IMAGINE
a product that can be used as medicine, a cleaning agent, a
disinfectant, and a beauty treatment. You can eat it, drink its juice,
and extract essential oil from it. It comes attractively packaged, is
available all over the world, and is inexpensive. You may even have one
in your kitchen right now. What is it? The lemon!
Not Just for Flavor
How often do you use lemons? Some put a slice in
a cup of tea; others use the zest or a few drops of the juice in cake
recipes. Maybe you squeeze them to use the juice for lemonade. Chefs
around the world always have lemons on hand for endless uses in cooking.
But have you ever used lemon juice as a disinfectant or to help remove a
stain?
Actually, some people clean up and disinfect
their chopping boards by rubbing them with half a lemon. Instead of
using bleach for stains or cleaning the sink, some use a mixture of
lemon juice and baking soda. And half a lemon in the refrigerator or
dishwasher is said to eliminate bad odors and keep the appliances
smelling fresh.
Lemons are a source of citric acid, which is
used as a natural preservative and to give a sour taste to food or
drink. The lemon’s pith and peel yield pectin, which is used in the food
industry as a thickener, emulsifier, and gelling agent. Additionally,
there is an oil extracted from the peel that is used in the food,
pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The list of uses for lemons
could go on and on. Lemons truly are a colorful, flavorful, versatile
fruit.
