I work in the automobile industry and the term "lemon" is used to describe a vehicle that is problematic. But real lemons are anything but problematic. These adorable little fruits from India have been around over 4000 years. Romans believed them to be an antidote to poisons, the Egyptians painted them on the walls of tombs, the ladies of the court of Louis XIV would bite into lemons to make their lips red.

California is one of the world's leading lemon producers, due in part to the scurvy epidemic from 1850 during the Gold Rush. In the late 1700's British sailors would eat lemons to fight scurvy on long ocean voyages. Lemons stimulate the appetite and aid in digestion. Perhaps these are two reasons you find that restaurants put that slice of lemon in your water.

In Christian symbolism the lemon was an emblem of fidelity in love. In the painting "The Virgin and Child, St. John the Baptist, and an Angel", Jesus is depicted accepting an offering of a lemon. The artist is Paolo Morando. At the time Paolo painted this incredible piece of art, there was a dietetic movement from the Arabs who had translated what the Classical Greeks studied. This in turn was translated to the western world via the Crusaders who traveled to many foreign countries. Foods were defined to have certain properties, and lemons were considered a "cool, moist" food that was not to be given to the elderly, small children, nursing mothers, or wet nurses. Certain foods were thought to have ill effects on the moral and physical well-being of children. Lemons were one of the forbidden foods. If they only knew the value of Vitamin C in the diet - so much good would have been done for pregnant mother's health and the children of that century.

Another painting depicting lemons is "Still Life" painted by Jan Davidsz de Heem. He lived in Antwerp because the Dutch had a connection with East India Company which was bringing in exotic fruits. In the year 1636, citrus fruits were a rare luxury and only found on a nobleman's table. Jan was fascinated with these lovely fruits and felt they were representations of life. Sometimes we take for granted all the choices of foods we have available to us. In Centuries past certain foods shaped history and inspired creativity in common folk.

Lemons are also touted to be useful remedies for arthritis, gout, constipation, hoarseness, cramps, asthma, nervousness, insomnia, heart palpitations; they are used as a liver cleanser, fever reducer, to strengthen the immune system, and even to stop a nosebleed. The leaves of the lemon plant have medicinal properties as well. Below you will find some recipes to make your life sweeter and healthier.

When buying lemons, look for heavy lemons with thinner skin. The softer lemons are the juiciest. Did you know lemons can last up to a month in the refrigerator? If you buy organic you will avoid the pesticide sprays that most commercial lemons have been subjected to. I will share some lemony ideas and recipes that are suitable to our island lifestyle. Of course, these can be used anywhere.

Even though lemons are safe to use, there are a few words of caution I would like to share with you. Lemons cause skin photosensitivity, so be careful when going in the sun with lemon on your skin or face. Wait several hours before going in the sun after applying lemon juice. Lemon juice can irritate your skin if applied undiluted. Some folk are, unfortunately, allergic to lemons.

As with anything, excess is bad. If you ingest large amounts of lemon juice you can burn your mouth or stomach. Lemons have an acidic quality similar to other acids like the ones I used in the science lab. I always stress caution with anything.

Six medium lemons yield 1 cup juice. 1 medium lemon yields 3 tablespoons juice or 3 teaspoons of grated lemon rind. You can purchase bottled lemon juice for recipes that call for larger amounts of lemon juice.

Household Uses for Lemons

To Clean a Dull Coffee Pot or Flower Vase

Swirl the mixture round and round in the bottom of the pot. The salt and lemon stick to the ice and create an abrasive action that will remove the coffee stain or water stains. Swish in a counter clockwise direction, and then switch directions. Pour mixture down the sink and rinse the pot or vase. It will look brand new. I used to have to clean coffee pots in my restaurant and this worked well.

Stain Remover for Clothing
Use lemon juice directly on the stain instead of using smelly bleach. If you have a larger stain, the article can be soaked in a ½ gallon of water and 1 cup lemon juice.

Laundry Whitener and Freshener
Add one cup of lemon juice to the laundry water in the washing machine, with the normal amount of detergent. The citric acid in the lemon breaks down stains and revitalizes white clothes.

Copper Pot Scrub
Use a mixture of lemon and salt to clean the inside of a copper pot. Use a sponge and you will see magic right before your eyes.

Household Scrub for Sinks, Pots, and Pans
Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Use as you would use a commercially made soft scrub product. Test on areas that might become scratched. This mixture is safe to use, effective, and smells good. Use it on countertops and in the bathroom to clean sink, tub, and toilet.

Garbage Disposal Freshener
Toss all the peels from your used lemons in the garbage disposal and let them sit in the disposal over night. In the morning grind up the peels and you will smell the lemony fragrance and disinfect that stinky disposal.

Deodorize Cutting Boards
Rub lemon juice from a fresh lemon on those fishy cutting boards or the ones that are brown with food particles. The lemon juice will deodorize and kill bacteria on the boards. You must put a good amount of juice and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with fresh water. You can also sprinkle some salt with the lemon.

Indoor Spray for Plants to Repel Insects
In a pot, on the stove, add 3 cups of water and chopped lemon peel from one lemon. Boil this mixture for 10 minutes. Remove pot from the stove and cool the water. Transfer this water to a spray bottle. Spray on your houseplants. Lemon oil is a nerve toxin to soft-bodied insects.

Lemon Recipes for the Body, Inside and Outside

Marinade for Red Meat

Mix these ingredients in a small container or Ziploc bag and pour over the meat. I prefer the bag method. I zip the bag and move the juices around the meat: no messy hands and the meat is evenly coated. Citric acid breaks down the protein in meats and tenderizes the meat. No messy pan to clean after the meat is marinated, just toss out the bag. Pour the extra juice on the meat as it is cooking.

Detox Drink for the Liver and Aid in Constipation

Mix these items in a glass, stir and enjoy. I enjoy the taste of this beverage; it is like maple lemonade. My spiritual healer friend recommended this beverage to drink when on a cleansing fast. Drink a glass of this every 1-2 hours as needed. It cuts food cravings and sugar cravings; she suggested doing the fast for only 2 days. It is supposed to remove toxins caused by stress, and is a great liver cleanse. The lemon boosts the production of bile in the liver, traps fat molecules and forces them to be excreted. It also rinses the colon and decreases the appetite.

Check with your doctor before doing a fast. Stay home 2 days if you decide to fast with this method. This beverage can also be drunk warm. Never drink this with ice as the cold liquid is a shock to the body. I try to drink one glass a day as a liver cleanse, but I skip some days. Do your own thing…experiment to find what works for you. My friend said to use a sprinkle and my first interpretation was different than her intent. I added a teaspoon of cayenne and burned my mouth. In this case, a sprinkle is a very small amount. I often think that more is better. In this case more in not better.

Relief from Joint and Nerve Pain
The volatile oils from the lemon peel help relax blood vessels and produce an anti-inflammatory effect. Cut the peel of the lemon and squeeze the oils on the affected area. Please test a spot first as you could be allergic. Check with your doctor.

Relieve a Cough

Heat on stove-top for 5 minutes on medium heat setting. Stir vigorously for 3 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Take one teaspoon every 2 hours. I probably wouldn't do this for more than a day or two. If you have a persistent cough, call your doctor.

Tooth Whitener

Make a paste:

Apply the paste to your teeth using a Q-tip or cotton swab. Brush immediately with a toothbrush and rinse with water. Don't do this too often as lemon juice is acidic and may damage tooth enamel. This is good for a mouth refresher or after eating foods that cause tooth staining such as tea, coffee, or tobacco products.

To Create Blonde Highlights in Your Hair

Mix in a measuring cup and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on your hair before going in the sun. Don't forget your sunscreen. You can spray this on the hair on your arms if you want, or any other hair on your body that you want to lighten naturally.

Foot and Hand Exfoliant
Make a paste of lemon juice and either coarse brown sugar or salt. Rub this on your hands, elbows, or feet, to soften the skin. If you do it weekly, you will notice smoother skin. Rinse with water after using the scrub for a few minutes.

Other Ways to use Lemons

For Sunburn
Put a few drops of lemon juice on a cotton swab AFTER going in the sun. Remember lemon juice makes your skin more likely to burn if you go back into the sun without rinsing it off.

For Fighting Dandruff
Add several tablespoons of lemon juice to your regular shampoo. This will dry up dandruff problems. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Solution for Dark Elbows and Knees

Apply this to your skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Do this in the evening. Do not expose area to the sun for a few hours. Lemon causes skin photosensitivity.

Prevent Raw Potatoes and Avocados from Browning
Squeeze lemon juice on the slices or pieces of potato. Also squeeze on avocado to prevent the avocado from turning brown.

Remove Odors from Hands
Rub your hands with fresh lemons to remove fishy or garlicky odors.

Clean Inside the Microwave
Mix 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and one cup of water in a glass micro-wave safe bowl. Cook for 5 minutes on High heat and leave the door closed after the cooking stops. Wait at least 2 more minutes. The condensation will soften any dried foods and eliminate odors in the microwave. Wipe clean.

Just For Fun
Use a Q-tip or cotton swab to write a message on a white sheet of paper. The lemon juice will dry clear. Send the note to the recipient and instruct them to hold the paper near a hot light bulb. The writing will turn brown revealing the secret message.

Thank you for reading my column. I hope I have made your day a little brighter and sweeter with my lemon recipes. Please feel free to add comments or share some of your lemony experiences in the comment section of this column. I think it is fascinating that when you look at a slice of lemon your mouth starts to water. It happens even if you view a photo of lemons. Remember to hug someone you love today, and if that person isn't around, hug yourself. Or just for fun, HUG YOUR FAVORITE LEMON!!

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