The other day I gave you my recipe for cool, refreshing lemonade.  I hope you made a pitcher.  It is so delicious and is a great way to cool off this summer.  Today I thought I would tell you a few facts about lemons.  My family loves lemons.  We not only use them to make lemonade, but we add a few slices to a glass of water to drink at dinner, we mix fresh lemon juice with olive oil and seasonings to make salad dressing, and we squeeze them over vegetables, pastas, fish and meat dishes.  Lemons not only taste great, they are great for you.

Lemons have been known to help strengthen your immune system and cleanse your stomach.  They are a natural source of acid and have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.  Lemons help guard against arthritis, respiratory disorders, kidney stones, high blood pressure, and constipation.  Lemon juice can also help cure a variety of skin conditions and can be used as a cleaning agent to help remove stains.

I recommend incorporating lemons into your diet to reap some amazing health benefits.  One note though, if your recipe calls for lemon zest, I would choose organic lemons since others may hold pesticide residue on their skin.  I buy organic lemons from (you guessed it, my favorite store) Trader Joe’s.

Enjoy your day and enjoy the power of lemons.  If you have any great recipes using lemons, I’d love to hear about them.