In one of my articles on herbs it was stated that one of the ways to take herbs is by taking them as tea. Ginger is a popular herb that is known for its medicinal value, there are many ways that ginger is used as medicine and taking it as tea is one of the ways.
Traditionally this root herb has been used and is still being used to treat many illnesses and relief symptoms of diseases like nausea and upset stomach.
Lemon on its own is another powerful medicinal citrus fruit; it is loaded with vitamin C, other vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Lemon also helps the body clear out waste products and toxins; it reduces or stops the activities of free radicals, inflammation and it cuts the risk of chronic diseases by half when taken regularly.
It even has antiseptic and antimicrobial property that is why it is used to make many natural household cleaning products.
Many people add honey to their ginger and lemon drink for taste; I add honey too, though occasionally and it is advisable if you are opportune to get original, raw and undiluted honey; honey has great immune boosting properties, it increases the production of the white blood cells which fights off diseases, infections and parasites, it reduces fever, suppress cough and has a soothing effect on the throat. Its natural sweetness gives this tea a unique taste and aroma.
By combining these two or three (plus honey) powerful foods; all parts of the body benefits from it including your hair; many traditional healing systems have used this healing tea to cure many diseases both acute and chronic for thousands of years and it is still being used today for the same purpose because they are many studies and researches that have proven the therapeutic nature of ginger and lemon.
This is a popular tea; in fact some companies sell the already made ginger and lemon powder packed in tea bags; some people take it for fun or because they like the taste and aroma; others take it because they know the benefits and it has affected their lives positively and others don’t even know about it and what it does.
Well, I am a living testimony of what this tremendous healing drink has done for me and that is why I want to share the knowledge in this article. So in this article we will be looking at the tremendous health benefits of this wonderful combination, how it should be taken and how to make it.
Benefits of Ginger lemon tea
It alkalizes the body: The original pH of the body is that of an alkaline state; in an alkaline state or environment, no disease or infection can grow or thrive there.
Though acidic in nature; lemon in combination with ginger helps to alkalize the body, in this state no disease can develop or progress, it decrease bad cholesterol and triacylglycerides, it maintains healthy teeth and gums and restores the body to its default state.
Many things can make the body acidic; they include processed and junk foods, bad lifestyles, stress, negative talk and emotions, fear, bad sleeping routine, intake of both prescription and non-prescription drugs and negative energy.
All these makes the body acidic and all diseases can grow, thrive and spread quickly in an acidic environment. So by daily intake of this tea the state of your body will be corrected to that of an alkaline state.
It kick start the metabolism of the body: Taking this tea first thing in the morning is a good way to kick starts your body’s metabolism. It increases energy; it causes the stomach to produce more acid and it stimulates appetite.
It supports healthy functioning of the heart: Studies from the University of Maryland Medical Center showed that this tea reduce cholesterol and prevent blood clotting due to the presence of ginger; it guards against heart disease by preventing blood vessels from becoming clogged and it clears waste and toxins from the body which when left to accumulate can affect normal functioning of the heart.
It enhances the circulation of blood and fights inflammation; it has hypotensive and hypolipidemic effects that help in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
It aids weight loss: Ginger and lemon are very good at stimulating metabolism; they aid proper digestion of food and satiate the feeling of hunger. It burns excess calories and suppress food cravings.
It reliefs upset stomach: This tea can relief upset stomach and other stomach sickness and digestive problems; it cures nausea and vomiting; the ginger in this tea helps cancer patient by preventing vomiting and nausea which is a side effect of chemotherapy.
It cures morning sickness in pregnant women; cures motion sickness, alleviates upset stomach; reduce pains and cramps like menstrual cramps and osteoarthritis.
Say goodbye to diabetes: Ginger is very effective in reducing and regulating the levels of sugar in the blood; this tea helps diabetic patients to manage their condition effectively and it prevents dangerous spikes and drop in blood sugar that can lead to diabetes or worsen the situation in somebody that already has diabetes.
It treats ovarian cysts: This tea is potent against ovarian cysts as it shrinks it and reduces the inflammations and pains that come with it.
It prevents kidney stones: To prevent these stones from forming in the first place, take this wonderful tea first thing in the morning; lemon juice increases the level of citrate in the urine and this compound prevents the formation of kidney stones and breaks them down in people that already have kidney stones.
It guards against typhoid fever: This antiseptic and antimicrobial nature of this tea fights Salmonella (the microbe that causes typhoid) and other bacterial; a 2009 study published in the “internet journal of third world medicine” proved that ginger extract kills salmonella typhi bacteria.
It relieves the symptoms of IBS: Doctors prescribe ginger roots to people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome; so taking this tea can also help the patient to relief cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intense pain and other uncomfortable symptoms of this medical condition. Its antispasmodic property calms the intestine and relaxes it whenever it is aggravated.
It is loaded with anti-oxidants: This tea is a very rich source of antioxidants; it prevents rapid aging which is caused by oxidation and the activities of free radicals. It helps in maintaining bones and teeth; it helps to repair wounds and makes them heal faster and lemon contains bioflavonoids which help in maintaining the levels of vitamin C in every cell of the body and it wards off and fights cancer.
It is a good pain reliever: The natural anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic nature of ginger makes this tea to function as an analgesic; it reduces inflammation, swellings and irritation, it helps women overcome menstrual pains and cramps, it deals with muscle, joint and body pains in general and it helps people recover from surgery and illnesses faster.
It treats fever: Taking this tea every two hours helps a sick patient down with fever; ginger is diaphoretic, it induces sweating which in turn releases dermcidin which is a natural antibiotic that strengthens the immune system and helps it to fight off the infection.
It treats itchy throat: This tea can ease sore throat and inflammation that cause symptoms of cold. It is also a good cough medicine.
It improves cognitive function: This tea affects the functions of the brain positively by improving concentration and cognition. Its active ingredients; ginger and lemon, are excellent in improving mood, supports clear thinking and sooths the nerves.
It reduces the risks of brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s; its high levels of antioxidants reduce oxidative stress which can have negative impact on the brain. Lemon alone is used in Aromatherapy to boost mood while ginger is used to relieve tension and lower stress in the body; so this tea will make you feel happier and enable you to be in control of your emotions.
It treats diarrhea: This tea relieves the symptoms of diarrhea by decreasing the gases from the fermented materials that promote frequent watery stools and it also reduce stomach spasms. It relieves cramping and abdominal pain associated with diarrhea; it triggers the release of gastric juices and enzymes that aid digestion, it slows the peristaltic movement of the intestine and returns bowel movement to normal.
It improves the functions of the liver: This tea helps to protect the liver from oxidative stress; it improves its functions and supports the overall health of the liver. It treats liver diseases even those caused by excessive alcohol.
It boosts the immunity: Ginger and lemon are widely known around the world as immune boosters; this tea protects the body from different types of pathogens, infections and diseases.
It improves fertility: Studies have proved the ability of ginger to increase vitality in men; ginger has also been used by traditional healing systems to reverse erectile dysfunction and increase libido.
It is great for skin: The high content of vitamin and antioxidant in this tea is excellent in improving the health of the skin which is the largest organ in the body and the first organ in the immune system; it reduces oxidative stress in the skin, it promotes growth of new skin cells and the antiseptic and antimicrobial compounds in the skin protects the skin from infections.
Lemon has natural bleaching properties that help to improve the complexion of the skin while ginger and honey gives the skin a healthy glow. It clears the signs of aging from the skin like wrinkles, age spots and fine lines; it makes the skin smooth and flawless and can make one look younger than their age.
It is good for the hair: Lemon, ginger and honey have been used independently for good hair care for centuries; this tea combines these three powerful ingredients thereby it boosts hair growth, strengthen the hair, gives the hair a luscious appearance, reduce dry scalp and prevent scalp and hair problems like dandruffs, itchiness, brittle hair and hair loss.
What about the nails? This tea strengthens soft nails; it prevents the nails from breaking easily and it prevents nail fungus and other nail problems. The above are some of the wonderful benefits of this herbal tea; next we will be looking at how to prepare this tea. There are three methods:
- The syrup method
- The fresh method
- The quick method
The Syrup method
This method involves using homemade ginger lemon syrup to make hot or cold tea. You will need the following:
- A glass jar
- Half cup of raw, organic honey
- Half cup of sliced ginger roots
- Slices of fresh lemon (5 slices are OK but you can make it more or less)
Mix all these ingredients in a glass jar and allow them to steep for few hours; you can leave the jar in the refrigerator overnight, the juice of both the lemon and ginger will infuse with the honey to give a thick syrup. Then whenever you want to make ginger and lemon tea; add 1 or two tablespoon full of this syrup to a cup of hot water.
The Fresh Method
This method has no need of syrup; what you need are fresh ginger roots or dried and grounded ginger root powder, the juice of 2 lemons and honey.
You can grate or pound as much as you can handle fresh ginger root and add it to a 2 cups of boiling water; also add the lemon juice and let them cook for 10 minutes. Allow it to cool, then add honey and your tea is ready.
The quick method
There are ginger and lemon teabags that are sold in food stores and pharmacists; make sure the one you purchase is made with natural ginger and lemon, it should be free from preservatives and other additives. Add a teabag to a cup of boiling water; let it cool and your tea is ready.
How to make your ginger and lemon tea more effective:
You can add turmeric powder, Moringa powder and apple cider vinegar.
Are they side effects?
Well, few people complain of mild heart burn or an upset stomach; the way to correct this is to either reduce the amount of ginger and lemon used or both.
Very few people are also allergic to ginger and lemon, a stomach discomfort and rash on their skin is what they get when they take this tea; such people should avoid this tea or meet an immunologist for help.
Others complain of dehydration, that it makes their throat dry, this tea even though medicinal should not and is not meant to replace your need for normal water; so even if you take this tea daily, you still need to drink as much water as possible during the day.
Those who are concern about the extra calories they will gain by taking honey every day can either reduce the quantity of honey they use daily or use honey occasionally. Like I said earlier in this article, I use honey occasionally and not every day when taking this tea.
Honey is high in calorie even though it is medicinal; it has 64 calories per tablespoon. So you can either reduce the honey, or use it occasionally or take only a cup of ginger tea every day.
What if I am over taking the tea?
Personally I take a cup of ginger and lemon tea every morning with turmeric and Moringa, sometimes I use the powders; I don’t think I am over taking it, I developed this habit since 2015 and I have not seen any side effect, rather it only improved my health.
When I formed the habit of taking this tea first thing every morning; my overall health improved. My eyesight improved, I said goodbye to Diclofenac every month due to severe menstrual cramps, PMS and mood swings went, recurrent typhoid seized, my immunity increased, I noticed because I stopped catching cold and flus easily; my skin glowed and I look fresh, acne and acne scars on my face went, my hair growth and appearance improved, my nails became stronger and stopped breaking unnecessarily, my concentration span increased, my complexion improved and unnecessarily hunger and food cravings seized and this help to keep my weight under check.
So it depends on you to know your limit; you can start with a cup of this tea daily and if you increase to two or three cups daily and didn’t notice any side effect, you are free to continue.
Come to think of it, for the health hazards, the polluted environment and chemicals that surround us every day, one needs more than one cup of ginger lemon tea daily.
From the prescription to non-prescription drugs we take, to polluted air, treated and chemical laden water, tobacco smoke inhaled, creams with toxic chemicals applied on the body, toxic makeup products and lipsticks, stress, processed and junk foods, negative energy, emotions and thoughts; coming in contact with germs daily, inhaled fumes and chemicals that are harmful, dangerous electromagnetic emissions from our computers, phones, tabs, telephone mast and x-rays; vaccines, GMOs and other things that we do or come in contact with daily that makes us acidic, toxic and sick are too many and that is why I don’t believe that taking a cup of ginger and lemon tea every day is too much.
In fact, it is supposed to be more than a cup but a cup is a safe place to start and remain if you please; but I assure you that if you make this a daily habit you will see tremendous improve in your overall health.
