BENEFITS OF LEMON

Health Benefits:
Four tablespoons of lemon juice will give you almost half the vitamin C you need for the day. Remember, antioxidants like vitamin C make cholesterol less likely to stick to your artery walls.

Lemons are also packed with a natural disease-preventing compound called limonene that may help lower cholesterol and is even being studied for its potentially potent anticancer powers.

The citric acid in lemon juice also helps stave off kidney stones by reducing the excretion of calcium in the urine. Lemon rind is rich in a compound called rutin, which strengthens the walls of veins and capillaries, potentially reducing the pain and severity of varicose veins.

Glycemic Load: Very low

Uses of Lemon

Prevent potatoes from turning brown:
Potatoes and cauliflower tend to turn brown when boiling, especially when you’re having company for dinner. You can make sure the white vegetables stay white by squeezing a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice into the cooking water.

Freshen the fridge:
Remove refrigerator odors with ease. Dab lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and leave it in the fridge for several hours. Make sure to toss out any malodorous items that might be causing the bad smell.

Keep rice from sticking:
To keep your rice from sticking together in a gloppy mass, add a spoonful of lemon juice to the boiling water when cooking. When the rice is done, let it cool for a few minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.

Refresh cutting boards:
No wonder your kitchen cutting board smells! After all, you use it to chop onions, crush garlic, cut raw and cooked meat and chicken, and prepare fish. To get rid of the smell and help sanitize the cutting board, rub it all over with the cut side of half a lemon or wash it in undiluted juice straight from the bottle.

Make soggy lettuce crisp:
Don’t toss that soggy lettuce into the garbage. With the help of a little lemon juice you can toss it in a salad instead. Add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water. Then put the soggy lettuce in it and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make sure to dry the leaves completely before putting them into salads or sandwiches.

Clean your microwave:
Is the inside of your microwave caked with bits of hardened food? You can give it a good cleaning without scratching the surface with harsh cleansers or using a lot of elbow grease. Just mix 3 tablespoons lemon juice into 1 1/2 cups water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High for 5-10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls and ceiling of the oven. Then just wipe away the softened food with a dishrag..

Source - Reader's Digest
Image source - Google

KEEP YOUR KITCHEN CLEAN (Tips)

Image source: Photobucket
While keeping the rest of the house clean and tidy, the kitchen is one such area that requires more time and care.

Here are some tips:

• Use separate areas of the kitchen for different activities. Vegetables and meats should be cut and cleaned at a slight distance from the stove.
• Keep different knives for different activities. A meat knife and a vegetable one should be different.
• Always wipe up the spilt milk or gravies immediately. They can stick to the burner or kitchen platform and attract bacteria. It is best to take a sponge and clean it before it dries up.
• Ensure your spoons and spatulas are freshly washed. Do not use something that has been lying in a cabinet for a while attracting dust.
• Always soak the dishes before washing so that the dirt becomes easier to scrub off.
• Kitchen towels and napkins should be washed everyday.

Source: Bombay Times.

CLEANING TIPS ( CDs / DVDs )

Use toothpaste to repair scratched CDs and DVDs

Believe it or not, this simple dental hygiene product can work wonders for small scratches.

Here is what you have to do:

• Squirt a circle just on the outside of the inner circle. Use your index finger to spread the toothpaste.


• Lay the CD/DVD on a flat surface, and using your clean fingers gently rub the toothpaste in small circular motions


• Leave the toothpaste on for about 5 minutes


• Wash off the toothpaste with cool tap water. Make sure you get all the toothpaste off.


• Dry off the CD/DVD with a paper towel because some clothes are not always clean and can cause further damage.

(Please make a backup copy of your disc when you are trying out the first time)

Source: The Times of India