I have always been fond of lemon flavors, and I have been known to eat them.
As a child, I would get one a year.
Half of the pleasure was everyone else's reaction, but I like it.
Perhaps this is why I've actually looked for benefits for this often misunderstood fruit.
Lemons have a history behind them.
It is supposedly the first cultivated fruit of India, and was picked up by the Arabs, who planted them throughout their territories...
including parts of Spain.
As the tree spread, it's popularity grew.
In fact, in Victorian times it was a sign of prestige in many of the great houses.
There are several reasons for this, and flavor is but a minor consideration.
Some of the reasons are questionable, but interesting.
For instance, lemon was served with fish to help if a fish bone was swallowed.
It was believed the acidic nature of the fruit would melt the bone.
You may have noticed that lemon is used in *many* cleaning products.
The reason? It works.
One of the major uses for this is that it deodorizes.
Put it down the garbage disposal or stick it in the fridge, it can cut odor...
even that of fish.
In cooking, the juice has a lot of uses.
It can help cook and is often used in ceviche to cook without heat.
One of the first cooking uses I learned was in preserving foods.
Some foods, particularly avocado and apples, turn color after being exposed to air.
What do you turn to? Lemon juice is a natural preventative.
We herbalists have a lot of use for this fruit.
I remember a cough remedy given me by both my mother and my grandmother...
mix 50/50 lemon juice and honey, stir it up and give a tablespoon at least an hour apart.
It's always helped me and my family.
Lemons also promote perspiration, which can help (used properly) get over some illnesses.
Used carefully, it may help poison ivy.
Acne, sunburns and insect bites may also be soothed by lemon juice.
It may surprise you to know that lemon juice can help heartburn.
It also may help cases of gout.
The reason this is somewhat surprising is that both seem to be hurt by highly acidic foods, and lemons are definitely that.
I suspect that, for gout at least, it's the vitamin C content.
Speaking of that, one of the uses for lemons occurred when sailors discovered that scurvy could be prevented by certain fruits.
Scurvy is a deficiency disease, caused by lack of C.
Lemons were useful, though you may hear more of limes...
the fruit chosen by most British ships...
hence the name "Limey" applied to their sailors.
As a child, I would get one a year.
Half of the pleasure was everyone else's reaction, but I like it.
Perhaps this is why I've actually looked for benefits for this often misunderstood fruit.
Lemons have a history behind them.
It is supposedly the first cultivated fruit of India, and was picked up by the Arabs, who planted them throughout their territories...
including parts of Spain.
As the tree spread, it's popularity grew.
In fact, in Victorian times it was a sign of prestige in many of the great houses.
There are several reasons for this, and flavor is but a minor consideration.
Some of the reasons are questionable, but interesting.
For instance, lemon was served with fish to help if a fish bone was swallowed.
It was believed the acidic nature of the fruit would melt the bone.
You may have noticed that lemon is used in *many* cleaning products.
The reason? It works.
One of the major uses for this is that it deodorizes.
Put it down the garbage disposal or stick it in the fridge, it can cut odor...
even that of fish.
In cooking, the juice has a lot of uses.
It can help cook and is often used in ceviche to cook without heat.
One of the first cooking uses I learned was in preserving foods.
Some foods, particularly avocado and apples, turn color after being exposed to air.
What do you turn to? Lemon juice is a natural preventative.
We herbalists have a lot of use for this fruit.
I remember a cough remedy given me by both my mother and my grandmother...
mix 50/50 lemon juice and honey, stir it up and give a tablespoon at least an hour apart.
It's always helped me and my family.
Lemons also promote perspiration, which can help (used properly) get over some illnesses.
Used carefully, it may help poison ivy.
Acne, sunburns and insect bites may also be soothed by lemon juice.
It may surprise you to know that lemon juice can help heartburn.
It also may help cases of gout.
The reason this is somewhat surprising is that both seem to be hurt by highly acidic foods, and lemons are definitely that.
I suspect that, for gout at least, it's the vitamin C content.
Speaking of that, one of the uses for lemons occurred when sailors discovered that scurvy could be prevented by certain fruits.
Scurvy is a deficiency disease, caused by lack of C.
Lemons were useful, though you may hear more of limes...
the fruit chosen by most British ships...
hence the name "Limey" applied to their sailors.