Lemon seeds are only lemon seeds if they come from a proper lemon. If you swallow the seeds of a ‘lemon’ that isn’t a proper lemon, either a lime or mandarin orange, then it is bad for you.
Never Mind Lemon Seeds, You’ve Got Much Bigger Problems
Don’t swallow lemon seeds. But if you’re going to do it anyway, here’s what you need to know.
Citrus fruits like lemons are loaded with vitamin C, but they also contain limonene, a terpene that gives them their distinctive aroma and flavor. Limonene is toxic in large doses, and can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if eaten in sufficient quantities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set the maximum allowable amount of limonene at 0.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) per day for food additives — much lower than the limits set by other countries like Japan (200 mg/kg) or South Korea (500 mg/kg).
Limonene also happens to be a component of many insecticides used in agriculture, so it’s possible that ingesting too many lemons could cause toxicity from these chemicals as well.
The Upsides of People Getting All Up in Their Feelings for Lemon Seeds
A lot of people are confused about whether it’s okay to swallow the seeds from a lemon. They’ve always been taught that seeds are bad for you, but what if the seed is in a fruit? Does that make it okay? What if the seed is an essential part of the fruit’s makeup? Is it still bad to swallow lemon seeds?
- -Lemon seeds contain many essential oils and vitamins that your body needs. These include vitamin E, folic acid, potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium.
- -The rind of lemons contains large amounts of citric acid, which has been proven to have many health benefits such as helping reduce inflammation and pain while also boosting your immune system. It also helps reduce cholesterol levels and prevent blood clots from forming in your veins. The rind also contains limonene which has been shown to ward off depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
There Is No Evidence That Swallowing Lemon Seeds Is Harmful
Lemon seeds are the pit of a fruit, and they are often bitter. Lemon seeds contain a lot of Vitamin C and some fiber, so they’re not totally without nutritional value. However, they can also cause digestive issues if you eat too many of them. Lemon seed ingestion should be avoided by people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as it causes gas and bloating.
The seeds of most lemons are not harmful to eat, but you should avoid them if you have problems with your digestive system or intestines. If you have IBS, consuming too many lemon seeds can cause excessive gas and bloating in your stomach and intestines, leading to discomfort and pain.
The symptoms of eating too many lemon seeds include
- Bloating
- Flatulence (gas)
- Diarrhea
Lemon Seeds Contain Trace Amounts of Cyanide
In a professional tone
Lemon seeds are toxic to humans and animals because they contain trace amounts of cyanide. The amount of cyanide in lemon seeds is so small, however, that it should not cause any serious harm unless you eat an extremely large amount of them.
Citrus fruits are natural sources of vitamin C, which is critical for normal growth and development in children. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen, a protein that supports skin, bones and connective tissue.
The University of California at Davis reports that lemon seeds contain traces of amygdalin, a compound that breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when chewed or swallowed. Amygdalin is found in many common foods, including almonds and other nuts, peaches and plums. Its presence in citrus fruits is due to their botanical relation to these other plants.
Amygdalin can be found in both fresh and dried forms of citrus fruits; however, most commercial varieties have been treated with sulfur dioxide or ascorbic acid to prevent the formation of hydrogen cyanide during storage or processing. In addition, most fresh lemons are removed from their rinds before sale to prevent accidental consumption by children or animals.
Swallowing Lemon Seeds Can Lead to an Unexpected Health Benefit
Lemon seeds are a great source of fiber and Vitamin C. It is also believed that they have a positive effect on the immune system. However, many people don’t know that lemon seeds can be used as a treatment for various health problems.
Treats heartburn, constipation, and bloating
It stimulates digestion and improves bowel movements by increasing the secretion of bile and gastric juice. As a result, it helps relieve heartburn and constipation. It also has antispasmodic properties that help reduce bloating and flatulence caused by indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This makes lemon seeds effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms such as abdominal pain or cramping, diarrhea or constipation which sometimes become chronic with this condition.
Relieves coughs
Lemon seeds have expectorant properties that help loosen mucus from the respiratory tract so that it can be expelled easily through coughing up phlegm or mucus.
Conclusion
If we look at the example of lemon juice, it would seem that ingesting seeds has no effect on human health. The thing is that lemon seeds contain less than 2% citric acid, while they have antibacterial properties.
