“When You Take Cold Take Lemons”
This was advice many during World War II would have loved to take! Shipping and transportation were so altered that some perishable fruits became rare unless they were locally grown. Tropical citrus fruits were among the casualties.
The Amazing Lemon
In the United States, there were many shortages due to foods and materials being sent overseas. Lemons, though, were readily available. With governments keen to promote anything that would keep people healthy, citrus growers did their part. This advertisement for treating colds suggest lemons almost exclusively.
Lemons are loaded with Vitamin C. Surprisingly, they also contain protein, magnesium, iron and calcium. Though the minerals are in small amounts, they cause lemons—an acidic fruit—to create an amazing change when digested. When they are metabolized, they produce alkaline byproducts that help strengthen the body against disease.
A New Cold Routine
The lemon advertisement promotes a “new cold routine” combining lemons with baking soda to alkalinize the body. According to the ad, the combination creates sodium citrate. I had to look this up. It is a sodium salt of citric acid. The baking soda neutralizes the citric acid in the lemon and leaves the sodium citrate salt. When these two are mixed together and consumed right away, nearly all of the vitamins in the lemon are still intact.
Sodium citrate treats high acid levels in the body, both in blood and urine. It is an anticoagulant, helping prevent blood clots. And, it may help the intestines absorb more nutrients while lowering inflammation.
Sodium citrate is in a number of modern food products including cheese, gelatins, jams, ice cream and candy. It preserves freshness and emulsifies oils with water. Who knew?!
Hot Lemonade & Other Old-Fashioned Drinks
Besides the lemon juice-baking soda drink, the ad also suggests the old-fashioned remedy of hot lemonade to promote perspiration. When is the last time you saw that as a desired outcome in an ad for treating colds? I don’t personally know anyone who has ever had a lemonade other than with ice. I had to try it. As it turns out, hot lemonade is phenomenally delicious!
In addition to hot lemonade, the ad recommends taking plenty of liquids and hints “fresh lemon drinks are favorites.” So, I searched through other cookbooks homemakers during World War II might have had, and found a few other tasty beverages. The recipes are included here and worth trying.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the “new cold routine.” I would have to be sick to drink lemon juice with baking soda. On the other hand, it might taste better than the chemical-laden, artificially-flavored concoctions at the pharmacy. For folks during World War II who could get lemons, they could have a ready remedy at home whenever they needed it. The other beverage recipes taste much better so if you like home remedies, you might want to try these to prevent a cold in the first place!
Lemonade
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 pint water
Make syrup by boiling sugar and water twelve minutes; add fruit juice, cool, and dilute with ice-water [for hot lemonade use freshly boiled water] to suit individual tastes. Lemon syrup may be bottled and kept on hand to use as needed.
Wine Lemonade
Into each glass put the juice of half a lemon, one-third cup sweet red or white domestic table wine and one teaspoon sugar or one-half teaspoon honey. Add one-third glass of ice. Fill with water and serve.
Fruited Lemonade
Save syrup from canned fruits; add sufficient lemon juice for flavor, then chill and serve in frosty glasses. Slices of lemon, orange, or other fruits add color and flavor.
Pineapple Juice with Lemon
Cut 1 lemon in halves, remove 2 thin slices and cut in halves and extract juice from remainder. Add to 2 cups pineapple juice and serve in small glasses with 1/2 slice lemon on edge of each glass.
References
Life, Vol. 18 No. 5. January 29, 1945. Chicago, IL: Time Inc., p. 84.
Farmer, Fannie Merrill. The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1918.
Allen, Ida Bailey. Double-Quick Cooking for Part-Time Homemakers. New York: M. Barrows and Company, 1943.
Bradley, Alice. The Alice Bradley Menu Cook-Book: April-May-June. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937.
Penny, Prudence. Coupon Cookery. California: Murray & Gee, Inc., 1943.
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
Psalm 27:14