When we start getting the sniffles and feeling all stuffy and achy, many of us reach for the hot lemon drink.
Just the idea of nestling under a quilt with a steaming mug makes us feel better. But is that hot lemon actually helping?
According to WebMD, lemon can indeed be used to help alleviate the symptoms of the common cold. Turns out that this fruit has a number of uses.
Lemon is used to treat scurvy, a condition caused by not having enough vitamin C. Lemon is also used for ringing in the ears (tinnitus), Meniere’s disease, and kidney stones. It is also used to aid digestion, reduce pain and swelling (inflammation), improve the function of blood vessels, and increase urination to reduce fluid retention.
Juicy, acidic, and flavorful, the lemon is the most widely used citrus fruit worldwide. It is the smallest among citrus fruits yet contains more health benefiting nutrients than oranges.
Here are some other interesting facts about lemons:
• One lemon contains a full day’s supply of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, but that’s the whole fruit; the juice holds about a third. Lemon juice is also about 5 percent citric acid, making it a natural for slowing the browning or oxidation of fresh, raw foods: apples, avocados, bananas, and other fruits. That power, and the C, makes the lemon a real health fruit.
• Lemons make a versatile household cleaner. Dip a halved lemon in salt for a bit of gentle abrasive power, then scour brass, copper, or stainless-steel pots, pans, and sinks. Rub a cut lemon (sans salt) on aluminum to brighten it. Used lemons tossed in the disposal will deodorize it.
