Lemons are one of the most popular fruits in the world. Their vitamins, minerals and antioxidants have a variety of health benefits, particularly for your eyes.
Lemons have a variety of essential nutrients that make them beneficial for eye health. In particular, the vitamin C in lemons is thought to help prevent macular degeneration and other issues that can occur as your eyes age. This nutrient also functions as an antioxidant, giving it an even wider range of health benefits.
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient, which means your body is unable to produce it. It should be typically be obtained by consuming foods, beverages or supplements. However, unlike many other essential nutrients, vitamin C is soluble in water. Your body can absorb it through creams, salves and even eye drops.
According to the Mayo Clinic, most people need between 65 and 95 milligrams of this vitamin each day. The USDA states that a single lemon (which yields around 48 grams of lemon juice) contains 18.6 milligrams of vitamin C. This is about 21 percent of the daily value.
According to a January 2017 study in the journal Ocular Surfaces, ascorbic acid can help reduce eye inflammation. This vitamin can also promote healing of the eyes following chemical injuries. Because vitamin C is also an antioxidant, it can also scavenge for free radicals that have the potential to damage the eyes.
These benefits mean that vitamin C can promote ocular health in a variety of ways. For example, a December 2012 study in the IOSR Journal of Pharmacy reported that eye drops containing ascorbic acid can help treat corneal ulcers.
Fortunately, lemon juice is an extremely common ingredient. You can add lemon juice into fresh juices and smoothies. It's also commonly used in a variety of baked goods and desserts. Lemon is even considered to be an essential component of curries, hummus and many popular sauces, including mayonnaise.
This post originally appeared on Live Strong.
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