A conversation around skincare, haircare, and health almost always beckons to the fore the benefits of a certain kind of tea - and we're sure you've figured out which one we're referring to. A cup of tea, enriched with the flavour of a lemon, isn't just a beverage to be savoured by us. It must be cherished for the medley of benefits it delivers to our body, skin, and hair - and that's why lemon tea is ubiquitous. Notice how it infiltrates discussions centred around health all the time.
01What’s in a cup of lemon tea?
We're fixated on having you incorporate this brew into your everyday lives - don't you see how it brims with ingredients that enhance your overall health? Replete with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, lemons are known to improve your immunity, support the health of your heart and brain, prevent anaemia, and reduce the risk of cancer - among a multitude of other benefits. Lemons are excellent sources of phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, folates, lutein, and iron as well. And they contain citric acid, flavonoids, magnesium, tannins, and copper too. All of these ingredients are transferred to that low-sugar, low-calorie cup of tea stationed in front of you. Let's understand how these properties, condensed in a mere cup, come together to enrich your body with a slew of benefits.
02Benefits of lemon tea
**Skin: **We're obsessed with vitamin C, aren't we? Lemon, too, contains this particular vitamin - one associated with brightening our skin, and functioning as an anti-ageing agent - and is said to stimulate the production of collage, and reduce the formation of wrinkles. It is loaded with anti-inflammatory properties as well - and this enables it to soothe conditions like acne, pimples, and eczema. Moreover, its astringent properties slough off dead cells from our face, and rejuvenates our skin. **Hair: **Drinking this tea on a regular basis ensures the delivery of essential vitamins and minerals to your scalp, and this strengthens your hair while making it shinier. Lemon tea resolves scalp-related conditions like dandruff and itchiness. This reduces hair loss. Body: Apart from skin and hair benefits, lemon tea is known to boost your immunity. Laden with vitamin C - which contains antioxidants as well as immunity-boosting properties - this beverage can ward off infections promptly. No more falling sick all the time. Lemons contain flavonoids as well, and these antioxidants repel free radicals, and decrease the risk of developing brain disease. It enhances the health of your heart as well - this is because vitamin C promotes a better flow of blood through your arteries and veins, and prevents clots from forming. As a result, this diminishes your chances of having a stroke or heart attack. Lemons can control your blood pressure too. This, in turn, diminishes your risk of developing diabetes in the future. And even though lemons are acidic, once they enter your body, they begin to alkalise it, and this promotes healthy teeth and gums, and decreases fat and bad cholesterol levels. They contain antioxidants that fight off cell damage that lead to illnesses like cancer. Since they flush out toxins, and enhance metabolism, they might help you lose weight too. A series of benefits condensed to fit into a single lemon - imagine!
03What teas go well with lemon?
You can redeem the above mentioned benefits of a lemon by complementing your favourite teas with a dash of it. Mint tea, for instance, is an invigorating beverage; but a few drops of lemon elevates the experience. Start off your mornings with this mint-lemon infused detoxifying blend. Or add lemon to chamomile tea - if you're not fond of the 'grassy' taste of the tea, reach out for a lemon in lieu of sugar. This concoction is known to soothe a sore throat. Don't most of us swear by green tea? Now, marry the benefits of lemon with it - apart from it functioning as a natural sweetener to dull the 'earthiness' of the tea, the acidity of lemon stimulates the leaves of the tea to release more antioxidants, which, in turn, repels cell damage, and diminishes the risk of heart-related diseases. If you have a palate for sweetness, try adding some lemon to hibiscus tea. You can also lace hot water with cardamom and lemon - the resulting concoction is appetising.
04A simple lemon tea recipe - with notes of honey
- Add a cup of water to a pan, and bring it to a boil.
- Turn off the flame, and add ¼ teaspoon of tea powder to the water. Let it simmer for about three minutes.
- Mix a teaspoon of lemon with two teaspoons of honey in another cup.
- Pour the tea - using a strainer - into the cup, and mix the resulting concoction.
- This recipe is simple and straightforward - the sourness of lemon is accompanied by the sweetness of honey as well as the g
05How do you make lemon tea powder?
A readymade mix of lemon - sounds convenient, doesn't it? All you've to do is sprinkle some over your tea, and mix. Just soak four or five lemons in water, and add a few tablespoons of salt to it. Next, slice the lemons; deseed; and lay the slices on a food dehydrator. After securing the lid, turn the appliance on, and let the lemons dehydrate at 60° C/140° F for twelve hours. Soon, you'll notice that the slices have hardened and dried up. Transfer all the slices to a blender, and, well, blend them into a powder. That's it. Now, you're ready to add a dollop of the powder to flavour your water - or prepare a cup of tea.
06Is lemon tea without flaws?
Unfortunately, lemon tea does have a set of disadvantages, and it's important to familiarise yourself with them before you begin to consume this tea.
- Tooth erosion If you're drinking large amounts of this beverage, the acid in the lemon can erode your enamel, and cause cavities in the process. It helps to sip on any lemon-infused beverages with a straw - this minimises direct contact with your teeth.
- Heartburn Excessive consumption can alter the pH levels in your intestine and stomach, and lead to reflux-related issues like acid reflux - a digestive disease that causes acidic contents to go back up into the oesophagus - and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Symptoms might manifest themselves as a burning sensation in the chest - or even vomiting.
- Canker sores A canker sore is an ulcer that surfaces along the lining of your mouth. Lemons can irritate the mucous membranes in your mouth, and lead to the emergence of such sores. If you're suffering from this condition, consuming a beverage like that might intensify the sore, and stall the process of healing.
- Stomach problems Consumption of lemons can lead to pain in the stomach, diarrhoea, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Migraines Studies have linked the consumption of citrus fruits to headaches. Lemons contain considerable amounts of tyramine - a naturally-produced compound found in a few foods. And this compound is known to trigger migraines. A direct link between the two - lemon and headaches - hasn't been established yet, but a few people suffering from chronic migraines might identify lemons as a trigger.
- Dehydration Lemons can work as a diuretic - a diuretic is a substance that stimulates an increased production of urine - and leads you to urinate more than usual. This might dehydrate you.
- Unsafe for pregnant women and lactating mothers Lemon contains caffeine, and caffeine is unsuitable for a pregnant woman as well as a lactating mother. Excessive consumption can lead to unhealthy complications and the caffeine might creep into the mother's milk, which is not good for the health of the baby.
- Alzheimer's disease Studies have investigated an association between a regular consumption of lemon tea and the development of Alzheimer's in the later stages of life - lemon tea can lead to an accumulation of plaque in the brain (which has been linked to the disease).
- oodness of black/green tea.
07FAQs
1) Which is better: lemon tea or green tea? Green tea is more of a standalone beverage - and it undergoes minimal processing. Lemon tea, on the other hand, involves a mere addition of lemon to hot or cold water, or already-prepared tea. Both share similar benefits; however, green tea is infused with L-theanine and polyphenols, and these properties make it a more effective beverage to consume if you're looking to lose weight. Ensure you're conforming to a fitness and diet regimen for results. Try mixing the two together to redeem more benefits! 2) Is it good to drink lemon tea at night? There are a number of benefits that come with drinking lemon tea at night - reduced stress, better digestion, and an improved quality of sleep are a few of them. Lemon tea soothes the throat, hydrates, and detoxifies your body as well. Who should not drink lemon tea? A pregnant woman or lactating mother must not consume lemon tea. Lemon tea contains caffeine, which increases an individual's heart rate as well as blood pressure - this isn't recommended during pregnancy. It might also make the woman feel nauseous, jittery, and dizzy, and cause indigestion as well as dehydration. Caffeine can also pass through the placenta to the baby - and a baby doesn't have the ability to metabolise caffeine like we do. It can also alter the baby's sleeping and movement patterns since it is a stimulant. As for lactating mothers, caffeine can alter the mother's milk, and affect her baby's health. 3) How many calories are in a cup of tea with lemon? It depends on how much of each ingredient you're using. A single tablespoon of lemon contains 2. 6 calories. There are 1. 8 calories in ¾ cup of tea. Do the calculations based on the amount you're using.
