It’s the new year and I’m guessing 9 out of 10 of us want to get healthy in some form another; build up our immune systems, shed some unwanted pounds and in general detox a little from the year before.
One thing I’ve often added to my new year routine, is an age-old Ayurvedic technique for boosting the immune system, “melting away” excess weight, and helping make my digestion more regular. It’s simple and delicious, but takes time and dedication to stick to in order to see and feel the full benefits.
So, what is it you say….it’s Honey & Lemon Tea.
Both honey and lemon are AMAZING ingredients for MANY home remedies…but together in this simple tonic, they are super powerful.
Honey is a natural anti-bacterial and energy booster and lemon is a rich source of vitamin C, B vitamins, proteins, minerals, flavonoids and other essential nutrients. Together they contain powerful antioxidants, that work great at fighting infections, treating inflammations and in general strengthening the body’s immune system. Honey is especially effective for combating adverse reactions of harmful chemicals, microbes and for reducing allergies.
As for weight loss, when we gain weight, the body adds excessive depositions of fat in the tissues, putting a strain on the heart, kidneys, liver and the joints such as the hips, knees and ankles. Therefore, overweight people are susceptible to several diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, liver and gall bladder disorders. Honey helps mobilizes the extra deposited fat in the body allowing it to be utilized as energy for normal functions, thus purifying the blood as a result. And, lemons promote detoxification which helps ensure a smooth functioning digestive system- which in many natural medicines modalities (Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, etc) they say maintaining a healthy digestive track is the number one way to stay healthy.
This home remedy is best when taken as a wake-up drink once in the morning on an empty stomach and it’s best to wait 30 minutes before eating anything after that. I would like to mention, that because both honey and lemons are heating to the body, I generally only take this drink January – April/May After that it’s just too hot here in the Bay Area- however, if you live in a cooler climate you could take it longer or even for the whole year- it just depends on your body type.
- 8-12 oz hot water (not boiling!)
- 1 teaspoon raw honey- it's best to use local honey as it will contain the pollens from the local plants and flowers that your body needs to be able to fight off allergies when spring comes and allergy season is in full bloom.
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- Mix one teaspoon of raw honey (unheated) with the juice of two teaspoons of lemon juice in a glass of hot water (not boiling water!).
GLUTEN FREE: Completely gluten-free!
AYURVEDIC/ YOGIC: For those of you with hight pitta, use lime juice instead of lemon juice and use only ½ teaspoon of honey.
