The use of lemon is very diverse - practically no one doubts this. But did you know that lemon zest is also an equally healthy product?

There was an opinion that the zest is used only in cooking. However, this is far from the case. I want to offer you interesting ways to use lemon zest - let it serve the cause.

But first, let's figure out what this wonderful product is.

Zest (from cedro - citron) lemon (orange, tangerine) is a thin outer layer of the peel of a lemon (orange, tangerine), colored yellow (orange) and peeled from the white, loose layer underlying the peel. It contains glandular receptacles containing essential oils, have a pleasant smell characteristic of citrus.

Calories in lemon peel a is 16 kcal per 100 grams of product: K

• Calories, kcal: 16
• Proteins, g: 0.9
• Fat, g: 0.1
• Carbohydrates, g: 3.0

How to get lemon zest?

Fresh lemon zest is easy to get yourself.

1. Firstly, those fruits that are sold in markets and supermarkets are processed with various substances- first with chemicals against pests, then with wax to make it shine. Therefore, rinse the lemons thoroughly so that they do not have any dirt on them (preferably with a brush - in warm water), and scald them with boiling water. This is necessary so that the zest is easily separated from the white layer located under the crust. If there are special marked stickers on the lemons, then remove them so that no traces remain.

2. Wipe the lemon dry and cut off the top of it.

How to store lemon zest?

Method 1. The grated zest of a lemon, orange or tangerine can be stored, so the zest can be prepared for future use. The zest, grated or cut into thin strips, is well dried, put in a glass or tin jar and tightly closed with a lid and stored in a dry place.

However, when using this method, the zest turns out to be of less quality, since when rubbing, the white loose subcortical layer is rubbed along with the zest, which should not be present in the finished powder. In addition, when rubbing, lemon juice and pulp can get in, in this case, when such zest is added to the dish, the bitter taste of lemon will be felt.

Method 2. Therefore, it is better to make lemon zest in a slightly different way. The peel is usually removed with a sharp knife in a spiral and then dried in a dry room on open surfaces covered with paper (to draw in excess moisture).
Dry all kinds of zest, spreading it in a thin layer on a flat plate on a white sheet of paper for 2-3 days at room temperature. A ventilated window sill or balcony is best suited for drying. Every day, the zest must be turned over so that drying occurs evenly. The zest is considered ready when it becomes brittle.

After drying, the zest is ground into powder (or pounded) and stored in this form. You can rub the dry zest with your hands or with a spoon.

So, the peel of a lemon is a thing no less useful than the fruit itself and has a very wide application. Below I present to your attention a few tips on "how to use lemon peel" in the household, in the kitchen and for maintaining beauty and health. I hope that some of what I have collected will be useful to you.

The use of zest for medicinal purposes
The benefits and harms of lemon peel lie in its composition, which is rich in fiber, potassium, carotene, magnesium, calcium, folic acid and beta-carotene.

*Prevention of oxidative processes
Lemon peel contains bioflavonoids - strong antioxidants. They remove free radicals that cause mutations in cells, and as a result - premature aging, cancer and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
In addition, the benefits of lemon peel are known as a product capable of neutralizing toxic compounds - carcinogens accumulated in the body.

*Anti-cancer properties
Regular addition of the peel to food can slow down the development of a malignant tumor, in addition, it has antimicrobial properties.
Lemon peel inhibits the spread of cancer cells due to the flavonoids in its composition. The substance limonene has antitumor properties.
According to scientific studies, people who consume lemons with the peel are much less likely to develop lung, colon, and breast cancer.
Limonoids also contribute to apoptosis - the arbitrary death of foreign cells. The skin also contains a special easily digestible pectin, which slows down the development of skin, breast and prostate cancer.

In folk recipes, the benefits of lemon peel are widely used in the fight against bacterial and fungal infections, in the treatment of anemia, and in the prevention of thrombosis.

*Bone strengthening
The benefits of calcium for bones are undeniable. There is quite a lot of it in the peel of a lemon. In combination with vitamin C, it prevents osteoarthritis, polyarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis.

*Reducing cholesterol
To keep the heart healthy, you need to monitor the level of cholesterol in the blood. Lemon peel contains a lot of polyphenols - flavonoids that reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol. Potassium regulates blood pressure, and vitamin C prevents the formation of blood clots in the vessels, significantly reducing the risk of heart disease.

*Anti-infection
The zest contains useful essential oils, citric acid, vitamins C, A, B, R. Therefore, the use of zest contributes to the prevention and treatment of colds, and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Zest is a powerful antibacterial agent, it can be chewed during inflammatory processes in the throat and respiratory organs, especially with purulent tonsillitis.

* Oral hygiene
In order to avoid problems with gum disease (including gingivitis and bleeding), it is necessary to include in the diet a sufficient amount of vitamin C, which is rich in lemon peel. This vitamin fights bacteria that cause cavities and periodontitis.

*For digestion
The dietary fiber in zest is good for the digestive system. It improves intestinal motility and removes waste, treats constipation, eliminates gas and spasms in the intestines. Due to its remarkable properties, lemon peel is used in folk medicine for indigestion, dyspepsia, colic and vomiting.
It destroys putrefactive bacteria in the mouth and intestines, eliminates bad breath and improves digestion.
Traditional medicine recipes recommend zest with reduced appetite, insufficient formation of gastric juice, gallbladder diseases, and digestive disorders.

In addition, the benefits of lemon peel lies in the ability to: cleanse the liver, improve blood circulation, neutralize ear infections, make capillaries elastic, and prevent varicose veins.

*Zest for weight loss
Pectin, found in lemon peels, slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, helps fight excess weight and reduces appetite. It provides a long-lasting feeling of satiety and neutralizes sugar cravings.

Due to the presence of citric acid in the product, lemon peel may be harmful for those who suffer from indigestion. It should not be used for ulcers, gastritis or enteritis. In addition, the harm of lemon peel for allergy sufferers is quite common. It can provoke the appearance of urticaria.

Alchemy of love

Zest is a mild aphrodisiac. However, in combination with chocolate, honey, wine and spices such as cloves, cinnamon, ginger, mint, nutmeg, black pepper, the tonic properties of the zest are enhanced. So seasoning food and drinks with zest for love can and should be done without stint!

The use of lemon peel in...

The peel bears the name of the fruit from which it is removed: lemon, orange, orange, grapefruit.

*Lemon peel used in the world's culinary most widely. It is put in a wide variety of dishes from meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, fruits, cereals, cottage cheese and mushrooms: salads, cold soups (okroshka, beetroot), classic soups (shchi, borscht, ear), main hot dishes and side dishes for them , as well as in aspic, jellies, casseroles, minced meats, gravies and sauces. Lemon zest, along with vanilla and cinnamon, is the number one spice for desserts and pastries: muffins, biscuits, Easter cakes, charlottes, mannas, sweet puddings, ice cream.

*Orange and tangerine zest It is mainly used for flavoring confectionery, desserts and sweet sauces.

*Grapefruit peel used by gourmets in the same types of dishes as lemon peel, but gives them a more subtle, refined and strong flavor.

*Orange zest added to rice and cottage cheese dishes, sweet pastries, sauces for meat, minced meat for fish and poultry.

All types of peel are used in the preparation of marmalade, jam, jelly, compotes, mousses, jellies, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks (rum, liqueurs, vodka, tinctures, etc.).

The zest will not add acidity (as it will if you add slices of fruit), but it will provide a subtle flavor.
All types of zest belong to weak, soft spices, so the zest can be used in larger doses compared to other spices. They use the zest to taste, focusing in terms not on grams, but on teaspoons, since the zest is a delicate spice that does not drown out the taste of food.
The measure of the norm should be taste - the appearance of a bitter aftertaste when crossing the border of the permissible volume.
Zest is added to hot dishes 3-5 minutes before cooking or after the end of the heat treatment and the dish is allowed to brew for several minutes under the lid.

Zest is introduced into all dishes in powdered ground form. Zest goes well with most spices, is part of the traditional oriental five spice seasoning, along with coriander, cinnamon, cumin and black pepper. When cooking baked meat, ground dry zest can replace salt.

I won't list recipes here that use lemon zest, but I'll give you some original ways to use it in food.

* Keep brown sugar flowing.
If your brown sugar is more like refined sugar, try adding some lemon rind (removing all traces of zest from it first) to keep it moist and free-flowing. (In all recipes using lemon peel, always clean the surface well to remove dirt and wax).

*By the way, if you don't like sour tea, but if you want to enjoy the lemon taste and aroma - add not lemon slices to tea, but its zest. Or even simpler: cut off a small part of the rind from a lemon and put it in your tea.

* Dried peel.
The peel of a lemon can be finely grated and it will retain all the flavor of the lemon. The peel can be used fresh, dried or frozen. (If you know you'll be harvesting the rind, it's easier to grate it while it's still on the lemon before squeezing the juice.) To dry the peel, spread it in a thin layer on a towel and leave to dry completely, then pour into a jar. To freeze the skins, use a special freezer container. Lemon peels are used in salads, marinades, baked goods, cereal products, etc.

* Lemon Sugar
Sugar with a fresh and pleasant lemon flavor - what could be better? In order to prepare such sugar, we need: a plastic bag with a zipper, 2-3 cups of sugar and fresh zest of several lemons.

I want to note that the more zest, the richer the sugar will have a lemon taste and aroma. How to prepare lemon sugar: pour granulated sugar into a bag with a zipper and send fresh zest there, mix well and leave for several hours in an open bag so that the sugar is a little sticky (a couple of hours will be enough). Next, close the package, shake the sugar properly and send it to storage in a dry, dark place.

* Candied fruit.
You can also make candied fruits from grapefruit peel. Candied fruits are easy to prepare, because it's just a candied peel, and you can eat them just like that, dipping them in melted chocolate, adding them to cookies, sweets or bread.

* Cooking cookies with lemon peel.
If you have prepared the peel, be sure to add it to the cookies.
It will surprise you with its amazing taste!

* Flagella from lemon peel.
Lemon peel strips, which curl into flagella when dried, are good for use in cocktails, sodas or ordinary drinking water. Use a vegetable peeler or knife to prepare them, carefully removing the bitter white flesh.
These flagella can also be frozen in a container or bag.

* Preparation of lemon extract.
Make lemon peel flagella (above) and dry them upside down on a plate for 3-4 days. Put them in a blender and grind until flour. Use as an extract in cooking recipes.

* Spicy salt
A very interesting recipe is spicy salt with lemon and a mixture of peppers. For cooking, we need: a third of a glass of a mixture of dried peppers (sold in any store), zest of 4 lemons and a glass of salt.
We rub the zest as finely as possible. Mix with pepper and leave to dry and grind in a blender. Then mix the spices with salt (preferably sea salt) and pour into a hermetically sealed jar. Can be added to any dish

* Preparation of lemon pepper.
Mix lemon extract (above) with freshly ground pepper.

* Olive oil infused with lemon peel
Olive oil infused with lemon zest is made very simply: pour the freshest lemon zest into a glass container, pour in oil and leave for two weeks in a dark place. It is better not to close the lid. Shake the zest from time to time. Next, we filter the oil, after crushing the zest in a bottle of oil with the handle of a wooden spoon (so that all the essential oils come out). Strained lemon-olive oil is stored in a glass bottle with a closed lid.

* Lemon tincture
Tasting lemon tincture is another great way to use lemon zest. How to cook: for 250 ml of vodka we take the freshest zest of 6 lemons, mix these ingredients in a glass bottle, close tightly and leave to infuse for 4-6 weeks, depending on how rich we need the citrus taste.

* Lemon zest in ice cubes
A great addition to drinks and cocktails, especially summer ones, will be a few ice cubes, to which we will add fine lemon zest. You can also cut the lemon peel into thin strips and freeze them in order to add them to cocktails even without ice.

* Butter with zest and herbs
Mix dried or fresh herbs and finely grated lemon zest with butter (using a blender or just finely chop with a knife).
Lay out the mass from one edge of a sheet of parchment paper and roll it into a roll, tamping the butter well. Then place the roll wrapped in paper in the refrigerator for a few hours and the Lemon Peel Spiced Oil is ready to use.

In the House...

Lemon juice contains about 5-6% citric acid and a pH level between 2 and 3. This makes it
an ideal assistant in the safe cleaning of kitchen surfaces from scale and stains of mineral origin.

* Removal of sebaceous stains.
Grease on pans? Are the cooking zones overgrown with grease? If your kitchen has been sauteed, try using lemon halves before resorting to toxic cleaners. Sprinkle some salt (for abrasion) on half a lemon and rub it on the greasy stain, then wipe the surface with a rag. (Be careful with marble or any acid-sensitive surfaces.)

* Lemon vinegar to remove stains and grease
All-purpose cleaner - lemon vinegar. It effectively removes various contaminants. Put the crushed peel in a glass container and fill with vinegar, close the lid. After two weeks, strain and add water in a ratio of 50:50. You will get a tool that can clean almost everything. Lemon vinegar also has strong disinfectant properties.

* Cleaning the kettle or coffee maker.
To descale your kettle, fill it with water, add a handful of finely chopped lemon zest and put it all on the fire. After boiling, let the kettle with this liquid stand for an hour, pour out the liquid and rinse the kettle well. To clean the coffee maker, you need to put ice, salt and lemon zest in it, shake it all well for a minute or two, shake it out and rinse the coffee maker. Everything will shine!

* Microwave cleaning.
Microwave cooking, especially bad ones, usually leads to a quick loss of cleanliness and appearance of the latter. The stains may look like dried pieces of cement. Before you get your hands on a chemical cleaner, try this: Add lemon zest to a microwaveable dish half full of water. Turn on the oven at full power for 5 minutes, let the water boil and the steam condense on the walls of the microwave. Then just take out the dishes and wipe off all that dirt with a damp cloth.

* Deodorization of the trash can.
Lemon zest can also be used to deodorize the most foul-smelling place - the trash can - and add a fresh scent to the kitchen. This, by the way, is a good last use of lemon after some other of these tips.

* Polishing of chrome surfaces.
Mineral deposits on a chrome faucet, however, as well as on other surfaces made of this metal, are easily removed with a lemon. Rub such a surface with a squeezed half of a lemon, rinse and lightly polish with a soft cloth.

* Polishing of copper surfaces.
Half a lemon dipped in salt or baking soda can be used to clean and refresh copper, brass, and stainless steel dishes. With this half of the lemon, you need to rub the contaminated area and leave for 5 minutes. Then the dishes should be washed with warm water and polished dry.

* Stainless steel sink cleaning.
Use the same method as for cleaning chrome surfaces.

* Repelling insects.
If uninvited guests have settled in your house - cockroaches, ants, moths, fleas - put the zest at the doors, window sills, in cracks and crevices.
These insects cannot stand the citrus smell.

* Making a scented humidifier.
If the air in your home is dried up by heating in winter, lemon will again come to the rescue. Fill a bowl with water, add lemon zest to the water and place on the stove. After boiling, reduce the fire to a minimum and leave it like that for a while. The air will be humidified and filled with a fresh aroma.

* Refresh your cutting board.
Due to its low pH, lemon has antibacterial properties, making it an excellent cleaner for many kitchen surfaces, including cutting boards. After disinfecting, rub the surface of the board with half a lemon, leave for a few minutes and rinse.

For beauty...

* Skin use.
You can make your skin glow. To do this, simply wipe your face with a peel. Citric acid stimulates cell regeneration, removes the stratum corneum, brightens and refreshes the skin.
Natural fruit acids also regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands and prevent acne. The activity of free radicals leads to the appearance of early signs of aging and age spots. The antioxidants in the zest help eliminate them.

* Acne treatment
The astringent properties of the lemon peel and its antibacterial qualities are great for cleaning pores, removing blackheads and getting rid of oily sheen.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of grated lemon zest (20 g),
• 1 teaspoon sugar (5 g)
• 2 tablespoons cucumber juice (20 ml).

How to use:

• mix lemon zest, sugar and cucumber juice to a smooth paste,
• apply on face and leave for 15 minutes,
• Lightly rub the skin in a circular motion, then rinse with cold water.

* Lightening age spots.
Many folk recipes advise using lemon zest to lighten age spots. To do this, put a small piece of lemon peel on the stain and leave for an hour.

* Skin softening
If you notice that your skin on your elbows, heels or knees has darkened and become dry, take advantage of the emollient properties of lemon peel. Mix some baking soda, zest and citrus juice, apply to problem areas and enjoy velvety skin.

* Softening dry elbows.
Use half a lemon sprinkled with baking soda. Just dip your elbow into the lemon and swirl it around for a few minutes as if you were going to squeeze the juice out of it. Then rinse your elbows and wipe dry.

* Making a sugar scrub:
Mix half a cup of sugar with lemon zest and olive oil until you get the consistency of sour cream.
Wet the skin of the body under the shower, turn off the water and massage the mixture onto the skin, then rinse.

* Lemon peeling
Dead skin cells can be removed with alpha and beta hydroxy acids found in lemon.
There are several recipes for lemon peel scrubs, and some scrubs can be found ready-made in specialty stores.
You can make your own lemon peel:

• Use a grater to grate the lemon zest.
• Put 100 g of sour cream and 5-8 drops of rosemary oil into a container with zest.
• Apply the mixture on the skin and rinse after 15-20 minutes. This procedure is advised to do 1-2 times a week.

* Strengthen nails
Use the lemon zest, yellow side, to rub on your nails.

* Nail bleach
If you notice that your nails have become yellowish and weak, then you can add a little grated lemon peel to your clear polish or manicure base. Or you can rub fresh zest directly into the nail plate before coloring.

Ingredients:

• zest of 1 lemon,
• clear varnish - 1 vial.

How to use:

• grate lemon zest and add to a bottle of varnish,
• varnish your nails as usual.

Alternative way: 2 times a day, rub the nail plates with the white side of the peel.

Interesting fact:

Zest was introduced as a spice only in the Middle Ages. The gourmets of ancient Greece and Rome considered the zest unworthy of culinary use because of its unpleasant, in their opinion, taste and smell.

And in Europe of the 12th-16th centuries, the zest was included not only in collections of recipes, but also in dream books. Seasoning dishes with zest in a dream, according to the interpretation, portends selfless work for the benefit of others.
Based on materials from Kharovchane.rf, www.wmj.ru, www.shalafan.ru, pri-gotovim.ru

That, in fact, is all the tricks. You already knew all this, didn't you?

I adore lemons for their color, pleasant smell and refreshing taste. Every morning I squeeze the juice of one lemon for my morning cleansing and refreshing drink. And just recently, I caught myself thinking that the lemon peel, which I threw away every time, can be used.

Thanks to the information that I found on the Internet, I realized that the peel of a lemon is a thing no less useful than the fruit itself and has a very wide application. Below I present to your attention a few tips on "how to use lemon peel" in the household, in the kitchen and for maintaining beauty and health. I hope that some of what I have collected will be useful to you.

How to Use Lemon Peel: Cooking

This is probably the most common use for lemon zest. And no wonder, because it is in it that vitamins and minerals and fiber (calcium, potassium, Vitamin C) are concentrated.

1. lemon zest

Lemon zest will improve the taste of both desserts and meat and vegetable dishes. It is best to grate fresh and thoroughly washed lemon peel and freeze in small portions for later use.

1. Spicy salt

A very interesting recipe is spicy salt with lemon and a mixture of peppers. For cooking, we need: a third of a glass of a mixture of dried peppers (sold in any store), zest of 4 lemons and a glass of salt. We rub the zest as finely as possible. Mix with pepper and leave to dry and grind in a blender. Then mix the spices with salt (preferably sea salt) and pour into a hermetically sealed jar. Can be added to any dish.

1. caramelized lemon peel

• Separate the peel from the white pulp and cut into thin strips. Then place in a saucepan, fill with water and put on fire. Bring to a boil and leave for 30 seconds. Then remove from heat, drain the water and discard the crusts on a napkin to dry. Repeat the same procedure one more time.

• Boiling helps to get rid of the bitterness that is contained in the lemon peel, as well as pesticides. After you have finished boiling, pour 4 cups of water into a saucepan, pour 3 cups of sugar into it, heat until the latter is dissolved.

• Then add the rinds to the syrup and bring to a boil.

Next, reduce the heat to a minimum and cook the peels for an hour and a half (depending on the size and thickness of the lemon peel strips), stirring every 15 minutes. The peel of a lemon that has reached readiness becomes translucent. The peel that has not reached readiness, as a rule, is slightly bitter.

We take out the peels from the syrup and dry them. We pour the syrup into a jar - it can be used to create drinks and cocktails.

Roll the sticky peels in sugar and leave on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper until completely dry.

A very tasty combination of caramelized lemon peel with melted white chocolate.

How to use lemon zest:

1. lemon sugar

Sugar with a fresh and pleasant lemon flavor - what could be better? In order to prepare such sugar, we need: a plastic bag with a zipper, 2-3 cups of sugar and fresh zest of several lemons.

I want to note that the more zest, the richer the sugar will have a lemon taste and aroma. How to prepare lemon sugar: pour granulated sugar into a bag with a zipper and send fresh zest there, mix well and leave for several hours in an open bag so that the sugar is a little sticky (a couple of hours will be enough). Next, close the package, shake the sugar properly and send it to storage in a dry, dark place.

Instead of lemon zest, you can use any other citrus zest.

1. Olive oil infused with lemon peel

Olive oil infused with lemon zest is made very simply: pour the freshest lemon zest into a glass container, pour in oil and leave for two weeks in a dark place. It is better not to close the lid. Shake the zest from time to time. Next, we filter the oil, after crushing the zest in a bottle of oil with the handle of a wooden spoon (so that all the essential oils come out). Strained lemon-olive oil is stored in a glass bottle with a closed lid.

1. Lemon tincture

Tasting lemon tincture is another great way to use lemon zest. How to cook: for 250 ml of vodka we take the freshest zest of 6 lemons, mix these ingredients in a glass bottle, close tightly and leave to infuse for 4-6 weeks, depending on how rich we need the citrus taste.

1. Lemon zest in ice cubes

A great addition to drinks and cocktails, especially summer ones, will be a few ice cubes, to which we will add fine lemon zest. You can also cut the lemon peel into thin strips and freeze them in order to add them to cocktails even without ice.

1. Butter with zest and herbs

Mix dried or fresh herbs and finely grated lemon zest with butter (using a blender or just finely chop with a knife).

Lay out the mass from one edge of a sheet of parchment paper and roll it into a roll, tamping the butter well. Then place the roll wrapped in paper in the refrigerator for a few hours and the Lemon Peel Spiced Oil is ready to use.

1. Brown sugar and lemon zest

If you add lemon zest to a container of brown sugar, it will never compress and will always be soft and crumbly.

How to use lemon peel: cleanliness in the house

1. Citrus Vinegar is a 100% Natural, All-Purpose and Effective Cleaner

Lemon vinegar does a great job of removing all kinds of stains and dirt, it effectively breaks down grease and disinfects. In order to make lemon vinegar at home, we need ordinary table vinegar (90%), the zest of several lemons, a glass container with a lid and 2 weeks of time. Pour the zest into the container, pour the vinegar, shake and let it brew for 2 weeks, not forgetting to shake from time to time. Next, the resulting liquid can be filtered and diluted with water in a ratio of 50 to 50. Although, the last step can be omitted if you are going to clean particularly contaminated surfaces with lemon vinegar or disinfect plumbing.

11. Eliminate bad odors in the refrigerator

In order to get rid of unpleasant odors in the refrigerator, regularly put fresh lemon peels on the shelves, they will absorb all unpleasant odors, leaving freshness and a light citrus aroma in return.

12. Eliminate the unpleasant odor of the trash can

As with the refrigerator, lemon peels absorb bad odors that have permeated the trash can, leaving a fresh citrus scent.

13. Lemon peels can also be used instead of a sponge when removing limescale and other contaminants from metal and ceramic surfaces.

14. With the help of a lemon peel, you can effectively clean the grater even from old dirt. One has only to rub the peel of a lemon on it, leave it for a few minutes and rinse with water.

How to use lemon peel: beauty and health

15. If you mix finely grated lemon zest with brown sugar and add a little olive oil to the mixture, you will get an excellent moisturizing scrub that will help you effectively care for your face and body.

16. In order to whiten yellowed feet, rub them with fresh lemon peel - and the result will please you very much.

17. With the help of lemon peel, you can also lighten age spots and freckles - you should only regularly wipe problem areas with fresh peel. By the way, this procedure allows you to give the skin of the face an even, beautiful tone.

18. Dry skin on the elbows can be softened with a lemon peel - for this it is worth a little rumple the peel in your hand and rub it on the problem area.

19. Lemon zest can be added to a mixture for bath, shower or plumbing bombs - all options for making such useful cosmetics can be found.

20. Lemon zest can also be used to make homemade soap.

It is a fruit, albeit not a sweet one.

One such fruit contains daily dose of vitamin C- about a third of this dose is contained in lemon juice.

About 5 percent citric acid is found in one lemon. This allows you to use lemon for prevent oxidation(acquisition of a brownish color) of fruits such as: apples, avocados, bananas, etc.

Among other things, lemon rich in vitamins B, P, A and E. There are many more interesting things about lemons and their benefits.

Learn about some interesting ways to use lemons.

Lemon benefits: health and beauty

lemon scrub

Dead skin cells can be removed with alpha and beta hydroxy acids found in lemon. It is also worth noting that lemon can be used to fight acne as well as pigmentation. There are several recipes for lemon-based scrubs, and some scrubs can be found ready-made in specialty stores.

You can make your own lemon peel:

1. Use a grater to grate the lemon zest.

2. Put 100 g of sour cream and 5-8 drops of rosemary oil into a container with zest.

3. Apply the mixture on the skin and rinse after 15-20 minutes. This procedure is advised to do 1-2 times a week.

Lemon Nail Care

From manicure masters you can learn about a simple recipe for nail care: cut a half of a lemon and squeeze lemon juice into a cup filled with warm water. Dip your fingertips into the cup and hold for 3-5 minutes. Next, use lemon zest to rub your nails.

Lemon as a remedy for nausea

Are you sick or sick of a bad smell? Just cut a slice of lemon and hold it in your mouth for a while - the malaise should pass.

lemon tonic

This fruit is an excellent tonic. You can make a tonic out of it, which will cleanse, disinfect, and also refresh your skin. Typically, lemon tonic is prepared using mineral water and honey.

Pleasant mouth odor

If you dilute lemon juice in water, then the resulting product can disinfect the oral cavity (citric acid can destroy bacteria), which will also get rid of an unpleasant odor. Don't forget to rinse your mouth with water afterwards, otherwise the citric acid will start to eat away at your tooth enamel.

aromatic bath

Fill the bath with foam, add some essential lemon oil to it and you can relax. Such baths not only relax, but also help to fight excess weight.

Dandruff Remedy

There is such an old recipe for fighting dandruff: it is advised to cut a lemon into slices and rub the hair roots 1-2 times a week. Wash your hair in the usual way after each use. But it is worth noting that this method is not suitable for those who have dry skin, because. Lemon dries out the skin.

Help fight colds

There are many ways to use lemon essential oil, such as inhalation for a cold. Just add the oil to a glass of water (2-3 drops per glass) and breathe over the solution for about 5 minutes.

Hand care

With the help of lemon juice, you can get rid of unpleasant odors and hard-to-wash stains on your hands.

The benefits of lemon water: a sip of health

Sore throat and cough (lemon honey recipe)

If you mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of honey, you can create a good remedy to combat sore throats and coughs. You can also mix juice, honey and hot tea.

Lemon helps with wasp stings

Rub the area where the wasp stung with lemon juice to relieve the pain.

Lemon and its peel in food and drink

Universal seasoning

Create a lemon peel seasoning. Just grate the zest on a fine grater and you will enrich the taste of almost any dish. This seasoning should be stored in the freezer.

Seasoning for fish and meat

Create a spicy mixture using black pepper, salt, garlic, onion, and of course lemon zest (you can add turmeric to it). This seasoning is suitable for fish and meat dishes. Here's how to make a mixture:

1. Grate the zest and put it in a bowl.

2. Sprinkle some black pepper or a mixture of several peppers.

3. Stir the entire mixture.

4. Spread the mixture evenly on baking paper (on a drip tray).

5. Place the Tray in the oven at the lowest temperature and leave for about an hour. Check the condition of the seasoning occasionally.

7. After grinding, you can add salt to the mixture - but this is not necessary - and mix again.

This mixture can be used all year round.

lemon sugar

If you love lemon tea, then you will love this recipe.

1. Grate the zest of two lemons and place it in a plastic container. (The zest from one lemon is good for 2-3 cups of tea.)

2. Pour granulated sugar on top - the zest releases natural oils that are absorbed into the sugar.

3. Mix the mixture well and leave for about an hour so that the zest dries out a little.

4. Now the mixture can be added to tea. When the mixture is finished, you can simply add a little sugar, and you can not add the zest.

* It is worth noting that lemon sugar can also be used in some cocktails.

Always fresh fruit

lemon ice

Lemon slices, as well as pieces of zest, can be used to decorate drinks - just freeze them in water using ice cube trays.

Cane sugar storage

Add a little zest to brown sugar and it won't go soggy.

Long term storage

To keep a lemon longer, cut it into slices and each slice into 4 pieces. Place each piece in the freezer and use as needed.

More juice

To squeeze out more lemon juice, twist the fruit in your hands, squeeze it a little, and only then cut and squeeze the juice.

delicious salad

Pour the mixture of lemon juice and olive oil over the salad - the salad will not only taste better, but also acquire a pleasant smell.

Lemonade

Combine lemon juice from three lemons and water in a blender and stir. Add sugar to taste, stir again. Add ice and a mint leaf and serve.

Cleaning with lemon or lemon at home

Cleaning agent

Prepare lemon zest and vinegar. Put the lemon peels in a container, pour over the vinegar and close the lid. Leave the solution to infuse for 2 weeks. After that, strain the tincture and dilute with water in a ratio of 50/50. Now you can clean different surfaces.

Lemon juice has many amazing qualities, and there are many ways to use it for your health if you add it to your food and drinks. A whole host of other uses can be found if you want naturally healthy and beautiful skin. Here are some ways to use lemon as a natural ingredient in your daily beauty routine. Believe me, it's easy.

1. Use lemon for beautiful skin. For lighter, more delicate skin, use lemon juice anywhere on your body, including knees, elbows, and face (be careful not to get in your eyes!!) - it will brighten your skin and soften your skin. Lemon juice can also help fade freckles and age spots when applied to affected areas before going to bed at night. After a course of such procedures (one to two weeks), it will clear the skin, but also brighten it - do not forget about this if you value a tan. You can also add ½ cup of fresh lemon juice while taking baths - soak in water for 20 minutes to affect the skin all over the body.

If you have skin that is sensitive to the citrus acids found in lemons, you may want to dilute lemon juice with water instead of using concentrated lemon juice. You can apply lemon juice to your skin by dipping a cotton ball already moistened with water into a cup of fresh juice. It is also not recommended to apply lemon juice to the skin before going out in the sun, as it makes it more susceptible to sunlight.

Get rid of blackheads by soaking the affected area of ​​your face with lemon juice again before going to bed. Be sure to rinse your face with cold water in the morning. Repeat the procedure at night until the blackheads are completely gone.

Make a moisturizing mask for dry skin by mixing equal parts honey, lemon and olive oil. Apply the mixture on areas of the face prone to dryness and allow it to dry completely - leave on for about 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

As a mattifying agent for oily skin, mix 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons vodka, 1 tablespoon distilled water, and 1 teaspoon hazelnut tincture (you can always substitute a local herb with similar properties). Using a cotton ball, apply the mixture to your skin, then rinse. Store this elixir in the refrigerator, no more than one week.

To cleanse the skin of dead cells (use as a gommage or exfoliant), cut a lemon into 2 halves, dip in half a teaspoon of sugar, and, squeezing the slices, rub them on your face for several minutes (do not splash in your eyes!). Or make a more gentle mixture using lemon juice, sugar and a little water. Do this procedure every evening to help remove dead skin cells accumulated on the surface and refresh the skin.

To make a lemon wrinkle mask, mix a teaspoon of honey, a few drops of lemon juice and sweet almond oil. Apply the mixture on your face and let it dry for about 20 minutes, then rinse with water.

2. Use lemon for healthy hair. To make a conditioning mask for dull, damaged hair, mix ¾ cup olive oil with ½ cup raw honey and 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Evenly applying the mixture to pre-moistened hair, comb it - adding the mixture as needed. Then cover your hair with a plastic cap and walk like this for 30 minutes. Then apply shampoo and rinse the mask from your hair.

To lighten hair naturally, use ¼ cup lemon juice and ¾ cup water, mix and apply to hair. It is also convenient to pour the mixture into a spray bottle and then spray it on the hair / individual strands while combing them. Sit in the sun for about 25 minutes or use the heat of a hair dryer to get whitish strands that look like they've been sun-bleached over the summer. Each such procedure will lighten the hair a little bit.

For a hair rinse, mix the juice of two medium-sized lemons with a quart of water. This conditioner will help with oily hair.

Cure hair loss by mixing lemon juice with four tablespoons of coconut milk. Apply to scalp once a week.

To get rid of dandruff and cure itching, take egg white and mix it with lemon juice (about 3 tablespoons). Apply the mixture on the scalp and rub it in; let it sit there for about an hour, then rinse off. Repeat for about a month.

3.. To get strong, shiny blonde nails, soak your nails in lemon juice for about 10 minutes. Then polish your nails with a store-bought polish soaked in a mixture of ½ part white vinegar and ½ part warm water. Then rinse under warm water.

4. Use lemon to keep your teeth healthy and freshen your breath.. As a natural breath freshener, the citrus acid from lemon breaks down plaque that causes bacteria in the mouth. You can quickly get rid of bad breath by squeezing a few drops of lemon juice into your mouth, driving it inside for about 15 seconds and swallowing it; or drink water with lemon throughout the day - it will freshen your breath at any time!

Whiten your teeth naturally by rubbing half a lemon with regular salt and a pinch of baking soda on your teeth; or brush your teeth with a regular toothbrush, dipping it in a mixture of lemon juice, salt, and baking soda. Just do not overdo it - enamel, it is also not Kevlar; often this method of whitening (as well as on teeth with sensitive enamel) cannot be used.

5. Use Lemon Juice to Detox Your Body. Natural lemonade (a glass of warm water juice from one lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey) is also great for detoxifying the body. Lemon juice helps to "flush" your liver and remove toxins from it, stimulate blood circulation, lower blood pressure and activate the secretion of bile and gastric juice (not applicable for gastritis!). So, without having stomach problems, drinking lemonade every day is a good idea.

Lemon is an evergreen plant belonging to the genus Citrus. It is not for nothing that lemon is one of the most beloved tropical fruits in many families. Its merits lie in a number of useful properties for the body.

Lemons are not just healthy, they have a rich composition of healing substances, including vitamin C. Lemons contain about 7.1% of carbohydrates in the form of sugars, they are dominated by easily digestible fructose and glucose. A large number of pectins in the peel reach almost 16% of dry matter, and in the pulp - 11%. Lemons contain a fairly large amount of fruit acids, citric acid dominates. Fruits harvested in November have a higher acidity (8%), and fruits harvested in April - from 4 to 5%.

Lemon peel contains essential oils that have a strong bactericidal effect. Lemons boast an abundance of mineral salts.

Vitamin C has a separate role, it takes part in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, thereby helping the normal functioning of the liver in the neutralization of toxic products.

How to choose a lemon

The choice of lemon depends on the purpose for which you will use it. For eating or for medicinal purposes, it is better to choose ripe lemons. Please note that the fruits are not soft. Insufficient rigidity of the fetus indicates its overripeness, which means that its medicinal qualities will not be so pronounced.

Avoid buying lemons with uneven skins as they are thick and will take up a significant portion of the fruit. Therefore, give preference to a smooth-skinned fruit.

Scope of lemon

Lemon can be used sometimes in the most unexpected areas. Naturally, the main scope is given to cooking. With the addition of lemon zest, pulp and juice, many dishes are prepared.

The value of this fruit is given by the abundance of vitamin, essential oils with a specific aroma. It is known that lemon juice perfectly compensates for the excessive fat content of some dishes, thereby facilitating their digestion by the body.

Lemons are known as one of the best cleaning agents. All thanks to the low pH and antibacterial properties. They are suitable for cleaning kettles. To get rid of scale, pour water into the kettle and add a little crushed lemon zest. Bring the kettle to a boil, then remove from heat and let it cool. Next, the kettle must be thoroughly washed. With abundant scale, this procedure can be repeated several times.

Every housewife knows that it is very, very difficult to clean the microwave from any stains. To return the microwave to a decent state, pour water into a bowl, put lemon zest. Put the bowl in the oven and set the oven to the maximum setting for five minutes. All that remains to be done is to wipe the microwave with a cloth.

Lemon peel can be used to clean the trash can. You will not only get rid of the unpleasant smell, but also kill the bacteria.

In the cold season apartments and houses are ventilated much less often, because of this, the air is very dry. To bring freshness into the house, increase the humidity, you will need a pot of water and lemon zest. Place the zest in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Bring to a boil and cook a little over low heat. It is not recommended to carry out this procedure before going to bed, since lemon essential oils will not let you calm down and fall asleep.

We already know that lemon is an excellent antibacterial agent. To prevent the growth of germs, etc. in a cutting board, pour boiling water over it and grate with lemon, leave for a while and then rinse with water.

If you grind the dried peel of a lemon without the white part, then such a powder will come in handy in recipes as a lemon extract. This extract can be mixed with regular sugar and will replace sugar and lemon for many recipes.

From a mixture of lemon extract and pepper, you can get an unusual and very original seasoning.

Lemon peel can use in the preparation of candied fruit. And lemon peel will successfully cope with the peculiarities of problem skin.

Before the advent of special creams that soften dry skin of different parts of the body, the following recipe was used. The dry area of ​​the skin was wiped with lemon, sprinkled with soda, washed, wiped dry and smeared with a nourishing cream. A very effective remedy.

Be sure to try making a lemon body scrub. To do this, you need to take half a glass of sugar, grated lemon zest, olive oil. Mix all ingredients until creamy. Using this scrub with a contrast shower will only enhance the anti-aging effect of this home remedy.

We have presented you with just a part of the possible areas and ways how you can use lemon. In fact, there are many more uses for lemon, which you can read online.