Sometimes, a cup of tea is all you need to feel better when you’re under the weather or come home after a hard day at work. Tea also works wonders when you’re emotionally distress and want a refreshing drink.
However, have you ever tied lemon ginger tea? If you haven’t, you have missed something delicious and healthy. But you probably don’t know why lemon ginger tea is so special, do you?
Well, keep on reading to find out 9 mind-blowing health benefits of lemon ginger tea. And before you know it, you’ll be drinking this tasty beverage every day.
Lemon Ginger Tea Fast Facts
Before we dive into the deep, let’s learn some interesting facts about lemon ginger tea. Imagine your friends’ amazement next time when you serve them lemon ginger tea!
Lemon Ginger Tea Nutrition Facts
The nutritional value of drinks and food is important for a lot of people, especially those that have to be careful about calories, fats, and sugars. So, let’s take a look at what lemon ginger tea contains, shall we.
The thing about lemon ginger tea is that its nutritional value depends on the brand of tea you’re using or if you’re brewing the beverage by yourself.
In case you buy your lemon ginger tea, I advise that you read the package to find out the exact numbers. But, in general, lemon ginger tea has the following nutritional profile:
In addition to this, lemon ginger tea contains the following minerals and vitamins, to name a few:
As you can see, lemon ginger tea has a very low carbohydrate count, which makes it perfect for those with diabetes. What’s more, it has almost no calories, so you can enjoy it as much as you want when you’re on a diet.
Moreover, lemon ginger tea contains some necessary nutrients that people often forget about such as manganese, copper, folate, and zinc. Not to mention that it has a low sodium content, so it perfect for people with heart problems or high blood pressure.
How to Make Lemon Ginger Tea?
Before we start looking into the fantastic health benefits of lemon ginger tea, I think you should know how to make lemon ginger tea by yourself. It’s as easy as going to the supermarket and buying a commercial one. What’s more, it takes no more than five minutes, and it doesn’t require any special skills.
Necessary ingredients:
- Ginger root
- Water
- Lemon juice
- A bowl
- A grater
- A teapot
- A mug
Process:
- Start by grating one 1-inch piece of ginger root into the bowl.
- Put the ginger powder in the teapot.
- Add boiling water to the teapot.
- Let the ginger steep for at least three minutes.
- Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey in a mug.
- Strain the ginger tea in the mug and stir well.
- You can add a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cayenne, or turmeric for extra flavor.
- Serve the beverage hot.
9 Health Benefits of Lemon Ginger Tea
During cold winter days, lemon ginger tea can help you stay warm. However, what makes lemon ginger tea so unique?
Well, both lemon and ginger have a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect on the body, and when you combine them together, they work even better than if taken individually.
#1 Lemon Ginger Tea can Help You Lose Weight
Today, a lot of people struggle to lose weight due to stress, unhealthy eating habits, lack of activity, or illnesses. No matter the reason, lemon ginger tea is a valuable ally in your fight against obesity.
Fizzy drinks are usually full of calories and sugar and are often related to obesity and weight gain. So, when you want to lose weight, giving up these beverages can help you a lot.
And since lemon ginger tea has almost no calories, it’s a perfect substitute when you feel the urge to drink something tasty and sweet.
In addition to this, ginger has the ability to suppress hunger, according to some studies. Researchers also concluded that ginger could increase satiety and stimulate metabolism.
What this means is that by drinking lemon ginger tea every day, you won’t get the desire to snack between meals and as a result, you’ll eat less. What’s more, thanks to the thermic effect of the hot lemon ginger tea, you’ll be burning fats and calories.
As for lemon juice, while a lot of people claim that it aids digestion and reduces weight, there is not much scientific proof of these benefits. What’s more, you have to be careful with lemon juice if you have acid reflux or GERD.
#2 Nausea and Vomiting Reliever
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that everybody experiences from time to time. You might have caught a nasty virus, or you might be pregnant. In either case, lemon ginger tea is the perfect choice for dealing with these uncomfortable sensations.
For centuries, ginger has been known for its ability to soothe the stomach and relieve nausea and vomiting. Studies also have proven its efficiency against morning sickness in pregnant women and chemotherapy patients.
Not to mention that lemons also have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which your body needs to fight viruses and bacteria.
So, when you’re feeling under the weather, sipping a cup of lemon ginger tea might be all you need to feel better. What’s more, if you tend to get motion sickness, you can take some lemon ginger tea with you to settle your stomach on the road.
However, if you’re pregnant, you might want to talk about ginger with your doctor. While the quantity of ginger in lemon ginger tea is not enough to cause problems, overindulging might be dangerous of your unborn baby.
#3 Lemon Ginger Tea Improves Cognitive Abilities
Unfortunately, we can’t stop the flow of time or the changes it brings in our body and brain. However, there are certain things you can do to slow down the decline of your cognitive abilities.
According to one study, ginger extract has the potential to enhance the cognitive functions of middle-aged women with no undesirable side effects. While the exact mechanism is not clear, ginger is known for its antioxidant properties, which destroy the free radicals that damage cells.
In addition to this, a Tokyo study claims that regular consumption of citrus foods, such as oranges and lemons, reduces the risk of dementia. Their experiments showed that some antioxidants found in citrus fruits could cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the brain positively by repairing some of the cellular damage.
So, a cup of lemon ginger tea a day might actually protect you against future cognitive problems.
#4 Give Your Immune System a Boost
Do you know why you get sick more often than usual when you’re stressed or under pressure? Because your immune system is struggling. In such cases, a hefty dose of vitamin C might help you get better quickly.
It’s been known for decades that vitamin C is necessary for the proper function of the human body. It strengthens your immune systems by boosting the production of white blood cells and increasing their efficacy so that they can deal with viruses, infections, or bacteria.
As you know it, lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, which your body needs to fight off inflammation. But did you know that ginger also contains vitamin C along with a plethora of other important nutrients?
So, when you’re busy or starting to feel unwell, go and drink a cup of lemon ginger tea. Its antioxidant effect along with the vitamin C content will speed up your recovery.
#5 A Cup of Lemon Ginger Tea a Day might Improve Your Heart Health
Photo Credit: organiclifestylemagazine.com
Heart disease is still one of the leading causes of death, and it affects millions of people around the world. In addition to a healthy lifestyle, drinking lemon ginger tea can also help you protect your heart. Let me explain why.
First, ginger can reduce your cholesterol. As you know, high cholesterol is linked with a higher risk of heart issues. Not to mention that it can clog the arteries and cause a heart attack.
In addition to this, ginger can have a positive effect on high blood pressure, too. Blood pressure has a few symptoms, but it damages the organs and your heart.
Vitamin C, on the other hand, also improve the function of the heart. The exact mechanism is not clear, but scientists observe the following:
However, I should also mention that ginger has been associated with an increased risk of bleeding in patients taking blood thinners. Also, people with low blood pressure might be affected negatively.
#6 Improve Your Mood with a Daily Cup of Lemon Ginger Tea
Everyone has been in the grasps of depression once in a while. However, do you know that drinking lemon ginger tea can boost your mood?
According to research, smelling citrus for at least 10 minutes improves your mood for half an hour. Participants in the study had lower levels of chemicals released when you’re under stress. That’s why citrus oils have a wide application in aromatherapy.
In addition to this, ginger also has a stress-reducing effect because it can affect the adrenal gland positively. If you don’t know it, this is the gland responsible for the production of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stressful situations.
So, when you’re stressed and moody, make yourself a cup of lemon ginger tea, and your mood will improve before you know it.
#7 Protect Your Liver
The liver plays a role in more than 500 functions of the human organism. It’s responsible for producing bile for digestion, breaking down hormones and insulin, and proper carbohydrate metabolism. That’s why you should keep your liver in top condition.
As it turns out, lemon and ginger can help you do that. a significant effect on the severity of menstrual pain, lemon juice had a protective effect on the livers in chronic alcoholic cases. The study concluded that thanks to the antioxidant properties of lemon juice, it can be used as a supplement to prevent/treat liver disease.
Ginger also shows good results in relation to chronic liver disease. One study stated that two grams of ginger could positively affect the liver and proposed further research into the topic.
#8 Get Rid of Menstrual Cramps and Headaches
Another potential health benefit of lemon ginger tea has to do with relieving menstrual cramps and headaches.
A study showed that taking ginger for five days had a significant effect on the severity of menstrual pain. So, drinking lemon ginger tea regularly can help you avoid these painful days.
In addition to this, ginger can be used to treat migraines and headaches because it has potent anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, a study stated that ginger is as powerful as ibuprofen.
Lemons also have anti-inflammatory properties, which will help you get back on your feet.
#9 Lemon Ginger Tea for Hair and Skin
If you have problems with your hair or skin, you might be lacking some necessary vitamins and nutrients. In such cases, lemon ginger tea can help you get what you need without relying on artificial supplements.
What’s more, due to the amazing anti-oxidant properties of both ginger and lemon, your skin and hair won’t get damaged easily.
What Are the Side Effects of Lemon Ginger Tea?
In general, drinking lemon ginger tea doesn’t cause any problems. However, it’s worth mentioning that some side effects exist if you consume large amounts of it every day. I’m talking about:
What’s more, you might be allergic to ginger. Even though such allergies are rare, if you develop a rash or feel unwell after drinking lemon ginger tea, you must speak to your doctor.
Lemon ginger tea is a healthy way to satisfy your cravings for something tasty and delicious. It’s full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and will help you boost your immune system. So, go ahead and give it a try!
What do you think about these 9 health benefits of lemon ginger tea? Do you drink lemon ginger tea? Share your opinion of it in the comment section.
Annalise O'Conner
Annalise O'Conner is a Registered Dietitian and Personalized Nutritionist. She is a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, teaching nutrition in the School of Public Health and APAN (Asian Pacific Islander American Network) Email: [email protected]
