The Benefits Of The Humble Lemon

Of all the citrus fruit, lemon is probably the one that offers the most health benefits. The fruit and juice of the lemon have natural antiseptic qualities and the peel contains large amounts of essential oils which have been used for many decades in the preparation of foodstuffs, cosmetics, medicines and even scented candles. In fact did you know that many luxury brands of scented candle makers  use the essential oil of lemon to give their candles their all important fragrance ? This means that by burning these kinds of candles, as well as enjoying the lovely fragrances they have, you can partake of all the therapeutic benefits that lemons have to offer by inhaling the scented air - in effect, practising aromatherapy. When it comes to food, basically, the healing power of lemon is found in its low energy content, the perfect balance between sodium and potassium and of course, vitamin C. The lemon has such a low amount of carbohydrates that it can be used to help us to diet . Eating lemons is a good way to get vitamin C without having to consume too many calories . Lemon contains high levels of potassium and low sodium content, which is an ideal combination to combat hypertension . For those of us who have high blood pressure and should not consume salt, lemon can be used instead to give added flavour to our food . In fact, many doctors and other health professionals suggest flavouring food with a little lemon juice or with herbs - either fresh or dried - in an attempt to get away from the reliance on salt as a flavour enhancer. Aromatherapists recommend the scent of lemon oil for its soothing and invigorating qualities. Many luxury scented candles such as those made by companies like Yankee candles and True Grace candles are made with essential oil of lemon and when you light them at home you savour the benefits the oils have to offer. If you are a diabetic lemon is also good because of its low sugar content. As well as this, we are all aware that a good remedy for fever is lemon juice mixed together with warm water and honey. The same mixture can help to relieve bronchitis. Tonsilitis can be helped by gargling lemon juice (about ten teaspoonfulls of this citrus in a glass of water). The vitamin C contained in citrus fruits, if consumed regularly , will help considerably to prevent us from getting cold viruses and influenza. Athletes and people who regularly do a lot of physical exercise can recover from tiredness taking lemon juice. Lemon is also used extensively in beauty products and tips for its use abound . Here are a few. For oily skin, gently rub your face with cottonwool soaked in lemon juice and let it dry. To remove the grease, make a mask out of cornstarch, almonds and lemon juice. Spread the mask over your face and then leaving it for ten minutes before rinsing with warm water and cottonwool. To condition your hair, add some lemon juice to the water used for rinsing your hair. As a deodorant lemon juice can be applied directly onto the skin as it neutralizes body odour.





The author is owner of The Scented Candle Store which supplies a range of luxury scented candles, including brands like Yankee candles.