The thing about the lemon is…

The lemon is available all year round, with a single evergreen tree producing about 250kg a year. Lemons are used world wide in cuisine, natural remedies, beauty treatments and cleaners. It always strikes me as amusing that often times there seem to be more lemons in detergents and polishes than there are in lemonade.

Originating in Asia, lemons have been in cultivation around the Mediterranean from approximately the first century AD. Lemon juice was used by the fashionable set during the European Renaissance as a way to redden ladies’ lips. At one time lemons were so rare that they were regarded as suitable gifts for kings. Now they’re grown all over the world.

The nutrients in a lemon read like a shopping list – they contain vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids, B-complex vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, fiber, bioflavonoids, pectin, limonene and potassium. In fact, they have more potassium than either apples or grapes. They’re also a great weight loss tool because their nutrients  support digestion and cleanse the liver.

Lemons should be completely yellow, the ones with green tinges are not fully ripened and will be very acidic. To keep your lemons fresh, keep them at room temperature (not in sunlight) for about 7 to 10 days or store them in the refrigerator crisper for a few weeks.

Lemon juice can be stored for later use by putting freshly squeezed lemon juice in ice cube trays then store them in the freezer for easy use. (Have a look at some other handy tricks with ice trays.)

To reduce sodium intake and of course to add extra flavour, squeeze fresh lemon on salads, steamed vegetables, soups and stews. Roll the lemon on the counter a few times before squeezing to maximise the amount of juice obtained.

Lemon skin is also incredibly useful, as lemon zest provides a wonderful addition to cakes, cookies and vegetables. Dried lemon zest should be stored in a cool and dry place in an airtight glass container. Remember to only zest the yellow part of the skin and not the white underneath as that’s quite bitter.

Lemons are also super useful as a beauty product. I remember as a child my Mom wouldn’t let me go to the hairdresser to have my hair highlighted, so instead I did it the natural way. I mixed lemon juice and conditioner and left it on my hair while I sat in the sun. I did this regularly and it really gave me some lovely highlights! Lemon juice is also perfect for reducing acne and blackheads due to it’s antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Lemons can even be used as decoration as a bowl of fresh lemons will add fragrance and colour to a room for days. There are so many ways to incorporate the healthy and zesty lemon into your everyday food preparations, beauty regimes and décor that I’m sure I’ll be bringing you more great ideas about their use in the near future.

With sunny days and holidays, who doesn’t love sipping on refreshing lemonade. So if you’re looking for a healthy alternative to all the cooldrinks loaded with sugar. Here is a simple recipe for home-made lemonade. Delicious!