Everything you need to know about lemons

Can lemon juice be stored without a fridge?

Well, Yes. Lemon juice can be stored without a fridge.

But how long you can store it depends on your mode of storage. Generally, lemon juice does not last for more than 2 to 4 days if you’re trying to keep it without a fridge. This is much longer than other common types of juice like orange juice.

 

Its natural acidity prevents it from spoiling too fast. Although, if you want to keep it for a bit longer than 2 to 4 days, you have to help it along some. The perfect way to do that is by canning and then boiling the juice.

If your lemon juice will last longer, you need to can and boil it properly. Take this as a rule of thumb: 1000 & 500 ml jars should boil for 5 minutes, 2-litre jars should boil for 10 minutes and so on.

 

Canning and boiling help lock in the natural acidity of lemon juice and keep out other agents that would have contributed to its spoiling. This way, you can enjoy the juice for much longer although it may not remain as fresh as newly squeezed juice.

What can be done with a whole lot of lemons?

A great many things! And most of them are yummy too!

 

Lemon juice has a lot of applications. You can use it to spice up your food, freshen up your household and even help yourself be healthier. Here are some of the things you can do with a whole lot of lemons.

Spice up your food

• Add a teaspoon or two to rice so it comes out fluffier and sweeter
• Make lemonade!
• Bake some great tasting fairy cakes with just 1 teaspoon of a fresh lemon rind.
• Add a dash to roasted potatoes so they come out heavenly.

Freshen up your home

• Clean and deodorize your sink. Just drop some rinds in there.
• Clean your microwave by heating some lemon juice in there.
• Freshen up stinky bins
• Deodorize your fridge
• Use as a stain remover on white clothes.

Be healthier

• Make a citrus salt scrub for your skin
• Start your day with a detoxifying glass of lemon water
• Treat acne. Yep, lemon is a great drying agent and it can help rid you of acne faster.
• Soften dry skin with a paste of lemon juice and baking soda.
• Drink lemon juice every morning to help with weight loss.

Is hot lemon water more beneficial than cold lemon water?

There’s no easy way to answer this one. Both hot and cold lemon water have their advantages. Drinking hot lemon water is very soothing, especially in cold weather. It can help with congestion and keep you feeling warm.

 

Ice cold lemon water is also pretty refreshing. Plus, you don’t need to worry about it being cold since your body will just heat it up once down.

 

But, the answer to the question will have to be neither. You don’t need your lemon water either hot or cold. It’s best to drink it at room temperature. Here’s why:

 

• While drinking hot lemon water is marginally better than taking it ice cold, the hot water may be bad for the lemons. It can destroy some of the enzymatic and energetic properties in them. So your lemon juice may be less effective.
• Drinking it ice cold may hinder the digestive benefits of the lemon water. And it makes your body spend more energy trying to heat it up.
• But lemon water at warm or room temperature provides you with the most health benefits. It allows the enzymatic and energetic properties of the lemon their full flow. This way, you can make the most of your lemons.

Does lemon juice help with weight loss?

Yes, lemon juice can help with weight loss. But there’s a simple reason why.

 

There’s generally not a lot of calories in lemon juice. Juice from half a lemon contains just 6 calories. It has much fewer calories than orange juice and soda which have 110 calories (per 237 ml) and 182 calories (per 0.49 litres) each. So, if you swap out orange juice and soda for lemon juice, you’ll be consuming far fewer calories and this can help with weight loss.

 

Drinking lemon juice can also help you stay hydrated. Due to its very low-calorie count, it is just as beneficial as water when it comes to carrying nutrients to cells and transporting waste out of the body. And since hydration has been found to reduce water retention which can cause bloating, puffiness and weight gain, lemon juice can sure play a role in weight loss.

 

But the main reason why lemon juice can help you with weight gain is not that it’s lemony or tart. It’s simply because of the water in the juice. So, while you will definitely enjoy extra nutrients from lemon juice that are not in ordinary water, they have little bearing on weight loss.

What are the health benefits of lemon?

Lemons are a great source of Vitamin C, Flavonoid and antioxidants, all of which boost your health and wellbeing in several ways. You’ll be surprised at just how much benefit you’ll be doing your health by consuming lemons regularly.

Here are just some of the ways lemons can improve your health.

• Helps lower stroke risk: The American Heart Association discovered that citrus fruits, including lemons, can help reduce the risk of ischemic strokes in women.

• Maintain healthy blood pressure: This Japanese study found in a study of 101 women that those who walked and consumed lemons regularly had lower blood pressure than those who did not.

• Prevent cancer: Antioxidants have been recognized as helping to prevent the formation of free radicals which are known to cause cancer. Lemons provide an excellent source of these antioxidants.

• Help prevent asthma: This study found that Vitamin C provides vital health benefits to people with asthma and bronchial hypersensitivity, and helps lower the risk of developing asthma. Lemons are a great source of Vitamin C.

• Fight iron deficiency: One of the most common nutrient deficiencies in developing countries, iron deficiency, is a leading cause of anaemia. It has been found that pairing foods rich in iron with foods rich in Vitamin C, such as lemons, helps the body absorb iron.

What are the benefits of drinking lemon water in the mornings?

Apart from the absolutely refreshing and tasty drinks you get to enjoy every morning, lemons have a whole store of other benefits for you. Here’s just some of them.

• Having a glass of lemon water in the morning helps you boost your immune system and protects you from deficiencies.
• It helps you detoxify your body, expelling toxic waste and infusing you with a general sense of wellbeing.
• Due to its powerful antibacterial properties, lemon water can help you fight bacterial infections.
• It’s great for digestive health and also helps regulate bowel movement.
• Lemon water, taken every morning, helps maintain the pH balance of your body.
• It is a great source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, all of which are very important for your health.
• It works as a useful remedy for several kinds of skin problems including acne, rash, wrinkles and even dark spots.
• It’s great for your dental health especially with respect to toothache and gingivitis.
• Drinking warm lemon water in the morning helps with joint and muscle pain.
• It also helps keep the body hydrated by providing necessary electrolytes to the body.

There you have it. These are just some of the benefits you’ll enjoy when you indulge in some lemon water. So, when’s your next glass?

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