If comfort were a beverage, ginger-lemon tea would fit right in. Ginger and lemon tea is a herbal beverage that gets the best of both worlds (lemon and ginger). It is one of the most effective yet simplest ways to help soothe you off from a long day at work or to simply help you go to sleep better at night.
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And if you thought those were great health benefits, there’s more where that came from! In this article, we’ll be spilling the tea on the nutrition, health benefits, potential side effects to consider, and how to prepare ginger and lemon tea. As soon as you have your notes ready, let’s dive into some of the health benefits of ginger and lemon tea.
1. Helps relieve indigestion
If you experience symptoms like heartburn or general discomfort due to indigestion, then a cup of ginger and lemon tea should help. Ginger is historically known as a root used in traditional medicine as it can reduce the delayed emptying of the stomach.
To top that off, lemon has a compound known as limonene. Limonene helps the body smoothen the digestion process by easing the movement of food along your digestive system, which may eventually relieve that discomfort after eating a whole meal.
Limonene concentrations may differ from one cup of lemon and ginger tea to another, but as long as you have the lemon, ginger, and hot tea, it should soothe indigestion in one way or another.
2. Relieves nauseousness
Whether due to long car rides, stress, chemotherapy, or pregnancy, nauseousness is never a good feeling. Fortunately, ginger can notably mitigate nausea significantly. Studies have shown that talking about 1 to 1.5 grams of ginger a day is sufficient to fight off any nausea effect.
If you happen to be pregnant, having ginger and lemon tea is generally safe to drink is, in fact, most effective to alleviate nausea effects due to pregnancy. However, it does have less of an impact against vomiting due to pregnancy.
Note: If you have any underlying health conditions or are still in doubt about whether or not drinking ginger and lemon tea is suitable for you, please seek professional advice from your local health provider. This is especially vital if you have a medical history of pregnancy loss or blood clotting disorders.
3. Helps reduce nasal congestion
A hot cup of ginger-lemon tea isn’t just beneficial by drinking it but also by inhaling the steam off of it.
If you have a runny nose, inhaling the steam from ginger-lemon tea may very well help clear your airways. On the plus side, drinking it helps soothe a sore throat you may have that typically comes along with a runny nose due to mucus buildup.
This is especially helpful during cold and flu season in colder seasons and if you have seasonal allergies (such as pollen allergies, for example). Though drinking ginger and lemon tea don’t directly cure your runny nose, it does help mitigate nasal congestion, so you can breathe a little better until you make a full recovery.
4. May aid in combatting inflammation
Ginger contains a plant compound known as Gingerol, which gives ginger its antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties. Inflammation that occurs from time to time is called chronic inflammation, which may be associated with more serious health conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and metabolic syndrome, as some examples.
Though further studies need to be conducted on exactly how much gingerol is enough to produce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, along with its concentration for every regular cup of tea, early studies have been showing progress.
5. Helps with weight loss
In this matter, both lemon and ginger play key roles in helping you lose weight. Lemon has properties that have been proven to boost insulin resistance and tone down the amount of stored body fat.
On the other hand, ginger is known to help you manage your appetite and overcome hunger, which is a gamechanger in helping people in their weight loss journey. As an infused combination, ginger and lemon help boost your metabolism and thus burn those extra calories.
6. A great source of hydration
Water is a major component in making the perfect ginger and lemon tea, which also means drinking this infused tea means you’re helping your body stay hydrated. Staying hydrated brings about multiple health benefits as it helps maintain your kidneys, heart, and digestive tract in good health.
In addition, the hydration you get from drinking ginger and lemon tea also helps relieve constipation. Constipation may result from low-fiber diets and a lack of hydration. Drinking ginger and lemon tea may aid in helping waste in your body move through your digestive tract easier.
Note: If you still have bowel movement issues or have them less than three times a week, please consult your local healthcare provider for further assessment and treatment.
7. Serves as an alkaline source for your body
Here is something you may have not known about: though lemons are obviously acidic, they can become highly alkalizing once ingested into your body. Who knew, right? As you squeeze or place a slice of lemon into your nicely steamed cup of tea, it then gets metabolized and becomes alkalizing.
Alkaline serve multiple health benefits such as healthy gums and teeth, reducing bad cholesterol and fats, and helping tone down your appetite for sweet treats.
8. Boosts your immune system
Like all citrus fruits, lemons are very high in vitamin C and antioxidants, which help boost your immune system. Ginger also complements lemons as fellow immune boosters and has properties that fight off harmful bacteria.
Additionally, antioxidants are great for combatting free radicals that cause cell damages. Free radicals are responsible for a handful of unwanted diseases such as cardiovascular and inflammatory disease and cancer.
9. Boosts your cognitive functionality
The primary contributor to improved cognitive function is ginger. Whether you solely consume ginger or have it in a cup of ginger and lemon tea, you will surely be able to sip in the anti-inflammatory properties and potent antioxidants.
A study conducted among middle-aged women shows a significant improvement in their memory and boosts their overall cognitive functionality. Furthermore, simply having just one cup of ginger and lemon tea daily can go a long way in minimizing the risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
10. Improves your cardiovascular health
Ginger is an excellent blood circulation booster and has anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, hypolipidemic, and hypotensive properties. These properties help mitigate the risks of cardiovascular diseases such as strokes or heart attacks.
On the other hand, lemon is packed with loads of vitamin C. This helps ensure a healthy flow of blood through your veins and arteries and aids in preventing blood clotting. Like ginger, this also helps avoid risks of cardiovascular diseases.
A blend of these two components infused in one nice, warm, and soothing cup of tea packs apunch of heart-friendly nutrients.
Potential Side Effects
Although the Food and Drug Administration has deemed lemon and ginger tea a generally safe beverage, there are still a couple of side effects to consider.
May disrupt your sleeping schedule
Having any beverage before calling it a day can potentially cause more frequent visits to the bathroom to urinate, which in return disrupts your sleep. To avoid this, try having your ginger and lemon tea between 1 and 2 hours before you go to sleep.
Blood thinners
Ginger contains a plant compound called salicylate, which, in nature, causes blood thinning. If you have any bleeding disorders, we highly recommend avoiding ginger or consulting your local healthcare provider for professional medical advice on your best move forward.
Stomach upsets
Having more than 2 grams of ginger a day may pack enough punch to cause an upset stomach. This is typically indicated by stomach burns, cramps, or general stomach pain or discomfort. Try to consume 1 to 1.5 grams of ginger per day instead to avoid this while reaping its health benefits.
How to Prep a Ginger Lemon Tea at Home
For every one serving cup:
Ingredients
- A 1-inch cut and peeled piece of fresh ginger root
- Half of a lemon
- A cup of water (about 250 ml)
- Honey, to add some sweetness (optional)
Instructions
- Slice your ginger root as fine as you possibly can. Or you can also grate the ginger instead.
- Place the sliced or grated ginger into boiling water. Wait for about 20 minutes of boiling time.
- Slice the lemons and save a slice or two for garnish.
- Add in the lemons, and let the mixture simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Strain and enjoy!
To Wrap it Up
Lemons are excellent sources of antioxidants, and vitamin C. Gingers are packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Together, they make a potent combination to keep your body healthy in numerous ways.
Some highlighted health benefits include relieving nasal congestions, helping relieve nausea, boosts your immune system, aiding in weight loss, and improving your heart/cardiovascular health.
Despite these benefits, you need to consider possible side effects when drinking a cup of ginger-lemon tea. These include sleep disruptions, blood thinning, and stomach upsets. To play it safe nd ensure you can reap the full benefits while safely enjoying your warm cup of ginger and lemon tea, always consult with your local doctor, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.