A lot of ordinary things you probably own already can be very helpful when it comes to doing a thorough clean of your home — you just need to know the correct ways to use them.
We here have put together a list of 16 unusual uses for an ordinary lemon. They will help you look at this sour fruit in a whole new light!
Saying that lemons are a super-food is an understatement. Not only do they add abundant flavor to a variety of dishes, but they also boast a ton of health benefits. The flavonoids within the juice are said to contain antioxidants, which is why lemons are useful in treating so many ailments and conditions.
Here are some reasons to enjoy them ASAP.
Whether you’re freshening up your cutting boards or trying to get rid of smudges and stains stuck on appliances, lemons can get the job done! To clean your cutting boards, rub them down with the cut side of half a lemon or wash with pure lemon juice.
Coat tarnished brass, copper, or stainless steel appliances in a paste of lemon juice and salt (or baking soda), leave for 5 minutes, rinse with warm water and towel dry. This also works well on sinks and faucets!
When it comes to poison ivy or insect bites, rubbing lemon juice on the area can soothe the skin, since it has anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects.
Enjoy good eyesight into old age with this Vitamin C rich drink. Both the Vitamin C and the fruit’s natural flavonoids (antioxidants that work with Vitamin C in the body) work to reduce your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye problems.
You may have heard the importance of drinking a glass of lemon water every morning, and this is because lemon helps conserve insulin, allowing your body to take more time to take in and process nutrients after eating. Lemon also helps provide your body with vitamin C.
Vitamin C found in lemons may help reduce skin wrinkling. A study published in the American Society for Clinical Nutrition concluded that people who consumed more vitamin C have less risk of wrinkled and dry skin.
How water improves skin is controversial, but one thing is certain. If your skin loses moisture, it becomes dry and wrinkle-prone. Whether it’s better to apply moisturizer to the skin or drink more water isn’t clear, but UW Health recommends drinking at least eight glasses of water daily to stay hydrated and rid the skin of toxins.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition showed that polyphenol antioxidants found in lemons significantly reduced weight gain caused by a high-fat diet in mice. In addition, insulin resistance was improved.
While the same results need to be proven in humans, anecdotal evidence is strong that lemon water supports weight loss. Whether this is due to an increase in water intake and fullness or the lemons remains to be seen.
Lemons are fantastic deodorizers! Dab a cotton ball with lemon juice and put it in your fridge to absorb funky smells, put fresh lemon peels at the bottom of your kitchen garbage bin (under the bag), and neutralize litter box odor by placing a cut lemon in a dish in the room to absorb the bad smells and freshen the air.
“The lemon is a wonderful stimulant to the liver and is a dissolvent of uric acid and other poisons, liquefies the bile,” says Jethro Kloss in his book Back to Eden.
Fresh lemon juice added to a large glass of water in the morning is a great liver detoxifier.
It is also frequently used in dental care. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the area of a toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. Massaging the juice on the gums can stop gum bleeding, while eliminating the bad odors that can come from various gum diseases and conditions.
Additionally, it can be used in the regular cleansing of your teeth. Keep your eye out for a toothpaste containing lemon as one of the ingredients, or add a drop of its juice onto your normal toothpaste. Some people also rub their teeth with the outer shell (the inner side touching your teeth) of a lemon after removing the juice. But be careful, lemons are highly acidic, so if your mouth starts burning, rinse your gums and mouth quickly with water.
Lemon juice has proven itself in the treatment of hair care on a wide scale. The juice applied to the scalp can treat problems like dandruff, hair loss and other problems related to the hair and scalp.
If you apply lemon juice directly on the hair, it can give your hair a natural shine.
Imagine it’s a nice Sunday afternoon, you are on your picnic table, just starting your lunch and suddenly out of nowhere a dozen of flies come and attack the place.
Obviously, you would want to get rid of those flies as quickly as possible. And in such situations, lemons can come quite handy in deterring these unwanted guests.
All you have to do is cut lemons in half and prick them with cloves.
This poisoned dish should prevent mosquitoes to snick into your kitchen or your dining room!
Water in general is a natural way to relieve constipation but with the added power of lemons, it will really help your digestive system to get things moving. And, as dehydration is one of the major causes of constipation, starting your day off with a glass of water is a great way to prevent constipation too.
Even the experts recommend lemon water – it’s listed by the American Cancer Society as one of their top natural remedies for curing constipation.
A glass of lemon juice contains less than 25 calories. It is a rich source of nutrients like calcium, potassium, vitamin C and pectin fibre. It also has medicinal values and antibacterial properties. It also contains traces of iron and vitamin A.
Packed with all the goodness, make it a point to begin your day with a glass of warm lemon water. Its cleansing and healing effects will have positive effects on your health in the long run. However, it is very important to note that when lemon juice comes directly in contact with the teeth, can ruin the enamel on the teeth. Hence, it is advised to consume it diluted and also rinse your mouth thoroughly after drinking lemon juice.