We all know how good honey, lemon, and water are for our health. But, can you imagine what a healthy elixir you’ll get if you combine these three ingredients into one drink?
Not only is lemon honey water a super tasty and refreshing drink, it’s also a drink that can bring numerous benefits to your health. From helping you lose weight to improving your digestive system, regularly consuming lemon honey water can greatly help you maintain your health. So, before we discuss the reasons why including this drink in your diet is good for you, let’s remind ourselves of the nutritional value and health benefits of each of the powerful ingredients in this drink.
One peeled lemon contains:
Lemons are loaded with vitamin C, which is known to improve our immunity. Vitamin C can also help prevent certain conditions, such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria. Lemons are also a rich source of antioxidants which can help prevent or reduce inflammation and protect your body from infections that viruses and bacteria cause.
In one study, patients with CaOx (calcium oxalate stone formation) were asked to take lemonade therapy. The final results showed that lemons increase the volume of urine and prevent kidney stone formation (1). This effect is probably due to the citric acid which is present in high amounts in lemons.
Another study has revealed that lemon juice decrease the level of calcium in the urine and it can be a helpful tool for treating urinary calcium stones in those suffering from hypocitraturia (2).
One study has revealed that fruits and vegetables which are a high source of vitamin C lower the risk of coronary heart disease (3). Another study has indicated that citrus fiber decreases the levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol (4).
Iron deficiency in the blood is a common cause of anemia. Although lemons are not high in iron, they’re packed with citric acid and vitamin C, which help iron get better absorbed from other foods.
5. They Help Fight Cancer
Lemons are a good source of cancer-fighting compounds as well as antioxidants, which is why they may be pretty helpful in preventing or treating malignant tumors. One study has indicated that lemons can hinder the proliferation of breast cancer cells (5). Moreover, another study has found that the flavonoid hesperidin, present in lemons, has anticancer properties (6).
One tablespoon of honey has:
Raw honey also contains many minerals, such as calcium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, potassium, selenium, and magnesium.
Honey has a good amount of antioxidants, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, which can help prevent cell damage in your body. One study has revealed that due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, honey can impede the proliferation of malignant tumors and protect the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and nervous system. Honey can also protect the cardiovascular health and it has antidiabetic properties (7).
Honey has been shown to decrease the severity and frequency of coughs.
Honey has been used for years to treat burns, wounds, and skin ulcers thanks to its antibacterial nature.
4. It Controls Levels of Blood Sugar
One study has shown that honey protects you against metabolic syndrome thanks to its antidiabetic, hypotensive, anti-obesity, and hypolipidemic properties. It lowers levels of blood sugar and enhances sensitivity to insulin, which further normalizes the levels of glucose in the blood (8).
A review of clinical trials and laboratory studies has revealed that honey can protect your heart health by modulating your blood pressure, improving your lipid metabolism, and regulating your heartbeat (9).
Furthermore, the propolis, a compound present in honey, is used to treat atherosclerosis and helps fight diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, it’s been stated in one study (10).
One cup of water has:
Water also contains other minerals, such as magnesium, copper, and zinc.
Even low levels of dehydration may prevent your body from functioning properly. You should drink water whether you’re thirsty or not so as to keep your body constantly hydrated. You particularly need to drink water when you’re exercising or doing any physically demanding activity and when you are in a hot temperature.
Dehydration may cause migraine and headaches in some people. In one study, 102 men were included and divided into two groups – the control room and intervention group. The study showed that increased intake of water improved symptoms of headache in 47 percent of participants in the intervention group against 25 percent in the other group (11).
Your hydration levels affect the function of your brain. One study which included 25 young women showed that mild dehydration degraded their mood, lowered their concentration, and caused them to develop symptoms of headaches (12).
A similar study was performed on 26 young men and showed that dehydration impaired some areas of cognitive performance, increased feelings of fatigue both at rest and while doing exercises, and increased feelings of anxiety and tension at rest in participants (13).
One study has indicated that increased intake of water lowers urinary stones recurrence (14).However, more research is needed to establish whether drinking high amounts of water can hinder the initial formation of urinary stones.
Regularly consuming water can help prevent or lower symptoms of constipation by promoting a regular bowel movement.
Water can help you shed pounds because it promotes feelings of satiety, meaning it makes you feel full for longer, and it improves the rate of your metabolism.
To have a regular bowel movement and prevent constipation, your body needs to be adequately hydrated. Lemon honey water drink can help you achieve this. Honey is known to have antibacterial properties, which may have a positive impact on the gut and balance your digestive system.
We already said that increased intake of water can improve your metabolism and make you feel satiated for longer. Well, drinking lemon honey water can have the same effect on your body. If you drink it before a meal, it can make you feel full, meaning it’ll curb your appetite and cause you to eat less food.
One study which examined the impact of inadequate hydration on obesity and body mass index among 18 do 64-year-old US adults found that participants that weren’t hydrated adequately had higher risk of developing obesity and had higher body mass index (15).
Additionally, if you’re someone who likes drinking sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas, you might consider replacing them with lemon honey water since by drinking this healthy drink, you’ll reduce the amount of sugar and calories you consume.
Like we already said, honey and lemon contain compounds that can improve your immune system and help you feel better when you’re sick. One study has indicated that consuming adequate amounts of vitamin C improves symptoms of the common cold and infections of the respiratory tract and reduces their duration. Moreover, vitamin C lowers the rate and improve the effects of diarrhea, malaria, and pneumonia infections (16).
And last but not least, a warm mug of this natural and tasty drink undoubtedly soothes a sore throat.
Thanks to the individual components of the three ingredients, lemon honey water represents a powerful healthy shot that can provide you with a good amount of energy during the whole day or when you’re exercising.
While the 4 above-mentioned health benefits of lemon honey water are based on science, there are a few more that are not scientifically proven. They are the following:
Readers usually ask the following questions:
Consuming this drink every day does not pose any threats to your health.
You can have this drink at any time of the day. No matter what time you consume it, it has the same above-mentioned health benefits. But, don’t forget to rinse your mouth after you drink lemon honey water so as to hinder erosion of your tooth enamel and neutralize the acid.
You can drink one mug of this drink every day prepared using the recipe given below.
Many people like drinking this beverage during the cooler months. It’s usually made of honey, lemon, whiskey, and hot water. You can substitute the whiskey for brandy or dark rum.
Ingredients
Instructions
Many people say that hot toddies help alleviate symptoms of the common cold, such as coughs. However, it does contain alcohol, so you should be careful not to drink too much of it, especially if you’re already taking medications for your cough.
Ingredients:
