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Lemon peel, raw

Fruits Per 100 g · Per 100g serving
Data sources: 47 AFCD 22 SR Legacy

Lemon peel, raw is a fruit, providing just 47.0 calories per 100g. It is an excellent source of Vitamin C, providing 129.0 mg (143% of the Daily Value) per 100g serving. This fruit is rich in dietary fiber, virtually fat-free. Fruits are naturally rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. They are an important part of a balanced diet and contribute to daily micronutrient needs. Our database tracks 69 nutrients for this food, plus polyphenol profile, environmental footprint data.

47.0
Calories
kcal
1.5
Protein
g
0.30
Fat
g
16.0
Carbs
g
10.6
Fiber
g

Top Nutrients

☀️
Vitamin C
129 mg
143% DV
💪
Fiber
10.6 g
28% DV
💎
Calcium
134 mg
13% DV

Data for 69 of 150 tracked nutrients

Nutrient Fingerprint

How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.

Complete Nutrient Profile

Macronutrients 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Water AFCD81.6g
2%
Calories SR47.0kcal
Energy (kJ) SR197kj
Protein AFCD1.5g
3%
Total Fat AFCD0.30g
Carbohydrate SR16.0g
12%
Fiber AFCD10.6g
28%
Total Sugars SR4.2g
Starch AFCD0g
Ash AFCD0.60g
Minerals 9
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Calcium AFCD134mg
13%
Iron AFCD0.80mg
10%
Magnesium AFCD15.0mg
4%
Phosphorus AFCD12.0mg
2%
Potassium AFCD160mg
5%
Sodium AFCD6.0mg
0%
Zinc AFCD0.25mg
2%
Copper AFCD0.09mg
10%
Selenium AFCD0.70µg
1%
Vitamins 26
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Vitamin A (RAE) AFCD5.0µg
1%
Vitamin A (IU) SR3.0IU
Retinol AFCD0µg
Beta-Carotene AFCD7.0µg
Alpha-Carotene AFCD1.0µg
Beta-Cryptoxanthin AFCD45.0µg
Lycopene SR0µg
Lutein + Zeaxanthin SR18.0µg
Vitamin C AFCD129mg
143%
Vitamin D SR0µg
Vitamin D (IU) AFCD0IU
Vitamin D2 AFCD0µg
Vitamin D3 AFCD0µg
Vitamin E AFCD0.20mg
1%
Vitamin K1 SR0µg
Thiamin (B1) AFCD0.06mg
5%
Riboflavin (B2) AFCD0.08mg
6%
Niacin (B3) AFCD0.40mg
2%
Pantothenic Acid (B5) AFCD0.32mg
6%
Vitamin B6 AFCD0.17mg
13%
Folate AFCD13.0µg
3%
Folic Acid SR0µg
Folate (food) AFCD13.0µg
Folate (DFE) AFCD13.0µg
Vitamin B12 AFCD0µg
Choline SR8.5mg
2%
Fatty Acids 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Saturated Fat AFCD0g
Monounsaturated Fat AFCD0g
Polyunsaturated Fat AFCD0g
Trans Fat AFCD0g
Cholesterol AFCD0mg
Phytosterols SR35.0mg
Omega-3 ALA AFCD0g
Omega-3 EPA AFCD0g
Omega-3 DPA AFCD0g
Omega-3 DHA AFCD0g
Individual Fatty Acids 10
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Butyric Acid (4:0) SR0g
Caproic Acid (6:0) SR0g
Caprylic Acid (8:0) SR0g
Capric Acid (10:0) SR0g
Lauric Acid (12:0) SR0g
Myristic Acid (14:0) SR0.001g
Palmitic Acid (16:0) SR0.04g
Stearic Acid (18:0) SR0.002g
Linoleic Acid (18:2) AFCD0g
Linolenic Acid (18:3) SR0.03g
Amino Acids 1
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Tryptophan AFCD0.008g
Other 3
NutrientPer 100gUnitPer Serving% DV
Caffeine AFCD0mg
Theobromine SR0mg
Alcohol AFCD0g

Nutrient Density Score

The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.

237
NRF9.3 Score
Excellent · per 100 kcal
Poor (<0) Moderate Good Excellent (100+)

NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.

Nutrient Interactions in This Food

Nutrients in this food that enhance or compete with each other during absorption.

✔ Synergies — nutrients that help each other

Vitamin C + Iron●●●

Vitamin C dramatically enhances non-heme iron absorption by reducing Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ in the gut. Adding 75 mg vitamin C to a meal can increase iron absorption 3–4 fold.

Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1989

Vitamin C + Calcium●●

Vitamin C supports collagen synthesis, which provides the structural framework for calcium deposition in bone tissue.

Aghajanian et al., Nutrients, 2015

⚠ Antagonisms — nutrients that compete

Calcium vs Iron●●●

Calcium inhibits both heme and non-heme iron absorption when consumed in the same meal. The effect is dose-dependent, with significant inhibition at 300+ mg calcium.

Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991

Fiber vs Iron●●

Phytates in high-fibre foods (whole grains, legumes) bind non-heme iron and reduce its bioavailability. Soaking, sprouting, and fermentation reduce phytate content.

Hurrell & Egli, Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2010

Fiber vs Calcium●●

Oxalates (in spinach, rhubarb) and phytates (in bran) can bind calcium, reducing absorption. However, the net effect of high-fibre diets on calcium status is modest.

Weaver et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1999

Vitamin C vs Copper●●

High-dose vitamin C (>1,500 mg/day) may reduce copper absorption by reducing Cu²⁺ to Cu⁺, though the clinical significance at normal intakes is minimal.

Harris, Am J Clin Nutr, 2003

How Cooking Changes Nutrients

Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Fresh Fruits” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.

Key insights
Vitamin C loses up to 30% when sautéed. Baked retains 80%.
Folate loses up to 50% when sautéed. Baked retains 60%.

Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.

USDA Retention Factors

Polyphenols & Bioactive Compounds

Polyphenols are plant-derived compounds with antioxidant properties. Higher intake is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk and improved gut health.

42
Total Polyphenols
mg per 100g · Moderate
2
Polyphenol Classes
identified in this food
Flavonoids24 mg57%
Phenolic Acids18 mg43%

Processing Impact on Polyphenols

How common cooking methods affect polyphenol content in fruits. Retention % is relative to the raw/unprocessed food.

Best Method
Freezing
95% retained
Most Loss
Juicing
52% retained
🧊
Freezing95%
Excellent retention; flash-freezing preserves structure and polyp≈40 mg
☀️
Drying82%
Moderate heat degradation offset by concentration; sun-drying ret≈34 mg
🫕
Boiling68%
Significant leaching of water-soluble flavonoids into cooking wat≈29 mg
🔥
Baking/Roasting65%
Dry heat degrades anthocyanins more than other flavonoids≈27 mg
🥫
Canning55%
Prolonged thermal treatment and water contact cause significant l≈23 mg
🧃
Juicing52%
Fiber-bound polyphenols lost with pulp; clear juices lose more th≈22 mg

Health Associations

Research-backed associations for the polyphenol classes found in this food. Evidence strength rated from systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

💜
↓ Cardiovascular disease riskModerate
Flavonoids: Meta-analyses of prospective cohorts show 10-20% lower CVD risk with higher flav
💜
↓ Blood pressureModerate
Flavonoids: RCTs show modest systolic BP reductions (2-5 mmHg) with flavanol-rich cocoa and
🔵
↑ Antioxidant capacityStrong
Phenolic Acids: Chlorogenic acid (coffee) and ferulic acid (grains) show consistent antioxidant
🔵
↑ Glucose metabolismModerate
Phenolic Acids: Chlorogenic acid may slow glucose absorption and improve insulin sensitivity
⚠ Most evidence is from observational studies and in vitro research. Randomized controlled trials are limited. Individual responses vary based on gut microbiome, genetics, and overall diet. Associations do not prove causation.

Polyphenol data matched from: “Lemon, raw” · ●●● high confidence

Source: Phenol-Explorer 3.6 (INRA, 2023) · Retention: Rothwell 2013, Palermo 2014 · Health: Del Bo' 2019, Grosso 2017

Environmental Impact

Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Citrus Fruit” category.

0.39
kg CO₂e / kg
Very Low Impact
0.71
m² land / kg
Land Use
83.0
L water / kg
Water Use
3.0
g SO₂e / kg
Acidification
How this compares (GHG emissions)
Potatoes (0.5)Chicken (9.9)Beef (99.5)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions0.39 kg CO₂e / kg
Land Use0.71 m² / kg
Water Use83.0 L / kg
Eutrophication3.1 g PO₄e / kg
Acidification3.0 g SO₂e / kg
⚠️ Important context about this data
  • Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
  • System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
  • Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
  • Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.

Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.

Global Supply: Fruits

Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Fruits” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.

1.
Dominican Republic
618
2.
Oman
424
3.
Uganda
422
4.
Guyana
416
5.
Sao Tome and Principe
366
6.
Saudi Arabia
352
7.
Papua New Guinea
317
8.
Dominica
308
9.
Albania
293
10.
Ghana
286

Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)

+38%
1961: 93 kcal2023: 128 kcal

Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Lemon peel, raw?

Lemon peel, raw contains 47.0 kcal per 100 grams, making it a low-calorie food. The energy comes from 1.5g of protein (13% of calories), 0.30g of fat (6%), and 16.0g of carbohydrates (136%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.

What is Lemon peel, raw most nutritious for?

The standout nutrient in Lemon peel, raw is Vitamin C, providing 129 mg per 100g (143% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Fiber (28% DV). Our database tracks 69 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Is Lemon peel, raw high in protein?

At 1.5g per 100 grams, Lemon peel, raw is not a significant source of protein. Pair with protein-rich foods like legumes, meat, fish, or dairy to meet daily protein needs.

How much fiber is in Lemon peel, raw?

Yes, Lemon peel, raw is rich in dietary fiber with 10.6g per 100 grams. The daily recommended intake is 25-38g, so a serving contributes meaningfully toward that goal. Dietary fiber supports digestive health and is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Does Lemon peel, raw contain polyphenols?

Yes, Lemon peel, raw contains approximately 42.0 mg of polyphenols per 100g, primarily from the moderate class. Polyphenols are bioactive plant compounds associated with antioxidant properties. Their retention can vary with cooking and processing methods — see the processing impact section above for details.