All about lemons
Native to Asia, lemons are a citrusy superfood that are perfect for springing into spring in Colorado. Whether sipping refreshing lemonade on a warm, sunny day, brightening a soup or stew with a squeeze of lemon on a snowy day, or giving the house a good spring cleaning, lemons are the ray of sunshine we need.
Prevention.com and medicalnewstoday.com extol the health benefits of lemons. They are a good source of Vitamin C, which plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, the skin’s support system.
Early explorers knew this and brought lemons on their long voyages to help prevent or treat scurvy, a life-threatening condition common among sailors.
Additionally, lemons contain B vitamins, crucial to cell production and function; potassium, a mineral that acts as an electrolyte to help regulate fluid levels and muscle contractions; calcium, a supporter of strong bones; pectin, a type of fiber that promotes good digestion; and lots of antioxidants.
Many of a lemon’s nutrients are found in the juice. To get the most juice from a lemon, roll it on the counter before cutting into it. Use lemon juice to make lemonade, mix it into salad dressings, and squeeze it onto fish or chicken as a marinade. Recipes that include lemons can be savory, like lemon pasta, or sweet, such as lemon bars. Refreshing on a warm day or vibrant on a cloudy day, experiment with lemon cooking and baking.
Always use the peel and the pulp of lemons! After washing, the peel can be zested and added to vegetables, pastas, pizzas and rice, as well as to cakes and cookies, for that subtle sweet lemon flavor many love. Create ribbons from the peel with a vegetable peeler and candy the ribbons. Limoncello, lemon extract and lemon salt can also be made from lemon peels. The pulp, which contains fiber, can add pop to a smoothie or be blended into dressing, hummus or pesto. Freeze lemon juice in ice cube trays and store in freezer bags. Lemon zest can be frozen in small airtight containers.
Lemons have been used for cleaning and deodorizing for centuries. Whiten clothes with lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide for a bleach alternative. Make a homemade cleaning mixture with lemon juice and vinegar. Lemons are a great, nontoxic way to clean cutting boards, cheese graters and garbage disposals (use small cut-up pieces only). Lemon peels in the fridge eliminate odors and putting them on a windowsill or near plants can deter pests.
There are many ways lemons brighten our lives. The juice, peel and pulp of lemons have health benefits and can be incorporated into many different recipes, both savory and sweet. Lemons also have cleaning and deodorizing properties for nontoxic spring cleaning.
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo
