WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS…
Happy Friday!
Today’s post is going to be short, tart and sweet. As I write this, I am baking lemony rice pudding for inspiration. Recipe to follow.
Lemons, scientifically known as citrus limon, likely originated in China or India and eventually spread throughout Europe. We can thank Christopher Columbus for bringing those little balls of yellow sunshine to the New World in the late 1400’s.
Lemons to me are more than just a citrusy fruit, they are a representation of a simpler times. Who among us didn’t have a lemonade stand as a child? You sold out every time because no one could resist a kid, a handwritten sign and a jug of fresh lemonade on a makeshift table on side of the road – especially if you are from a small town like Paxton, Massachusetts, population approximately 4806.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF LEMONS
If you research fruits and vegetables on a daily basis like me, you will learn the many benefits of nature’s bounty on health. Lemons, in particular, are a ‘you had me at hello’ fruit. Not only are lemons representative of what is right and good in the world but also they happen to contain essential vitamins and minerals. They are especially high vitamin C, a potent water-soluble antioxidant which helps keep the immune system functioning properly. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends 90 mg of vitamin C per day for men and 75 mg of vitamin C per day for woman over the age of 19. One lemon contains about 30 mg of vitamin C – that’s almost half of your daily vitamin C requirement! Lemons and limes may protect against inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease and even cancer. Citrus limonoids are anti-carcinogens that may prevent cancerous cells from proliferating.
a great morning elixir
Fresh lemon juice mixed with warm (not boiling) water helps to detox the body first thing in the morning and starts to rehydrate you after a night of rest. I wrote post about jumpstarting your day by smoothing before or in place of coffee. If you drink an 8 ounce glass of water with the juice of one lemon as soon as you wake up, then smooth, then java (if you drink coffee – if you don’t, no need to start), you will start your day energized, detoxified and hydrated! Sound like too many liquids in the morning? It makes perfect sense to load up on your liquids early in the day and taper off towards the afternoon so you do not wake up in the middle of the night to go to the loo. Most of us could use a little more sleep so every tip helps, right? Be sure to rinse your mouth with plain water after drinking lemon juice or lemon water. The citric acid in lemons can weaken your teeth enamel and cause an increased sensitivity to hot and cold.
Lemons for beauty
The vitamin C in lemon juice is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a main structural protein in the skin and tissues. Collagen provides a barrier of strength and structure for the skin. Vitamin C also helps to repair and regenerate tissues. The skin, our largest organ, requires proper hydration to look youthful and vibrant. Lemon + water is a double whammy beauty drink.
Choose Organic and Local If possible
Non-organic, conventionally grown lemons may have a wax coating applied to protect them from bruising during transport. Ethyl alcohol or ethanol may be added to the waxes for consistency or even milk casein. There are also fungicides, parasiticides and disinfectants used on non-organic citrus fruits. Ewww. It really bugs me when the food industry takes a perfectly natural, lovely gift from nature and makes it a frankenfood. Click here to read the government mandates for conventionally grown (non-organic) citrus fruits. Choose organically grown lemons when you can and if not, make sure you scrub the outside thoroughly. Try to buy from local farmers and eat fruits and vegetables that are in season for your area.
Continued reading
If you would like to know more about the benefits of lemons, check out, ‘What are Lemons Good For?,’ from Dr. Mercola.
I also like this article from David Wolfe, ’20 Incredible Things that Happen When Adding Warm Lemon Water to Your Morning Routine.’
Well, not as short a post as I had planned. There was a lot cover on the topic of lemons!
Here is a recipe for Lemony Rice Pudding. This recipe is free of dairy and white sugar and contains cinnamon for an extra kick in flavor and health benefits. If you make this at night, save enough for breakfast the next day (after your lemon water of course).
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown jasmine rice, soaked for at least 30 minutes
- skin of one well-washed lemon (just yellow part/not white rind)
- 2 cups of full fat coconut milk (approximately 1 can)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- dash of cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- *organic ingredients are always best
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees
- Drain your soaked rice
- Finely chop lemon peel
- Add all ingredients -rice, lemon peel, coconut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt - to a 9 x 6 inch ceramic loaf pan or 9 inch pie plate and mix well
- Place into oven and stir every half hour - milk will bubble up at the top. That's normal.
- Baking times may vary. Total baking time is approximately 2.5 - 3 hours
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Wow great blog will try the lemons first thing in morning and let you know. Mornings are my worst down time. My energy in the morning is almost at zero (have been tested to find out my energy levels) and I am always seeking natural support to lift my energy in the a.m.