A lemon packs a punch when it comes to flavor, but does it actually have any benefits for people with lupus? With so many diet tips on what to eat and what to avoid with lupus, it can be difficult to know exactly which foods to choose as part of a healthy diet and lupus management plan. Lemons may have more of a place than you might think.

Lemons can be a good source of vitamin C, which may provide antioxidant benefits to help reduce inflammation for people with lupus. Lemons can also be a flavor enhancer, which you may find useful for eating right with certain lupus complications, such as lupus nephritis.

Read on to learn more about the potential nutritional benefits of lemon for lupus and lupus-related conditions.

Vitamin C and Lupus

Vitamin C (also called ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant known to reduce inflammation, which can be beneficial for autoimmune conditions like lupus. In addition, vitamin C’s antioxidant properties reduce oxidative stress and prevent or delay cell and tissue damage. Oxidative stress occurs when unstable molecules known as free radicals damage other cells in the body.

Reducing oxidative stress is important because cell damage can lead to chronic diseases and negatively affect overall health. For example, research suggests that oxidative stress may increase the risk of heart disease among people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — the most common form of lupus.

Thus, antioxidants seem to play a beneficial role for people living with chronic diseases like lupus. One study found that vitamin C plus vitamin E supplementation had a synergistic effect among people with SLE, meaning the combined effect was even greater than the sum of the vitamins’ individual effects.

While some research has suggested that the antioxidant properties of vitamin C may be helpful for people with lupus, more research is needed on its role in disease progression. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, it’s possible that the benefits stem from the variety of nutrients in foods that are high in antioxidants. Thus, it’s best to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to get the most health benefits from food.

Lemon as a Source of Vitamin C

Although oranges tend to get the glory for supplying vitamin C, lemons are also a good source. One lemon has approximately 31 milligrams of vitamin C — roughly 41 percent and 34 percent of the recommended daily value for women and men, respectively, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.

If you’re looking to add more lemon to your diet, it’s best to consume it raw, perhaps as lemon juice, because heat used in cooking can destroy the fruit’s nutritious properties. Many MyLupusTeam members report drinking lemon water or adding lemon to, say, homemade or store-bought ginger turmeric tea for the anti-inflammatory effects.

Lemon To Enhance Flavor and Limit Salt Intake

Lemon juice can also boost the flavor of other foods. For example, adding lemon juice or slices can turn plain water into a more enjoyable drink, which may be helpful if you’re trying to increase your fluid intake. Many MyLupusTeam members report drinking lots of water to promote kidney health, such as preventing kidney stones.

In addition, using lemon juice to perk up meals can help you cut down on sodium, which is important for managing high blood pressure and kidney problems, such as lupus nephritis or kidney disease.

Other Sources of Vitamin C

You can usually get adequate amounts of vitamin C by consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables. Especially rich sources of vitamin C include:

• Tomatoes
• Cantaloupe
• Strawberries
• Broccoli
• Baked potatoes
• Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit

While grapefruit can be a good source of vitamin C (approximately 75 milligrams per grapefruit), researchers have found that grapefruit juice can cause unwanted interactions with certain medications, such as antimalarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). Grapefruit juice may increase the effects of hydroxychloroquine, which may result in changes to heart rhythms. It’s always best to talk to your doctor about any drug interactions with foods or other drugs to be aware of.

Be sure to seek medical advice from a health care professional, such as a registered dietitian or your doctor, before significantly changing your diet or adding anti-inflammatory foods or dietary supplements such as vitamin C. Although findings suggest that vitamin C has helpful antioxidant properties, more research is needed on exactly how it may (or may not) affect lupus disease progression.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLupusTeam is the social network for people with lupus and their loved ones. On MyLupusTeam, more than 223,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lupus.

Do you use lemon as part of managing lupus? Do you have any favorite ways to incorporate vitamin C into your diet? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.