What are the benefits of drinking lemon-ginger water every morning?
Lemon-ginger water is a popular drink, but what are the benefits of drinking it every morning?
What are the benefits of drinking lemon-ginger water every morning?
Dr. Sudeep Khanna, a senior consultant gastroenterologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital (India), recommends drinking lemon-ginger water in the morning as a great way to boost overall health. Here are the benefits of drinking lemon-ginger water every morning:
Boost your immune system.
Drinking lemon-ginger water daily can provide the body with a significant amount of antioxidants and vitamins to boost immunity. Lemons are high in vitamin C, which supports immune function and fights infections. Ginger, on the other hand, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helping to reduce the risk of common colds and flu.
Lemon and ginger water helps detoxify the liver.
With modern lifestyles, including poor diets, pollution, and stress, the liver often bears the brunt of toxins and harmful substances.
In healthy individuals, the liver is capable of neutralizing harmful substances and eliminating them from the body. Lemon-ginger water can help support liver function thanks to its nutrient-rich components and maintain overall health. Lemons are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can help the liver produce enzymes necessary for detoxification. On the other hand, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes digestion, supporting the liver in processing fats and eliminating toxins.
Supports digestion
Ginger is beneficial for digestion, and its juice can help soothe stomach aches, reduce bloating, and promote the secretion of digestive enzymes. Lemon stimulates bile production, which is necessary for digesting fats. Drinking lemon-ginger water daily can help improve digestion and reduce gastrointestinal discomfort.
Supports kidney health
Lemon juice can help increase the concentration of citric acid in urine, which may prevent kidney stones.
pH balance
Despite its acidic nature, lemon alkalizes the body after being metabolized. This helps balance the body's pH level – crucial for optimal bodily function and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
Moreover, a glass of lemon-ginger water every morning can help support weight loss, hydrate the body, and improve skin complexion.
How much lemon ginger tea should you drink in a day?
According to Dr. Tran Ngoc Que, a safe starting amount might be 1-2 cups of lemon ginger tea per day. However, each person may react differently to the ingredients in the tea, so it's important to listen to your body and adjust the dosage accordingly.
If you have any specific health conditions or are taking medication, discuss this with a traditional medicine practitioner before adding lemon ginger tea to your daily diet.
How to make lemon ginger drink
Boil 1 liter of water, then turn off the heat and add about 40g of peeled and finely chopped ginger, letting it steep for 5-7 minutes. Strain and let cool to room temperature; then add the juice of 2 lemons. Store the lemon-ginger drink in the refrigerator and enjoy throughout the day. You can add a little honey if you prefer a sweeter taste.
Note that vitamin C is rapidly degraded at high temperatures, so lemon juice should not be mixed with hot water. Using fresh ginger offers more health benefits than ginger powder, which contains fewer antioxidants.