Citrus × limon · Citrus family (Rutaceae)
Hi, I'm Lemon! I'm sour, sunny and full of vitamin C.
Lemons are full of vitamins Helpers in food that your body needs a little of every day to work well. C, which your body needs every day to stay healthy.
🟢 Scientists are sure
Vitamin C does not stop most colds. But taking it every day may make colds a little shorter.
🟡 Scientists think so
For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
Lemon on salads and in water is great for kids. Rinse your mouth with water after very sour drinks. You don't need vitamin C pills if you eat fruit and vegetables.
👀 Be careful
For some people, sour lemon can cause a burning feeling in the chest.
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
A lemon is a yellow fruit that grows on a small tree. Its juice is very sour, and its skin smells fresh and zesty.
People squeeze lemon on salads, fish and chicken. In Morocco, lemons are salted and kept in jars to make preserved lemons for tagines.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
Lemon juice can make invisible ink! Write with it, let it dry, and ask a grown-up to warm the paper.
Long ago, sailors ate lemons and limes on long trips to avoid a sickness called scurvy, caused by too little vitamin C.
A lemon tree can have flowers and fruit at the same time!
💡 Lemon trees have thorns, so handle them with care.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
Which vitamin are lemons famous for?
Lemons are rich in vitamin C.
Does vitamin C stop you from catching colds?
Studies show vitamin C doesn't prevent most colds, but can make them a little shorter.
What do Moroccan cooks do to make preserved lemons?
Salted lemons rest in jars for weeks and become soft and tasty.
🏅 You earned the Lemon badge!
Almost! Read the page again and retry — you can do it! 💪
Print it, cut it out and collect them all!
Citrus × limon
Vitamins & good food
Colds & coughs
🤩 Lemon juice can make invisible ink! Write with it, let it dry, and ask a grown-up to warm the paper.
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamins & good food | 🟢 Strong evidence (several good human trials) | Per 100 g, raw lemon without peel provides about 53 mg vitamin C, 2.8 g fibre and 29 kcal[1]. |
| Colds & coughs | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | In a Cochrane review, regular vitamin C supplements did not reduce how often ordinary people caught colds, but shortened colds by about 8% in adults and 14% in children; it halved colds in people under heavy physical stress such as marathon runners[2]. These results come from supplements, not from lemons alone. |
| Energy | 29 kcal |
|---|---|
| Water | 89 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9.3 g |
| Fiber | 2.8 g |
| Sugars | 2.5 g |
| Vitamin C | 53 mg |
| Potassium | 138 mg |
| Calcium | 26 mg |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages
Trees & tree leaves
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
Home & garden
Fun facts
