If you’ve ever had a cup of lemon ginger tea, you know that this tangy, spicy drink is delicious. You can serve it during any season, either hot or over ice. No matter which way you drink it, the two flavors of lemon and ginger mix to give your taste buds a real wake-up call. But did you know that there’s more to this drink than just its great flavor? Lemon ginger tea has many health benefits that make it a must have for your kitchen shelves. And it has beauty benefits too! Let’s take a look at all the reasons you should be drinking lemon ginger herbal tea.
Benefits of Lemon Ginger Tea
Lemon ginger tea isn’t really a tea. It’s an infusion made by steeping lemon and ginger root together. Both lemon and ginger have long been known for having healing powers. They’re rarely eaten alone, but when they’re mixed they’re delicious, and they have great health benefits.
Ginger root is the part of the ginger plant that is found under the soil. It has oils and phenols that scientists think give it its health impact. It’s been used to help stomach problems for 100s of years. It’s loaded with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds.
Lemons are high in Vitamin C. This boosts the immune system, and may even fight cancer. Vitamin C has also been shown to help people who have asthma. It may also play a role in collagen being made in our bodies.
It’s no wonder that when you mix lemon and ginger together, they pack a powerful punch! Here are just a few of the health benefits that lemon ginger tea can provide:
- Lemon ginger tea puts a stop to nausea and other stomach troubles – Do you ever get motion sickness? The ginger in lemon ginger tea is the secret ingredient that can help you get past it. It also brings relief for morning sickness, and for nausea and vomiting related to flu. It’s even been shown to help people going through chemotherapy. Moms have long known that ginger relieves upset stomachs. They often give cold ginger ale to kids who have the flu. By adding lemon to the mix, lemon ginger tea gets the added benefit of a bright taste. Plus, lemon is known as a nausea blocker on its own. Its smell often helps people with sick stomachs. It also acts as an astringent in the stomach that can fight irritation in the G.I. tract.
- Lemon ginger tea boosts your immune system – Put lemon and ginger together and you get a powerful boost to help you fight off all kinds of disease. Lemons have lots of vitamin C: just one lemon has more than half your daily requirement. Lemons also contain bioflavonoids. These help your body hold on to the vitamin C that your body already has in it. And both lemon and ginger have antioxidants that reduce free radicals in the body. Together they can help fight off everything from colds and flus to cancer.
- Lemon ginger tea is a powerful tool in fighting diabetes – People who have diabetes need to plan their diets carefully. Not only do they need to avoid foods that can do them harm. They also try to eat more foods that help them cut their blood sugar levels and regulate their insulin response.
Ginger has also been shown to help reduce body weight and fat mass. This may be because of its high levels of zinc. Plus, it has the added benefit of the two ingredients’ high levels of antioxidants, which help control blood pressure. Ginger is one of the easiest additions people with diabetes can make to their diet, and lemon ginger tea is a delicious way to do it.
- Lemon ginger tea is a great weight loss tool – Lemon ginger tea has a sweet, spicy taste that can help fight cravings for sugary treats. It also drops blood sugar to normal levels and keeps fat from being absorbed in the body. Together, lemon and ginger help to boost your liver activity. This means that drinking lemon ginger tea is a great way to help rid your body of toxins. Detoxing helps you lose extra weight by getting rid of waste and excess fat from your body. Lemon ginger tea can also raise your body’s fat burning rate. Studies shown that just the smell of a lemon can boost your metabolism, and ginger has the same properties. This means that lemon ginger tea can turn your body into a fat burning machine!
- Lemon ginger tea can help ease pain – Do you suffer from arthritis, headaches, or any other type of inflammation? Lemon ginger tea is a delicious way to soothe your pain. Ginger is best known as a powerful and effective anti-inflammatory. Many people find that ginger lemon tea is the best way to find relief from the pain of menstrual cramps. To get even more help with pain, add turmeric to your lemon ginger tea. Turmeric is a beautiful red spice that adds more than color. It has been shown to be even better at relieving inflammation than most over the counter pain relievers.
- Lemon ginger tea is good for helping to heal wounds – When you have a wound, the flow of blood to the area is one of the most important parts of helping it to heal. Good circulation is key to getting nutrients and white blood cells to the site of an injury. Ginger has been shown to help improve circulation. It’s also known as a great way to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
- Drinking lemon ginger tea can help improve the look of your skin and hair – In addition to its health benefits, lemon ginger tea is an amazing beauty aid. The antioxidants and vitamins found in both lemon and ginger have an antibacterial and antiseptic This fights skin breakouts. The tea is also high in both vitamins A and C. Both can strengthen hair and give it improved body and shine.
How to Make Lemon Ginger Tea
Lemon ginger tea is available on the shelves of your local grocery store. Stash Lemon Ginger Tea is one popular brand, and so is Bigelow Lemon Ginger Tea. If you’re interested in making your own homemade lemon ginger tea, it’s simple enough to do. One of the benefits of making your own is that you can add other ingredients to get added health impact.
To make lemon ginger tea, just take a 1/4 cup of sliced ginger root and a few slices of lemon peel. Add to six cups of boiling water, then turn down to simmer for 20 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and strain. To add to the flavor, try adding a few sprigs of mint. You can also add a spoonful of honey for sweetness, or a half teaspoon of ground turmeric for added health benefits.
Here is our favorite recipe for making 4 cups of homemade iced lemon ginger tea:
4 cups of water
2- to 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and either sliced or grated
2 lemons
¼ cup of honey (optional)
Bring water to a complete boil. Add the juice from one of the lemons, as well as the squeezed lemon and ginger, and honey if you are using it. Turn off heat and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Strain into a pitcher and serve on ice with slices of fresh lemon.
