The power of lemon!
“When fate gives you a lemon, make lemonade.” Dale Carnegie
Lemon is one of my star fruits. Their full potential is often overlooked. It helps cleanse the body, provides us with a wealth of vitamins and minerals, helps balance acidity in the body so that your immune system and healthy internal flora can survive!
lemon facts
Did you know that lemon is native to China? Was that lemonade the favorite of the Chinese emperors? That lemon was used for bleaching and as an internal and external astringent back then?
The lemon tree is a small evergreen tree that grows up to six meters in height and is now widely cultivated throughout the world.
For you in the United States, lemons came to you through the Catholic Missionaries and were first planted in Arizona and California!
lemon vitamins and minerals:
Vitamin C, B5 and B6, Calcium, Potassium, Copper, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Iron and Magnesium
Lemon makes up one of nature’s main sources of potassium. Potassium helps with brain and nerve function, helps regulate blood pressure, and works with sodium to regulate the body’s water balance.
Acid-Alkali pH Balance: Your body thrives on a delicate balance of acid and alkali. Lemons help this delicate balance. Despite its acidic nature, the impact it has on the body once ingested is to increase the alkaline balance, so it in turn becomes alkaline and restores your immune system.
And speaking of the immune system, lemon also supports this system with its content of bioflavonoids, antioxidants, and vitamin C, which in turn also helps with inflammation.
Yes, all this goodness is one little yellow fruit!
fresh lemon tips:
First things first, always rinse the skin of the lemon well. For the tips below, only the inside of the lemon is used for its juice.
To reduce fever and for detoxification:
Fresh lemon juice promotes perspiration and helps block pain. When lemon juice is heated, salicylic acid (probably best known as a compound that is chemically similar to the active ingredient in aspirin) is produced. The juice of half a lemon in lukewarm water morning, noon and night helps to eliminate toxins and relieve aches and pains.
Quick fix for sore throat: Squeeze 5 to 10 drops of juice from a fresh lemon or lemon wedge onto the tongue and swallow. Let the clothing fall to the back of your throat. Do this 20 minutes before and after eating, drinking. Do this twice a day for a week to help with throat infections and boost the immune system for colds and flu.
Cough: Drink lemon juice alone or mixed with a fruit juice. Also as a hot bedtime drink, lemon is excellent in a hot toddy or grog: add lukewarm boiled water to half-squeezed lemon juice, add a quantity of quality honey to taste.
Weight Loss and Detox – Lemons are great to help with weight loss and detox. Take half a freshly squeezed lemon juice with a small glass of fresh carrot juice or warm water first thing in the morning before breakfast and in the late afternoon for a couple of weeks.
lemon essential oil
In aromatherapy, lemon essential oil has multiple therapeutic uses. If you don’t like eating lemons, this could be an alternative for you to get the benefits of the goodness of lemon in another way.
Lemon essential oil has long been used as a remedy for fever, infectious diseases, particularly the common cold. Strengthens the immune system, stimulates kidney and liver functions.
Main therapeutic uses for:
Acne, oily skin, warts, calluses, cellulite, arthritis, brittle nails, colds, throat infections, herpes, high blood pressure, kidney stones and varicose veins.
Blends well with other essential oils:
Chamomile, ginger, lavender, juniper, frankincense, fennel, and other citrus oils.
Security data:
Not toxic. Possible irritant in high concentrations on the skin. Increases photosensitivity: avoid direct sunlight after use.
Lemon Essential Oil Tips:
Throat/Cold & Flu/Immune Booster:
Use 4 to 5 drops of the oil in your aromatherapy oil burner with a little water. Place the burner for 20 minutes in your bedroom before bed.
Spray a few drops of the oil on the walls of your shower unit (tile or plastic only) before getting in the shower. The steam from the hot water in your shower propels the essential oil molecules into the air, giving you an inhalation of lemon steam.
Before you get in the shower, put a couple of drops of oil on your face towel. Use the face towel in the shower and rub it on the chest and around the neck.
Cellulite Blend: (The following quantities are only a guide) To 10 ml of carrier oil (preferably almond and wheat germ) add 2 drops of lemon oil, 1 drop of grapefruit oil and 2 drops of lavender oil, or 3 drops of lemon oil and 2 drops of lavender oil.
Warts: Add a few drops of lemon oil on a cotton swab and apply it directly to the wart. You can also use lemon juice directly instead. Lemon oil is more concentrated and is more effective but both are good.
Prescriptions:
One tip on which lemon is great for food is to help preserve it and prevent it from turning brown with the help of the antioxidants in lemon. For example, squeeze a little lemon juice over your avocado guacamole and this will help keep it fresh and prevent it from getting icky.
Mustard and lemon sauce for meat dishes
6 tablespoons unsalted butter or alternative cooking oil
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
3 tablespoons coarse ground French mustard
juice of 2 lemons
salt and pepper
Put the butter (or cooking oil) and garlic in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Just before serving, whisk together the remaining ingredients; heat the mixture briefly. Do not leave on the fire because the sauce will curdle.
Healthy Lemon Ginger Yogurt Crumble Dessert
Easy, easy, lemon squeeze!
CRUMBLE: Mix together crushed rolled oats, crushed nuts, add baby raisins or sliced and diced raisins and a pinch of ground cinnamon. This mix may be to your liking, so have fun making your own healthy mix! The crumble makes up the base and 1/3 of the dessert. Put this crumble right into your dessert bowls/cups. I usually serve this dessert in crystal glasses.
LEMON/GINGER YOGURT: Use a low-fat healthy plan yogurt. The Greek style yogurt is good. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice, a small amount of freshly squeezed ginger juice, and mix well but gently into the yogurt. This yogurt mixture should make up about 2/3 of the dessert. Add this now on top of the crumble base mix.
TOPING: Peeled and sliced fresh strawberries (or other fruit). Now drizzle quality honey over the strawberries and yogurt.
We put in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to cool down and that’s it!
I hope you found this information interesting and useful.
NB: The content of this article is for informational purposes only. The reader is advised to think carefully about any difficulties with their own health and to consult their doctor if they are unsure of their cause or nature.
