What Occurs to Your Immunity and Digestion When You Drink Inexperienced Tea With Lemon

Including a squeeze of lemon to inexperienced tea looks like a easy twist, nevertheless it may do greater than you assume. This tasty mixture can affect each taste and diet.

To unpack the science and well being results of including lemon to inexperienced tea, Well being spoke with two registered dietitians to seek out out whether or not this flavorful combination enhances well being advantages and improves digestion and detox.

Inexperienced tea is wealthy in catechins, that are plant compounds with antioxidant properties. Probably the most ample catechin in inexperienced tea, epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anticancer results.

Nonetheless, analysis reveals that catechins will be unstable within the digestive system. However when lemon is added to inexperienced tea, each the acidity of lemon juice and its vitamin C content material assist stabilize and enhance the absorption of antioxidants present in catechins.

Plus, as an additional advantage, vitamin C can be a potent antioxidant that helps immune perform and the formation of collagen, the physique’s principal constructing block of pores and skin, muscle tissue, bones, and different connective tissues.

“Lemon helps the useful compounds in tea be extra usable in your physique,” Daybreak Jackson Blatner, RDN, creator of The Superfood Swap, advised Well being. “Since a squeeze of lemon might make the useful compounds extra absorbable, it’s possible lemon boosts inexperienced tea’s well being advantages.”

“You aren’t simply enhancing taste, but additionally strengthening the tea’s well being advantages in your physique,” Samina Kalloo, RDN, CDN, diet communications knowledgeable and founding father of Samina Kalloo Vitamin, advised Well being. “Lemon provides a lightweight, refreshing style and encourages you to drink extra fluids, which is essential for general well being and serving to your physique keep balanced.”

There are various well being advantages of inexperienced tea and lemon. These embody:

Boosted antioxidant absorption: Each lemon and inexperienced tea comprise antioxidants, which assist neutralize and inhibit the formation of dangerous free radicals, which might injury cells and result in persistent (long-lasting) ailments over time, equivalent to heart problems, neurodegenerative ailments, and most cancers. Pairing these two powerhouse substances collectively helps increase the absorption of antioxidants whereas lemon’s acidity and vitamin C content material enhance catechin stability and uptake.
Immune assist: Lemon juice is a wealthy supply of vitamin C, a strong antioxidant. Combining lemon juice’s vitamin C with the antioxidants in inexperienced tea gives a double dose of assist for the physique’s immune system and helps keep off sickness.
Higher digestion: Research present that lemon might help enhance gastric acid secretion and speed up meals emptying, main to raised digestion.
Enhanced hydration and taste: Lemon’s refreshing citrus notes assist steadiness the bitterness of inexperienced tea, making it extra palatable. This makes it simpler to take pleasure in inexperienced tea frequently and let your physique take in its useful antioxidants. Blatner says this mixture can be an effective way to remain hydrated and meet your every day water objectives.

Whereas this nourishing beverage has many well being advantages, there are some potential downsides to contemplate. These embody:

Injury to tooth enamel: Over time, acidic drinks can erode tooth enamel. “When you take pleasure in inexperienced tea with lemon, utilizing a straw might help defend your enamel, or just rinse your mouth with water afterward,” stated Kalloo.
Worsen acid reflux disease: Whereas combining tea with lemon doesn’t enhance caffeine content material, acidic drinks will be laborious on delicate stomachs. When consumed day-after-day, lemon and different citrus fruits might enhance the danger of gastroesophageal reflux illness (GERD). On this situation, the contents of the abdomen circulate backward into the esophagus (a muscular tube that carries meals and liquid to the abdomen), inflicting signs equivalent to heartburn, sore throat, and nausea.
Interactions with some drugs: The caffeine and catechins in inexperienced tea can work together with sure drugs. Earlier than including lemon and inexperienced tea to your every day routine, converse to your healthcare supplier if you happen to’re taking any drugs.

Each Kalloo and Blatner agree that ingesting lemon and inexperienced tea every day is secure for most individuals. Simply take into account that inexperienced tea and lemon are a terrific science-backed option to assist general well being, nevertheless it’s not a miracle employee if you happen to’re searching for a fat-burning detox. For lemon juice to assist fats loss, it have to be a part of a calorie-restricted eating regimen.

Including lemon juice to inexperienced tea is greater than only a trending well being hack. Science reveals that including lemon to inexperienced tea might help stabilize catechins and increase the absorption of antioxidants, because of lemon juice’s acidity and vitamin C content material.

Each of the specialists Well being spoke to say it’s secure to take pleasure in this health-boosting mixture every day. Nonetheless, it’s essential to make use of a straw or rinse with water afterwards to forestall enamel erosion to enamel. You probably have acid reflux disease or take any drugs that will work together with caffeine or catechins, converse to your healthcare supplier earlier than making this beverage at dwelling.

Lemon juice and inexperienced tea received’t present any weight-loss or detox miracles, nevertheless it’s an effective way to extend antioxidant consumption, assist your general well being, and forestall the event of persistent ailments over time.