the description, lemon can be attributed to both groups.
But as mentioned above, this is still a separate category. Lemon is a berry, which in everyday life is usually referred to as fruit. Such a complex and confusing classification does not make the fruits less useful. Regardless of belonging to a particular category, lemon remains a favorite treat and a good helper in the fight against various diseases.
Lemon or lime?
There is another lemon-flavored fruit. This is lime. Their fruits are often confused, which is not surprising, because these two plants are close relatives. They belong to the citrus family, are successfully used in cooking, contain a large amount of ascorbic acid and even have consonant names. But lemon and lime are very different from each other. Lemon is an evergreen tree that can reach 6-8 meters in height. It grows in a subtropical climate and yields ovoid fruits.
Lime is a shrub up to two meters tall. Its fruits have the same shape as the fruits of lemon. Even their color may be similar. But lime bushes grow mainly in the tropics. Its fruits are more tender, juicy and have a flesh with a greenish tint. They are smaller compared to the fruits of lemon. Lime has a more acidic taste with slightly bitter hues and a vibrant aroma.
Rangpur
Thanks to the work of breeders, a lot of new varieties have recently been bred, among which hybrids occupy a special place. The result is an unusual fruit. Mandarin with lemon was also successfully crossed and got a rank. This hybrid has small orange fruits. Their flesh also has a similar color. The second name for this hybrid is "lymandarin." The fruits are small in size, about 5 centimeters in diameter.
Their peel is easily separated from the pulp, which has a very sour taste. Outwardly, rangpur is similar to mandarin, but its taste is closer to lemon and lime. These fruits can be called miracles of selection. In cooking, they are usually used to make marmalade. Rangpur is also added to sauces, which gives them an unusual taste and aroma. But the main advantage of this plant is its endurance. It easily tolerates heat and is often used by breeders as stock.
findings
Berry or fruit? Lemon is a tree, the most important advantages of which are taste and beneficial properties. From a scientific point of view, it is a berry, but it can be considered a fruit, since such a classification has already firmly entered our lives. Let us leave the discussion on this subject to pundits, and we will simply love the lemon for its excellent qualities. Vitamins given by nature are the best we can give to our bodies. Lemon can be grown at home. Observing simple agricultural techniques, you can get a sufficient number of ripe, fragrant, and most importantly healthy fruits. Lemon tree, and especially lime, with proper formation does not take up much space and even decorates the room.