Tea is a popular drink that many people use as their morning pick-me-up before they face the day. There are plenty of good reasons to drink tea in the morning, though caffeine is the headliner for most people. That said, tea is full of several healthy nutrients that can improve and enhance our overall health in ways beyond our body's natural capacity.
This is not to say tea is a miracle drink that makes our bodies develop unrealistic levels of health. Rather, tea can enhance natural bodily functions to generate a healthier version of its natural state. Caffeine contributes to these effects, but the leaves of Camellia sinensis seem to offer a wide assortment of health benefits beyond its caffeine concentration. Nevertheless, people like to add things to their tea to alter its flavor to match their preferences.
One of the most popular additives to a cup of tea is a slice of lemon or a few drops of lemon juice to add a citric flavor. While using lemon to enhance your tea's flavor is worthwhile, there are other reasons to consider adding it to your drink. Lemons are, first and foremost, a fruit, bearing the same nutrients found in most citrus family members. Therefore, adding lemon to your morning cup of tea can enhance your drink's nutritional and health value beyond its normal capabilities. The question of the hour is: what benefits does adding lemon to tea provide?
Lemons Are Rich in Antioxidants
One of the main nutritional benefits of lemons is that they have a high concentration of antioxidants. Antioxidants are powerful compounds that protect the body from inflammation and damage from free radicals that might impair our health. This damage is usually caused by oxidation within the body, which can cause cell damage if left unaddressed.
Green tea also has a high concentration of antioxidants, so adding lemon can reinforce the tea's natural protective effect on the cells.
The key difference is that green tea and lemons are sources of different antioxidants with different health effects.
- Green Tea: The antioxidants common in green tea include epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), chlorogenic acid, and theogallin.
- Lemons: The antioxidants common in lemons include ascorbic acid, hesperidin, naringin, and ferulic acid.
Combining lemons with green tea ensures our bodies access more antioxidants. Consuming a substantial amount of antioxidants can be highly beneficial since evidence suggests that oxidative damage contributes to several health issues. Specifically, there have been studies linking antioxidants to reduced rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. While antioxidants are neither a cure nor a foolproof preventative measure, they can improve overall health.
Lemons Contribute to Weight Loss
People opt to drink tea (or any caffeinated drink) because it can help enhance their weight loss efforts. Losing weight is one of the most difficult things to do since the markets are saturated with junk food designed to taste good. Unfortunately, there is an obesity epidemic in the country, and it has not shown any signs of slowing despite the medical industry's efforts. That said, plenty of people have begun taking their health into their own hands and engaging in a weight loss regimen.
This could include dieting or exercising, though the best routines employ both simultaneously. Green tea can help expedite the process somewhat, though you must be careful not to overuse it since it could lead to diminishing returns and impeded results. You might not know that lemons can offer weight loss benefits that compound with those found in green tea.
Studies surrounding lemons and weight loss still need more research, but several have proven that lemons can alter our metabolism. The main studies on lemons and weight loss were animal studies, with one of the most promising involving a study on mice. The mice in the test group were given citrus flavonoids harvested from lemons, and at the end of the study, their fat cell count decreased. Additionally, the metabolisms of the test group mice increased despite the mice being fed a high-fat diet.
A similar study from 2008 discovered that polyphenols harvested from lemons helped reduce weight gain and fat accumulation in the mice. While these are not human studies, the results are extremely promising and likely transcend the species barrier.
Lemons Enhance Cardiovascular Health
You will notice a pattern of green tea and lemons having overlapping benefits for your health. This section is no different since drinking tea has been linked to improved heart health in many people. While the caffeine in tea is not the cause of this effect, the other nutrients (such as the antioxidants) have shown remarkable affinities for improving the function of our cardiovascular system.
This is further illustrated by the fact that some teas can help regulate cholesterol, which is the leading cause of heart disease. Lemons also have an effect on our cardiovascular system that can help minimize the risk of heart disease. Similar to the weight loss studies, it appears that the citrus flavonoids found in lemons are responsible for their cardiovascular benefits.
Studies have linked the consumption of citrus flavonoids to reduced inflammation, improved blood vessel function, and improved cholesterol. A review of multiple studies confirmed these effects as a product of citrus flavonoids harvested from lemons. Additionally, a study discovered that people who consumed lemons every day had lower blood pressure levels than the placebo group. This effect was seemingly amplified in subjects who regularly walked long distances.
These effects, combined with the cardiovascular benefits of tea, can reinforce the overall health of the person consuming them. Improved cardiovascular health is almost essential in modern society, considering how easily our heart health can plummet. Fortunately, this is not the extent of what lemons can do to enhance your health.
Lemons Can Bolster the Immune System
Of all the benefits we have discussed thus far, one is inherent in all citrus fruits, lemons included. Citrus is one of the purest sources of vitamin C on the planet, which makes it extremely valuable for people trying to maintain a balanced and healthy diet. However, vitamin C plays an extremely important role in our general health, which could radically affect our survival.
We are all susceptible to several diseases and infections, with more powerful mutations having a higher infection rate. While this is a scary prospect, we are born with natural protection against infectious diseases. Our immune systems are the first line of defense against infections, diseases, and other health issues that might affect us.
Unfortunately, our immune systems are imperfect and can fail if the infection is particularly strong or our immune system is weak. Part of balance in our diet is ensuring we get the necessary nutrients to empower our immune system to minimize our chances of getting sick.
Vitamin C remains one of the key elements in maintaining an effective immune system, as without it, our immune systems would be unbearably weak. Vitamin C has been scientifically linked to keeping our immune system healthy by reducing inflammation and enhancing the effects of our immune cells. Considering the high concentration of vitamin C in lemons, it makes sense that adding them to our tea can help bolster our immune system.
An increased vitamin C intake can prevent respiratory and systemic infections, but combining it with the natural compounds in tea can double the effect. Furthermore, the antioxidants we mentioned earlier further enhance this effect since they are found in both tea and lemons.
Lemons Might Protect Against Cancer
Cancer is, by and large, the most intimidating medical issue in the world, with over 1,900,000 new cases every year and over 600,000 fatalities. As of 2022, there are 1,670 deaths from cancer daily, making it one of the most terrifying diseases one can contract. The biggest issue with cancer is that there is no cure or surefire treatment to ensure survival.
While there are no cures and the treatments are only effective on a case-by-case basis, it is possible to reinforce your health. Drinking tea helps your body gather essential nutrients and vitamins that make it more resilient, but this will not prevent cancer. That said, lemons might be a potential resource that can help fortify your body against the disease.
Several test-tube studies have been conducted using compounds extracted from lemons and used against cancer cells. These studies found that the lemon cells inhibited the growth and spread of the cells, slowing the disease's progression. There have been several other studies that found a correlation between consuming citrus fruits and reduced cancer risk. The studies determined that citrus fruits reduced the risk of lung, stomach, esophageal, and breast cancer.
While not as effective, there have been limited studies linking green tea to reduced cancer risk, though different types than those inhibited by citrus. Green tea consumption has been tentatively linked to reduced bladder, colorectal, and prostate cancer risk. Therefore, combining your green tea with lemon (or similar citrus fruits) can provide greater protection against cancer.
Again, this is not a foolproof effect, and drinking tea and eating lemons will not render you immune to cancer. Rather, it will only enhance your body's natural capabilities to survive and resist the onset and spread of the disease. The best option for dealing with cancer is to seek medical treatment specifically designed to deal with cancer. Nevertheless, drinking tea with lemon can be beneficial to enhance your chances.
Green Tea Can Protect Against Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the leading issues in America right now, primarily because there is an overwhelming amount of sugary and fried foods. When we overindulge in certain treats, the glucose in our bloodstream is oversaturated, and our bodies lose the ability to filter it effectively. Controlling this glucose concentration is essential to preventing diabetes and maintaining a healthy bloodstream.
Considering how widespread diabetes is, the desire to prevent it from manifesting has increased exponentially. While changing your diet is the best method for preventing diabetes, enhancing your body's natural defense mechanism to reduce the risk is possible. Drinking tea has been linked to reduced risk of diabetes thanks to the natural substances found in C. sinensis leaves. Specifically, it has been linked to improved insulin use when consumed.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest that lemons enhance green tea's effects on diabetes. Nevertheless, incorporating lemon will allow a person with diabetes to enjoy the extra benefits we have outlined. At the very least, adding lemon to your green tea will give your body the resources it needs to bolster its overall health and give you a better chance of resisting diabetes. This does not mean that you will be immune to diabetes, but that your body will be in better shape than before.
Finding the Right Blend
Tea is a staple of modern society, though its origins go back hundreds of years before modern science could categorize its effects. The fact that it synergizes so effectively with lemons shows how versatile and beneficial it can be. Lemons have several benefits, making them an invaluable asset to a balanced diet.
The quantity of vitamins and nutrients in lemons has led several people to use them for health supplements, and the flavor makes it a tasty addition to a cup of tea. Granted, it is only worth adding to certain types of tea since not all varieties mesh well with the citric tones of lemons. While lemons can be easily acquired at your local supermarket, the challenge is finding a tea blend that maximizes the healthy components of the drink.
We at Teami specialize in creating natural supplements to improve your health and appearance. One of our biggest passions is tea, which encompasses a large portion of our catalog. We offer several varieties, almost all of which are harvested from C. sinensis, but the one we feel suits the zest of lemon is our Profit Tea Blend. This blend uses super plants designed to enhance the immune system, making it an excellent pair for lemons to compound their individual effects. We encourage you to visit our website and try our tea directly. After all, finding the right blend is a Teami effort.