Drink honey and lemon tea in the morning! Do you ever wonder why almost every other person offers you honey and lemon tea as a remedy for almost every other trouble? This has been one concoction that has maintained its popularity and relevance. Since ancient times to the health expert in our favorite blog, honey, and lemon tea are their go-to option. So if you have been wondering what makes this preparation stand apart from the rest? Read ahead:
Before diving into a cup of lemon and honey tea, it is important to understand the ingredients' relevance and properties according to Ayurveda.
Lemon: Lemon is extensively mentioned in Ayurvedic records. It has a hot potency and sour taste. Ayurveda attributes its properties like Rochana (ability to improve digestive power), Vakrashodhi (improves bad breath and cleanses oral cavity), Kasa Nivaran (relieves cough), Chardi Nivaran (removes excess Kapha accumulation from the body), Amadoshahra (removes ama or toxins from the body), and hrutpeeda (reduces chest ache).
Honey: Ayurveda attributes multiple potential properties to honey making it more than just a natural sweetening agent. According to Ayurvedic records, honey has Ojas (immunity-boosting properties), Anupama (healing properties), Agnideepanam (improves digestive fire), Varnyam (improves skin complexion), and Medohara (helps deal with obesity).
As far as doshas are concerned since it is hot in potency and sour, unripe lemon improves Vata and Kapha. However, it can aggravate Pitta. Ripe lemon on the other hand can decrease Pitta and Kapha.
Ayurveda suggests that honey may help balance the increased Kapha dosha. Additionally, its sweet taste, warming action, and calming effect can help balance Vata imbalance. However, when consumed excessively, it can potentially aggravate Pitta. According to Sushrut Sanhita1, mature honey may eliminate vitiated Tridosha; however, immature honey may vitiate Tridosha.
Both honey and lemons are typically used in adding flavor to dishes and drinks. While honey is used as a natural substitute for processed sugar, lemons are used to add a tangy and tart-like flavor. However, it is wise to note that both ingredients have much more to offer.
Having a cup of lemon and honey is both soothing and flavorful, but is it really as effective as it is touted to be? Is it really really beneficial or a myth? Let us find out:
It may help with weight loss: Ayurvedic rituals make mention of Langhana therapy. It is a practice that can help cleanse, detoxify, and promote weight loss. According to research, drinking water infused with honey and lemon or tea may help lose weight. Several studies show that increasing your honey and lemon water or tea water intake can help improve metabolism and make a person feel fuller2.
Another study3 highlighted that proper hydration could reduce the chances of a person being overweight or obese. Therefore, remaining hydrated using honey and lemon water may help maintain a healthy weight.
Moreover, swapping sugar-infused drinks with honey can cause a reduction in overall calorie intake. To better understand, a 12-ounce can of soda has around 110 calories, whereas a lemon and honey tea has only 25 calories in a 12-ounce serving.
Beneficial when you are feeling under the weather: Honey and lemon can help boost immune system response and support a person struggling with a sore throat, cough, and cold with its Kasa Nivaran (relieves cough) property. Honey is rich in vitamin C, which offers soothing qualities when feeling feverish or sick. Research5 has highlighted that vitamin C can help stimulate the production of white blood cells, which helps the body fight infections and potentially reduce the length of the common cold6 and cough.
Research7 has highlighted that honey has shown great potential to reduce the frequency of coughing in the younger age group of people with upper respiratory infections.
Thus, a warm cup of lemon and honey tea is an excellent comfort drink when feeling sick or under the weather.
Improve digestive health: Ayurvedic experts recommend consuming lemon and honey tea as both are loaded with heating properties that improve digestive fire. When a person consumes lemon and honey tea, it can potentially help improve bile secretion, breakdown of food substances, and easy absorption of nutrients.
It can also help maintain digestive health by having a beneficial effect on gut bacteria, as highlighted by the research8.
A person can maintain their hydration levels by consuming honey and lemon tea. Proper hydration is essential for avoiding constipation. The ayurvedic properties that aid these effects of honey and lemon are Agnideepanam (improves digestive fire) and Rochana (ability to improve digestive power).
Help reduce heart disease: Both honey and lemon are attributed to having beneficial properties for maintaining heart health. Ayurveda highlights the Hrutpeeda (reduces chest ache) property of lemon and honey that helps maintain heart health. Lemons are loaded with good antioxidants, which help it in preventing damage to the blood vessels and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. According to research9, people taking a high amount of citrus fruits have a lower risk of having heart disease or stroke.
Helps detoxify the body: Ayurvedic experts suggest consuming lemon and honey tea or warm water with lemon and honey in the morning to clear the digestive tract of toxins. This reflects in the amadoshahra (removal of ama (toxins) from the body) property of lemon. Honey is also believed to hold properties that can help remove toxins from the body; the same is reflected in its vishaprashamanam (the ability to remove toxins from the body).
Having warm water with lemon and honey or tea in the morning is a practice that can help clear the ama in the digestive tract of toxins that have built up overnight and solidify with time. Additionally, the heat of the tea helps improve the digestive fire. Thus it is advisable to drink it in the morning after waking up. It is also recommended to have it while sitting down and in small sips.
An excellent way to prepare lemon and honey tea is by adding the juice of half a lemon in warm water and a teaspoon of honey once it reaches room temperature. The water should not be too hot or cold as it may affect the flushing of ama (toxins). Furthermore, adding some ginger to the tea can help enhance the warming qualities.
Lemon and honey tea has been a popular drink to experience their vivid potential benefits. The concoction is not an overnight miracle elixir, but if consumed religiously for 3-4 months, it can offer many health benefits.
However, just like any drink, it has its limitations and must be consumed in a moderate amount and according to individual doshas. So, if you wish to know, what celebrities and wellness experts were saying is true? Start your day with a warm and comforting cup of lemon and honey tea.
READ MORE: Skin and Hair Benefits of Honey as per Ayurveda | Raw Honey Benefits, Raw Honey Uses, Types Of Honey
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