Lemons have a very high vitamin C content. Lemons help to lower cholesterol levels and also have anti-cancer effects, because of lemons' limonoid phytochemicals.

Limonoids and limonene are found in the whole lemon – pith and peel included. It is therefore best to make use of the whole lemon.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herb with a lemon scent native to southern Europe. Historically, lemon balm has been said to possess sedative/tranquilizing, anti-gas, fever-reducing, antibacterial, spasmolytic, hypotensive (blood pressure lowering), memory-enhancing, menstrual-inducing, and thyroid-related effects and has been proposed by some to be an herbal cure-all. Laboratory data suggest that lemon balm may contain high concentrations of antioxidants.