Seven Health Benefits of Lemons

Just about everyone knows that lemons are a healthful fruit. They are used a lot in the culinary world for everything from flavoring for chicken to lemon meringue pie. They are full of vitamin C, minerals, flavonoids and many other good nutrients. They are also low in calories and useful for weight loss.

Here are some little known facts about the health benefits of lemons that I would like to share with you.

1. Lemons help balance the pH level in your body. Lemons can be quite acidic but once your body processes them they are alkaline.
2. Lemons are high in potassium. Lemons have 80 milligrams of this mineral. Potassium is important to help regulate blood pressure.
3. Lemons contain antioxidants. The vitamin C in lemons is an antioxidant. Antioxidants fight free radicals which promote inflammation and chronic disease.
4. Lemons are a mood booster. Lemons contain a high amount of negatively charged ions which help to improve mood and energy.
5. Lemons are an insect repellent. This is good if you have children or pets because it won't harm them and it will make the bugs go away.
6. Lemons have a high fiber content. Lemons have pectin which helps to keep you from getting hungry or overeating. 
7. Lemon juice helps your liver. The juice helps flush out toxins and causes the liver to produce bile.

All these things are great for maintaining good health and preventing disease. Years ago when I lived in California we had a lemon tree in our back yard. It was great to pick lemons off our own tree to make fresh lemonade. Lemons are readily available in any supermarket and not  too expensive. Many people drink warm lemon water in the morning to get their digestion going. Some folks drink lemon water throughout the day. However you like your lemons, they are a great super food.

Sources:

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/10-Reasons-Lemon-Juice-Good-You-14860617

http://www.thealternativedaily.com/21-extraordinary-uses-lemons/

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/lemon.html

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Valerie Lull

Author

Ten Healthy Teas

valerielull923@gmail.com

Lemons Can Boost Your mood

The benefits of lemons are numerous. They are so  numerous that I have written several blogs about lemons and their benefits. One of the benefits of lemons that I really like are that they can boost your mood. There is a clean fragrance and a freshness about lemons that creates energy and enhances your feelings of well-being.

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The scent alone can give your mind a boost.  The scent of citrus can reduce stress. Aromatherapists use lemon essential oil for stress disorders. It can give you a positive mindset and relieve nervous tension. Lemon oil increases concentration and alertness. Lemon oil is sometimes used as a room freshener to increase the efficiency of employees in an office.

Lemons contain more negative ions than any other fruit. Negative ions are what make you feel good when you get out in the fresh air, especially around waterfalls and in the mountains. The negative ions make you feel more alert because they bring more oxygen to your brain. They also give you mental energy.
A study was done where the subjects were blindfolded and then asked to smell lavender, lemon and water. The results showed that lemon oil "reliably enhances positive mood" in comparison to lavender and water.

One of the best ways to obtain these benefits is to drink lemon water every day. You can drink lemon juice in warm water in the morning or  you can make lemon water and drink it throughout the day. You can also make lemonade with a sugar substitute like stevia, or lo han. The beauty of this remedy is that it is inexpensive and lemons are available in any supermarket.


http://www.naturalhealth365.com/lemons.html/
http://www.examiner.com/article/lemons-nature-s-fountain-of-youth
http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/benefits-of-lemon-water.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-lemon-oil.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2278291/

Check out my website at www.valerielull.com

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
valerielull923@gmail.com

Lemons for personal use

Most people are knowledgeable about using lemons for cooking, and quite a few know about health remedies that include lemons. Another use for lemons is personal and cosmetic care. Below is a list of cosmetic things that lemons and lemon juice can be used for.

Clear skin - Lemon juice is loaded with Vitamin C which helps your skin stay clear and helps to decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Folks with acne can use lemon juice on their skin to help it stay clear.

Lighten Age Spots - Most people get brown spots, often called liver spots, on their skin when they get older. They come from sun exposure but are harmless. These spots can be lightened with lemon juice. Put some on the spot and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off. Do this daily and the spots will lighten.

Highlight Hair - Using lemon juice is a way you can get highlights in your hair without the use of harsh chemicals. Mix 1/4 cup of lemon juice with 3/4 of a cup of water. Use this to rinse your hair. Sit in the sun till your hair dries. Do this for about a week. At the end of the week you should see results.

Breath Freshener - Rinse your mouth with lemon juice, then swallow it. It will kill the bacteria in your mouth that cause the odor. Then rinse your mouth and teeth well with water. If the lemon juice stays in your mouth it can damage the enamel on your teeth.

Dandruff - Using lemon juice is a very easy way to combat dandruff. Massage about two tablespoons of lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with a cup of water and rinse again with it. Keep doing this until you notice the dandruff getting better.

Lip Exfoliator - Put some lemon juice on your lips before you go to bed. Wash it off in the morning. This will help to remove dead skin cells and dried skin.

Strengthen Nails - Women like long nails but they can become weak and brittle. To combat this soak your nails in lemon juice for 10 minutes and then rinse well. Doing this once a week will help strengthen  your nails and remove any yellow tinge on your fingernails.

Sources:
http://www.thealternativedaily.com./21-extraordinary-uses-for-lemons/
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/uses-for-lemons
http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/style/makeup/face/10-ways-to-use-lemon-juice-in-beauty-regime.htm#page=3

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Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Ten Spices for Health and Longevity
www.valerielull923@gmail.com

5 Herbs for Household Use

Most people know that herbs can be used for culinary purposes and almost everyone knows that there are medicinal properties to herbs that have been used since ancient times. But in today's world the knowledge of using herbs for household purposes seems to have become lost knowledge. I often wondered what people used to clean their homes before bleach and other cleaning chemicals were invented. In fact I did not know that bleach had been invented. It thought people always had bleach.

 I did a little digging and found that herbs were used by our ancestors to clean their homes, repel insects and many other household uses. Some of the things they used were vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. I found so much information that I could not possibly compact it all into one article, so I narrowed it down to 5 herbs for household use to write about.

 Lemon Juice, citrus limon, is good for all kinds of things. It is good for cleaning cutting boards used to cut meats and vegetables. It is good for cleaning counters and tile. It can lend a fresh scent to any surface you clean and it repels fleas. Lemon juice citrus limon does not kill fleas, but the fleas don't like the scent of lemon so they go away. 

Here is a flea treatment that is very safe for your pet and easy and inexpensive to make. The basic recipe can be made at home. Cut up six lemons. Boil them in a quart of water for 5 minutes. Steep the lemons for 8  hours in a covered pot. Pour the liquid in a spray bottle. This will last about a week if stored in the refrigerator. Spray your pet after it has been bathed and avoid the animal's eyes.This can be sprayed on pet bedding and pet toys. 

Lavender, Lavendula officinalis, is well known for its lovely scent. It makes a wonderful air freshener and can be used to scent closets and drawers. Put a little lavender lavendula officinalis on a cotton ball and place it in your drawers and closets. Sprinkle lavender on your couch and carpet. Let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum. It will leave your furniture smelling fresh and clean. It will get rid of pet odors and cats will not sit in a spot that has been sprayed with lavender oil. Lavender lavendula officinalis, can be sprayed on linens to freshen them and can be made into liquid hand soap.  

Rose Petals, Rosa, have a heavenly scent. They can be spread in the aisle for weddings. a lovely bouquet can be put on your dining room table as a thing of beauty as well as the lovely scent; and rosewater can be used as an air freshener.

Here is a recipe for rose potpourri. Take the dried peel from an orange, citrus cinensus, some dried lavender lavendula augustifolia and dried rose rosa petals. Add a few drops of lavender lavendula augustifolia essential oil. Transfer the mixture to a glass jar. Seal and let the mixture blend for a couple of days. Unseal and pour into a decorative bowl and enjoy the scent of your potpourri. 

Cedar, cedrus, is another botanical that fleas absolutely hate and will do anything to avoid. You can put cedar chips in affected areas of your home and in your pet's bed. Use cedar chips for cat litter for odor control. Be sure your pet is not allergic to cedar. Do not use cedar oil on your pet. It is not good for them.

Cedar cedrus is good for getting rid of other insect pests like termites, roaches, ants and beetles. Cedar chests and cedar-lined closets are known to repel moths that can damage your clothing. If you can't afford an all-cedar closet, get some cedar chips and put them in little bags or sachets and put them in your closet and dresser drawers. Besides repelling moths and insects it makes your clothes smell nice. 

Tea Tree Oil, melaleuca alternifolia, comes from Australia and is another substance that repels fleas. Put a tablespoon of tea tree oil in a spray bottle and mix with a quart of water. Spray it around your house. I used it on my carpet and upholstered furniture and it did a marvelous job of killing fleas. It will kill ticks too. Do not spray it on your pet; it is toxic to them.

Tea tree oil  melaleuca alternifolia can be used for household cleaning and disinfecting. It has antibacterial properties. It also kills mold and mildew in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. Add it to vinegar and water. Use 50 drops per bucket of water for cleaning tile and countertops. Put a few drops in your laundry during the wash cycle. Put a drop or two on a cotton ball and put it in with your stored clothing to repel moths. There are many uses for tea tree oil. Check out the Internet for more ideas.

The list of things you can use herbs for in your home is endless. If you have pets, you might want to check with your veterinarian about their safety for animals. Never use essential oils on cats. Their bodies cannot process it. Herbs for household use are a great substitute for harmful chemicals.
  
Sources:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/home-made-lemon-spray-flea-control-7599930. html
http://www.yankeemagazine .com/article/resources/lavender-air-freshener#
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/homemade-lavender-rose-potpourri
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/natural-flea-control-with-ordi-62829
http://www.ehow.com/list 5988799 uses-cedar-chip.html
http://www.walterreeves.con/insect-and-animals/moth-control-cedar-closets/
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00580/natural-household-cleaning-products.html
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/9-surprising-uses-for-tea-tree-oil

Be sure to check out my website at www.valerielull.com Your comments on this article are welcome.

Valerie Lull
Author
Ten Healthy Teas
valerielull953@gmai.com