BSo we start shooting a million cheese lemonade puns (When life gives you lemons…), we’ll get right to it: We love lemons and can’t get enough of them.
Aside from making a sweet probiotic lemonade or a cold glass of lemon water, there’s a lot you can squeeze (sorry, you can’t help it) out of one. Yes, we’re talking about how registered dietitians consider this gorgeous, bright yellow fruit a gold mine for promoting longevity. From their high vitamin C content to their powerful antioxidant properties (not to mention their delicious lip-curling flavor), it’s no wonder people have found a million and one ways to consume lemons. Ahead, we share some of our best lemonade recipes to fill your summer with pure sunshine and joy while we break down why they’re so good for you, too.
The many health benefits of lemon that promote longevity
If we were to conjure up a (grocery) list of the most popular ingredients in the Mediterranean diet, lemon would certainly take the crown. And it’s no coincidence: The Mediterranean is home to two of the Five Blue Zones—the islands of Ikaria in Greece and Sardinia in Italy—where people live well in the hundreds (and where lemons abound). Researchers have already listed lemons as one of the eight main fruits that should be consumed as part of a blue zone diet.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of nutrition. First things first, just two tablespoons of lemon juice contains about 50 percent of your daily recommended amount of vitamin C (it’s no coincidence that vitamin C is good for warding off colds—you can thank the powerful antioxidant for its immune-boosting functions. Plus, That being said, lemons are full of polyphenols, organic plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help boost brain, heart, immune, and digestive health, just to name a few.All to say: When life gives you lemons…you know the drill. ..you use it in every possible recipe sorry no sorry!
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4 longevity-boosting lemon recipes to make you feel like a ray of sunshine
1. Lemon spaghetti
Don’t know what to make for dinner? These five-ingredient lemon pasta from Feel Good Foodie are as comforting as a warm, sunny day at the beach—and proof that sometimes less is, in fact, more. Utilizing all of a lemon—including the zest and juice—to add flavor to freshly cooked pasta, this simple dish comes with ingredients you likely already have in your cupboard. (Think: olive oil, garlic cloves, and black pepper.) On top of that, using lemon peel is a great way to get the most out of the fruit, as this often-overlooked ingredient not only packs a lot of flavor, but also It contains some nutritional value in the form of calcium, vitamin C, potassium and fiber.
Get the recipe: lemon paste
2. Lemon Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
Nice dishes are prepared, because there is never too much lemonade that can’t be fixed. Take, for example, roasted cauliflower: it tastes pretty neutral on its own, right? But toss the florets with a few flavorful ingredients like this Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic, Lemon, and Parsley recipe by Feasting at Home, and you’ll get yourself packed with longevity-boosting ingredients.
Get the recipe: Roasted cauliflower with garlic, lemon and parsley
3. Spicy Lemon Chicken Salad
Whoever said the only secret ingredient to making chicken salad was copious amounts of mayonnaise was clearly wrong. And we have the receipts to prove it. This chicken salad, made with flavorful ingredients like ginger, scallions, cilantro, soy sauce, and lime from The Woks of Life, will give you a whole new perspective on this summer barbecue staple.
Get the recipe: Chinese lemon chicken salad
4. Cut the sweet and sour lemon
Of course, no meal would be complete without a dessert (dessert) ending. On today’s list? Sweet and sour lemon bars from before taste better than from scratch. This easy recipe features a delicious shortbread crust with a luxuriously creamy lemon filling. Swoon bittersweet.
Get the recipe: The perfect lemon bars
Can’t have enough lemon recipes? We agree. This gluten-free lemon chia loaf won’t disappoint, either:
