Fruit of an evergreen tree, lemons are yellow and oval shaped, andhave a sour and aromatic flesh. The region of Messinia cultivates the local varieties Chontrolemoniaand Adamopoulos as well as Lisbon lemons. The largest production of lemons is in winter. They are harvested by hand when the fruit contain at least 25% (by volume) of juice
Lemons should be kept refrigerated.
Since 1742, lemon juice was known to prevent scurvy, a debilitating disease affecting sailors on long sea journeys. However, only in 1928 was it determined that the beneficial ingredient of lemon juice was vitamin C, which strengthens the defense of the body against infection and free radicals. The major role of vitamin C is the regulation of reduction-oxidation or redox reactions. Furthermore, it is involved in the metabolism of proteins, fat and carbohydrates and participates in the formation of connective tissue. Vitamin C also functions as an antioxidant and protects against cancer and heart problems. Specifically, lemon fights cancerous cells of 12 different types of cancer, including colon, breast, lung and pancreas cancers.