Anything Lemony would do for me !! Why the humble lemon?

I love the color, fresh and sunny coyly reaching out for attention when i buy my veggies . I love the divine smell, the refreshing tang it adds to my daily life ; a comfort ingredient for me ;as it always takes me back to memories of my life with my maiden family- the simple light me ups- Nimbu pani, the lemon rice , lemon pickle. Mom- I want more!

Citrus limon as the binomial name goes is also one of the top 5 alkalizing superfoods in my list and plays an important role to alleviate a lot of the health troubles for me ,my family and my patients some suffering from Skin and Stomach disorders to Obesity to Diabetes. Its rich in ascorbic acid(vitamin C) and limonene which has been extensively studied for its ability to combat tumor growth in over 50 clinical studies.

Lemons have an acidic pH, which is attributable to their citric acid content. The acidity of a fresh lemon can vary between 2.2 and 2.4 on the pH scale, depending on the fruit’s state of ripeness. However the pH nature of lemons changes during the body’s metabolic process and they become highly alkaline-forming. Adding just 1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice to a glass of water is an easy way to give your body that boost of alkalinity. Just be careful to avoid rubbing it directly to your teeth as it does tend to discolor them.

• Rind/ Peel – Pickle it, Zest it, Candy it (avoid the pith-the inner fibrous membrane just below the zest)
• Juice it – The best way. ” When life gives you a lemon…..squeeze it, mix it with six ounces of distilled water and drink twice daily “. –Jethro Kloss in his book Back to Eden . Drink it as a diluted shot, have a lemon tea, mohito or use it with your creative culinary flair in your salads, staple and gourmet recipes
• Seeds-Lemon seeds do naturally contain salicylic acid which is the main ingredient in Aspirin, though this is in small amounts. I have not done many trials yet to establish the edibility/nutritional benefit of these seeds

This natures disinfectant also extends its benefit to my home as I use it for lightly bleaching the floors, in clothes ,on nails to keep them clean to deodorize bathroom, kitchen and garbage odors.Lemon is a also a natural mosquito repellent – A tip: take a fresh left over lemon peel and rub it onto your skin. The smell of the lemon will keep away the mosquitoes. A saviour for my son on his outdoor camps.

I Feel blessed this yellow fruit is indigenous to my country India- easily available and relatively reasonable