When life gives you lemons...

I'm not sure if I've said it before, but I want to emphasize the importance of eating your fruits and vegetables whole!! This is the only way to get all those great nutrients locked inside. Juicing and picking them apart will leave you with some of the missed goods. So try and eat your vegetables and fruits whole, rather than juicing them, etc. Okay, I will now step off my soap box to introduce you to a fabulous idea that is new to me... Eating a whole lemon! 

Before, I only ever used lemon juice and occasionally lemon rind. But here's a tip about lemons... the whole lemon is super nutritious and packed with vitamins. So how do you eat a whole lemon? Simple... freeze it! That's right, freeze those lemons until they are nice and rock solid. Then simply take a fine grater (microplane) and grate the whole thing down to the stem. I grated mine, rind, insides, seeds and all. What is left is beautiful fine gratings that you can add to almost anything... salads, drinks/cocktails, desserts, marinades, meals, seasonings, or just eat it plain like that... nice and cold and yummy! Obviously while I was grating I had some left on my fingers, so I simply licked my fingers clean and it was delicious!

I think I'll keep the gratings in the freezer to keep them fresh until needed.

(Lemon from my family's tree in Beverly Hills, CA)

Here are just some of the health benefits of lemons I've read about from various sites (sorry I have no references or links - so I can't guarantee these):

- Kills cancerous cells
- Fights bacterial infection and fungi
- Reduces fever (sprinkle some of that grated lemon in your tea)
- Helps cure the common cold (have an extra dose of Vitamin C!)
- Helps with Respiratory Problems
- Lemons have antioxidant properties
- Helps treat urinary tract infections
- Lemon juice is a digestive aid (so may aid in weight loss)
- Lemon has a calming effect (try inhaling lemon oil as well)
- A little lemon in your water may boost your energy when feeling fatigued
- Lemon can freshen your breath

So try the flavor explosion of eating a whole grated frozen lemon now, if not for your health, for your tastebuds!!