How can lemons benefit your health?. Lemons are a popular fruit that people use in small quantities to add flavor to food. However, they rarely consume them alone due to their intense, sour taste. Lemons give flavor to baked goods, sauces, salad dressings, marinades, drinks, and desserts, and they are also a good source of vitamin C. One 58 gram (g) lemon can provide over 30 milligrams of Trusted Source (mg) of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for health, and a deficiency can lead to health problems. The early explorers knew this and took lemons on their long voyages to help prevent or treat scurvy, a life-threatening condition that was common among sailors. https://i0.wp.com/images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/AN_images/lemon-health-benefits-1296x728-feature.jpg?w=1845