It's no secret that good nutrition and physical activity are essential to maintaining a healthy weight. However, adding certain foods or drinks to your diet may help increase your chances of success. Honey lemon water is one option that some people use for weight loss. Does it actually work, though? Let's find out.
Does lemon water and honey make you lose weight?
What is honey lemon water or lemon water and honey? It's exactly what it sounds like. This beverage combines three simple ingredients: freshly squeezed lemon juice, honey, and water (often warm).
Lemon juice is a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, while honey has numerous beneficial compounds, such as phenolic acids, antioxidants, flavonoids, and micronutrients. (P.S.: If you're looking to increase your daily intake of Vitamin C without loading up on calories, try our yummy Detox Cherry Bomb which is rich in antioxidants and provides up to half of your daily ascorbic acid needs).
Many — from models to nutritionists — claim that drinking lemon juice and honey can help boost metabolism, promote fullness, reduce cravings, and even aid weight loss. What's the truth?
The truth is that while honey lemon water doesn't directly aid weight loss, it does have some health benefits that can indirectly help with your weight loss goals.
First, having the lemon juice and honey combination on an empty stomach can provide a refreshing start to your day and keep you hydrated. This can be beneficial for weight loss as it can help you control your appetite and curb cravings. Studies have shown that a Vitamin C deficiency can slow down fat burning, so it's a good idea to load up on ascorbic acid through lemon juice.
Moreover, drinking water has been linked to increased calorie expenditure, which may contribute to weight loss over time. Further, studies have also demonstrated that honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and can even lead to improved heart health and gut health. Wait, there's more — honey lemon water is also great at detoxifying the body and improving digestion!
Honey is better than sugar — but be careful!
While honey is definitely better than sugar, note that it still contains calories! Consuming too much honey can also lead to weight gain, so it's important to be mindful of your portions. It's best to use honey to replace your consumption of artificial sugars, instead of adding extra calories to your diet.
It's also important to purchase the right kind of honey. Avoid processed and pasteurized honey, which may lack the beneficial compounds found in raw honey.
Overall, honey lemon water is a healthy beverage option that can be part of any weight loss plan. It may not directly aid weight loss, but its hydrating, nourishing, and health-promoting properties can certainly contribute to it in the long run. So go ahead and enjoy some refreshing honey lemon water in the morning. You can even add our 28 Day Teatox or Tropic Tone Up to it to take the nutritional and detoxing aspects up a notch.
Pro Tip: Lemon juice and honey make a great face mask! The combination of vitamin C, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties can soothe the skin while fighting off blemishes and irritations.
Just mix one part lemon juice with one part honey, apply it to your face, and leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing off. To turn this into an anti-aging face scrub, you can add the contents of your used Morning Boost teabag to it.
Products mentioned in this article
Main Takeaway
To sum it up, honey lemon water can be a healthy addition to your diet and may indirectly help with weight loss over time when used as a replacement for items that contain artificial sugar and are unhealthy (such as energy drinks or fruit juices with sugar in them).
However, make sure to keep portions in check as consuming too much honey can result in weight gain. Additionally, buy raw and unprocessed honey to get the most out of this beverage. So go ahead — enjoy some honey lemon water first thing in the morning and experience its hydrating and health-promoting benefits!
