I am a lover of all things bright and summery. To me, nothing says summer like fresh-squeezed lemonade, or a happy bowl full of lemons on our kitchen table.

I love the look of lemons so much that I was bent on getting a lemon tree, and thanks to my sisters-in-law, we received one as a wedding present. Since we live in Indiana (for a little while longer, anyway), the tree was brought indoors and coaxed through the winter. It was such a ray of sunshine to get a bowl full of home-grown lemons in early January!

Soon, I learned that lemons had many health benefits (besides boosting your spirits in the Snowcalypse of 2013). I had some therapeutic grade lemon oil on hand, so I decided to experiment. Here's a quick rundown of it's benefits:

-Can stop heartburn in it's tracks -Provides a boost of vitamin C -Is a powerhouse of antioxidants (therefore it can rid you of toxins) -Uplifting when used as aromatherapy

I was pretty skeptical about it stopping heartburn since citrus fruits are known to be acidic and heartburn is caused by, you know, acid. However, lemon oil alkalizes the excess stomach acid, therefore giving sweet relief from heartburn. Add 1-2 drops of lemon oil to a glass of water, drink, and an enjoy a heartburn-free evening!

I added lemon oil to my routine due to its benefits, plus, it's super refreshing! Every morning I take my vitamins with a big glass of water that I've infused with lemon oil, and I know that I'm helping my body get rid of toxins, giving my internal organs a head start, boosting my vitamin C, and balancing my stomach acid. Important note: If you are ingesting any kind of essential oil, make sure its "therapeutic grade" oil produced by a company that will tell you their oils are safe for internal use. Also, as a precaution, do your research before taking it if you are nursing or pregnant.Try it out and let me know how it works for you!