Citrus fruits are loved by everyone around the world. Who hasn’t enjoyed a juicy orange or tangerine? Who hasn’t squirted lime into one of their favorite drinks? Grapefruits? One of the staple breakfast fruits! That said, we’ve missed a citrus. The most popular and prevalent citrus around the world is, as you’ve probably guessed, the lemon! An evergreen fruit that is native to Asia, lemons have endured as one of the most widely used fruits on the plant! Lemon juice specifically is an important ingredient that can be found in many savory and sweet recipes regardless of cultural background. Lemons can be used fresh, dried or pickled to enhance the flavor of any vegetable, poultry or fish dish. Want to learn more about this fruit? Read below for some lemon citrus wall art facts.
History
Unfortunately, the true origins of lemons is not entirely known. Lemons are an ancient fruit that have been eaten since before they were even genetically engineered to be the perfect yellow ovals we know them as today. They are thought by many to have first originated near North-Western India. It is known that lemons were first introduced to a major group of people in what is now Southern Italy, in around 200AD. Historically, it has been established that lemons have been farmed and cultivated in Egypt and Iran since 700AD. Arabs in these counties spread lemons throughout the Mediterranean area during the early 2nd century. Lemons reached the Americas with Christopher Columbus in the year 1492; he and several other Spaniards planted seeds in both Florida and California. Read below for more lemon citrus wall art facts.
Scurvy
Lemons have many health benefits, mostly due to their profound amounts of vitamin C. Scurvy is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, and results in bleeding gums, weakness, fatigue, rash and excessive bruising. Scurvy most commonly affected pirates and other seamen in the past because they’d go for months at a time only eating dried meat and fish, thus lacking the necessary nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. A physician in the British Royal Navy, thankfully, discovered that scurvy could be treated with the nutrients and vitamins found in citrus fruits. After this discovery, all British ships were stocked with fresh supplies of citrus fruits to take on their journeys. During the California Gold Rush, miners faced similar problems. In order to fix their diets, farmers planted lemon trees around the mines. Read below for more lemon citrus wall art facts.
Perfume
Do you wear perfume or cologne? If you do, there’s a high chance that one you’ve worn before may have contained lemon oil! Did you know scientific studies have proven that the scent of lemons can uplift our mood and stimulate the nervous system? This is exactly why many perfumers like to incorporate lemon into their scents! Essential lemon oil is produced by cold-pressing lemon peels. Cold pressing is a process that separate fiber from the cells of any produce, which holds all of the nutrients and live enzymes without the use of any heat. By stripping off the unnecessary fibrous parts of the lemon without heat, lemon peels keep their signature aroma without any dulling to their smell! The zesty scent of lemons pairs particularly well with geranium, lavender and rose flowers! Read below for more lemon citrus wall art facts.
Odor
Lemons are well regarded for their scent. Have you ever cut one open and simply stood above it, basking in the fresh and sharp citrus smell? Many people have! Lemons offer a strong, astringent smell that truly clear the air of any bad odors. Have you just cooked fish? Are you tired of that briny smell hanging around the house? We have a recipe for a spray-bottle concoction that will freshen your room in no time! First, wash and lemon then quarter it. Second, place 2 cups of water into a bot and set the fire on high, adding in the lemon quarters. Third, heat the bot until it boil, then allow it to cool. Fourth, strain the lemon solution into a bowl. Fifth, stir half a cup of baking soda into the strained lemon solution and mix with a whisk until it has completely dissolved. Allow the solution to cool, then place it into a spray bottle. Now you can spray the surrounding air until your room is free of any bad odors!
Overeating
There are times when we all eat to much. Food tastes good, so it’s only natural we eat a lot of it! That said, it’s still important to maintain a healthy diet. Are you looking for a natural way to limit your food intake without doing anything drastic. Well, lemons could be a great answer! Pectin, a chemical substance found in the peel and pulp of citrus fruits like lemons, has been proven to help people feel fuller for a longer period of time. People who ate only 5 grams of pectin experienced much more satiety than those who did not eat it, according to a study conducted by the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Admittedly, one would have to eat several lemons to reach 5 grams ingested per day. Luckily, adding lemon juice to water is a much easier way to add pectin to your diet. Why not try to add pectin to your diet today? Did you enjoy these lemon wall citrus art facts?
Conclusion
Believed to have originated in Asia, lemons have successfully permeated the entire world! It’s a culinary marvel in that it can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. It’s a medical wonder considering it’s uses for treating scurvy and other elements. Lemons are even wonderful in unconventional ways; they can be used to clear up smells in the room and freshen the smell of your own body! Is there anything this wonderful fruit can’t do? We hope you learned something from this article today. Thanks for reading these lemon citrus wall art facts!