Lemon was always just lemon to me. When I lived in Bangladesh, I wasn't even aware of the difference between a lime and a lemon. What we called lemon back home was actually lime. Lemons are yellow, limes are green. To me, lime was a simple, green, oval-shaped sour fruit that my mom used to make lemonade back in the day. I also liked lime juice in my food. I would always squeeze a slice of lime on my rice and curry to give it that tangy taste.

I also remember eating the edible kind when my father would bring it home from the bazaar. I remember always taking a small bite from a slice with every mouthful of rice and curry. It would add a sour taste to my food which I always loved. Over the years, I discovered there were many other uses to these versatile citrus fruits. 

If you are one of those people troubled by zits then you can really enjoy the benefits of using lime and lemon juice. These can help reduce pimples and acne. I was really skeptical about them but after giving them a try, I realised that it worked. If your skin is not very sensitive, you can prepare a simple face pack using lemon/lime juice and honey to treat your pimples, scars, and blemishes. Just remember to avoid direct exposure to the sun after applying this mixture.   

If you want to make your nails look all pink and shiny, scrub them with a slice of lemon or just soak them in lemon juice. These will help you get rid of the yellow stain, which you sometimes get from wearing nail polish for too long.  

Limes and lemons are also very useful in the kitchen. We regularly use lemon juice to remove pungent smells from uncooked fish and meat. On days we cook a lot and the house smells of curry, I put slices of lemon and cinnamon sticks in a pan and boil it. You will be surprised to see how quickly it kills unwanted smells. You can also use lime or lemon juice to get stubborn smells off your own hands. Just rinse your hands in a mixture of water and lemon or lime juice.

A mixture of lemon juice and water is also a great hair conditioner. I first started using it as a measure to limit my hair and body's exposure to artificial ingredients and chemicals. Citrus conditioning is very simple and cheap. All you need to do is just make a mixture of water and freshly-squeezed lemon juice and apply it to your hair after a shampoo. Keep it on for five minutes and then rinse. It works best on oily hair. 

I buy a bag of lemons every week, because they are so useful. I even throw lemon slices in my trashcan to reduce garbage odour. Have you ever noticed the stains hard water and soap leave on your shower handles, kitchen and bathroom faucets? There is an easy solution to removing them. Just rub lemon peel on your faucets, wash with water, and dry with a soft cloth. You can also use lemon peels to remove stains from your tea and coffee pots and kettles. Just fill your tea or coffee pot with water, add some lemon peels and bring it to a boil. You can also sprinkle some salt in your coffee mug or teacup and rub it with a lemon peel vigorously to remove the brown stains often caused by your favourite caffeinated beverage.  

So from now on when life gives you lemons, keep them; you know you can use them to make a lot more than just lemonade. 

By Wara Karim