health
There are several delicious duos in nature, like chocolate and peanut butter or carrots and hummus. But what about the food pair that can help you lose weight, fight off infections and clear up your skin all at the same time? As far as we know, there’s only one culinary combo that can do all that: lemon and raw honey.
From the very old days, lemon and honey has been used as natural healing remedy in most cultures. Of course some cultures didn’t have the magical citrus fruit growing on trees, but honey was available even some 40 million years ago when the first honey bees appeared on the planet Earth. Moreover, imagine, there were no pharmacies or doctors round the corner a thousand years ago, but they had the elders who prescribed one or the other healing remedy through a spiritual ceremony. There are plenty of songs and stories about the super powers of raw honey in the old Lithuanian / Baltic culture. Nowadays, even when we have state of the art medicines available, this age-old concoction works wonders our bodies even today.
The electrolytes of lemon and micro-elements within raw honey power up our bodies after excessive dehydration periods. This combination can help after the body had issues like diarrhea, vomiting, intoxication or starvation. Even after having too much of sport exercises, the glucose and fructose in honey, may boost your recovery.
Most of us need a little help in maximising our digestion especially for weight loss. Fortunately, the combination of lemon and honey in water can do just that. Lemon juice with warm water helps in quick weight loss as it promotes digestion and increases the metabolic rate. Lemons help our liver in producing more bile so our system is able to break down complex foods better and utilise the nutrients from our meals.
As for honey, the rich, raw stuff contains prebiotics, which acts as fuel for healthy bacteria in the lower digestive system. Because it does not ferment in the stomach, honey is known to fight nausea and indigestion as well. It also helps in flushing out toxins.
Drinking more water, including honey lemon water, may help you lose weight. Several studies have shown that increasing your water intake can increase your metabolism and cause you to feel fuller, both of which can help you shed pounds. What’s more, hydrating with honey lemon water may help you maintain a healthy weight. Moreover, swapping high-calorie, sugary sodas and other sweetened drinks for honey lemon water may also result in a reduction in calories and sugar intake.
Due to the soothing qualities of honey and the high amount of vitamin C in lemons, drinking honey lemon water may be beneficial when you are feeling under the weather. Vitamin C plays a role in keeping your immune system healthy by stimulating the production of white blood cells that help your body fight infection.
Lemons contain both vitamins as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Honey soothes our throat and inhibits certain infection-causing bacteria. Various studies indicate that drinking hot tea with honey and lemon is the best treatment for colds and flu.
Contrary to the popular belief, citrus foods do help in relieving one from the problem of sore or irritated throat. Lemon helps in thinning of the mucus and so makes it easier to throw it up. Honey, on the other hand, has peroxides that act as disinfectant on the virus causing bacteria. It also aids in suppressing the excessive formation of phlegm and mucus and drying the respiratory tract, thereby, controlling instances of cough.
The high concentration of antioxidants in lemons, especially vitamin C, has been shown to fight and prevent skin damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin C also supports healthy collagen production, helping you achieve smoother, suppler skin without chemical-filled creams and potions. As for raw honey, it cleanses the skin while also providing some much-needed moisture. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties will easily penetrate the skin and soak up gross bacteria straight from the pores. So while you drink up this magical beauty potion, you can also make an all-natural skin mask by mixing equal parts of honey and lemon juice.
Lemons have 22 anti-cancer compounds, including limonene, which has been shown to stop the growth of cancer tumours in animals. Additionally, lemons also contain flavonol glycosides, which stop the division of cancer cells. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that limonoids can help protect cells from the type of damage that leads to cancer.
Raw honey is rocking it in the anticancer department as well. Though honey contains a form of sugar (which cancer cells usually love), researchers have found that honey is a natural immune booster, anti-inflammatory agent, antimicrobial agent and cancer “vaccine” to vastly outweigh any disadvantages.
Preparing this honey & lemon water is simple. Just mix the juice from half of a lemon and a teaspoon of raw, high-quality honey into a cup of hot or warm water.
This drink is most commonly taken warm/hot, but it can also be enjoyed as a chiller during the sweltering summers to keep yourself hydrated. The amount of lemon juice and honey can be adjusted according to your taste as well. However, keep in mind that honey is a source of sugar, so diabetics should consult their doctor first.