With a new year underway, people are looking for ways to improve their health and maintain, or lose, weight. Despite the many new products flooding the market every day, there is one tried-and-tested true resource: the benefits of lemon tea.
The smallest member of the citrus family actually provides more health benefits than larger fruits of the same group such as oranges. To understand the scientific theory behind the tangy, bright-yellow fruit, we first must look at the components of lemons. Lemons are comprised of vitamin A and other antioxidants including alpha and B-carotenes, B-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein. They also contain vitamin C, fiber, and citric acid.
Lemons are found to have phytochemicals such as hesperetin, naringin, and naringenin. B-complex vitamins of pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, and folates exist in the fruit as well. And you get a healthy supply of minerals such as iron, copper, potassium, and calcium to boot.
What Are the Benefits of Lemon Tea?
In order to understand the fact from the fiction, we checked a number of scientific sources and came up with the 10 best, most commonly tested benefits.
1. Immunity System Booster:
Helps ease effects of major disorders and diseases by boosting the immune system. With the anti-inflammatory attributes, lemons have been known to help those with respiratory disorders such as asthma. Even those suffering with arthritis have seen improvements with a morning lemon tea.
2. Helps with Healing:
Speeds healing with the use of its antioxidants and vitamin C. As you heal, your body needs the levels of endorphins to rise while at the same time reduce any anxiety and stress.
3. Detoxification:
Hydrates your body as it speeds up your metabolism by getting rid of toxins. Detoxifies your entire body by flushing out the toxins and allowing for more oxygen to flow to your organs.
4. Maintains pH level:
Promotes a well-maintained pH level to avoid acidic levels in the body. Unbalanced levels may cause pain, inflammation, and infections.
5. Keeps Mouth Fresh:
Rids bad morning breath and kills bacteria on contact when consumed first thing in the morning.
6. Helps in Digestion:
Aids in digestion and helps to prevent kidney stones from forming. The natural citric acid can help dissolve kidney stones once present.
7. Improves Skin Health:
Promotes clear skin as it fights against acne and wrinkles. The natural goodness of lemon tea promotes the release of collagen.
8. Freshens your Mood:
Stabilizes mood with its clean warming smell, especially when heated. The fresh scent of lemons is used in aromatherapy sessions.
9. Improves Energy Levels:
Boosts your energy level to help you maintain overall good health and help you recover from disease or pain faster.
Related: Lemon Water for Weight Loss and Other Health Benefits
10. Helps with Weight Loss:
Promotes weight loss by keeping your pH levels in balance. Remember, lemon tea speeds up your metabolism, increases energy, acts as a diuretic, and flushes toxins from your body. Drinking lemon tea will also prevent bloating.
How to Make Lemon Tea
For decades, families have passed down their own lemon tea recipes from generation to generation. Each one has its own unique additives or techniques. While some recipes call for the additional ingredients of honey and cinnamon to increase the health benefits, the following recipe provides the basic nutrients and minerals needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Heat water to a warm temperature to avoid shocking your internal body system with hot or cold water. This is done as the best time to drink the lemon tea is in the morning. Transfer the water to a one-liter jug before squeezing one lemon into the water. You may add one or two tea bags or loose tea to the jug.
Drink one cup of this tea every morning before breakfast. You may also choose to have a cup or two throughout the day.
Precautions with Lemon Tea
In researching for this article, we found several web sites that suggest side effects of using lemons, particularly with certain medications and/or ailments.
The health web site, WebMD, states: “Lemon is safe in food amounts and may be safe in higher medicinal amounts. The side effects of higher amounts of lemon are not known.”
The site cautions against using lemon directly on the skin to prevent sunburn. Lemons are also used in hair treatments to lighten the color.
It is recommended to consult your physician if you have plans to use higher amounts of lemon than regular food usage.
Related Reading:
- Drink Lemon Water before Bed? Health Benefits and Side Effects Explained
- Is Green Tea Acidic? What Makes Green Tea Healthy?
- Barley Tea: 15 Benefits of Barley Tea on Your Health
Sources:
Nutrition and You web site, “Lemon Nutrition Facts”; http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/lemon.html, last accessed January 6, 2017.
WebMD web site, “Lemon”; http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-545-lemon.aspx?activeingredientid=545&, last accessed January 6, 2017.
