Drinking lemon-ginger tea before bed may help improve mindfulness and hydration. It may also reduce indigestion, nasal congestion, and more.
If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, you may be looking for ways to get more rest.
Drinking an herbal tonic, like lemon-ginger tea, could be a soothing bedtime ritual to help put the day behind you.
Lemon-ginger tea is exactly what it sounds like: a gentle herbal infusion of fresh lemon and ginger — with a bit of sweetener like honey or agave nectar, if you choose.
You might be wondering if lemon-ginger tea has any unique health benefits. While it may not make you sleepy, it might help you wind down and relax and provide other benefits.
This article examines six benefits of bedtime lemon-ginger tea and explains how to make it.
If chronic indigestion or a heavy dinner keeps you up later than you would like, a cup of lemon-ginger tea may be a
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a root long used in alternative and folk medicine for its ability to alleviate the delayed emptying of your stomach.
What’s more, lemon (Citrus limon) contains a plant compound called limonene that aids digestion by helping move food along your digestive tract — potentially easing the uncomfortable feeling of fullness.
While the amount of limonene in a given cup of lemon-ginger tea will vary, you might find that the combination of lemon, ginger, and water in lemon-ginger tea calms indigestion.
Ginger has long been praised for its ability to alleviate nausea, which many people experience during pregnancy or chemotherapy, among many other situations. According to
One older
Ginger appears to be most effective at helping
A lemon-ginger infusion is generally regarded as safe during pregnancy.
The steam generated from your hot lemon-ginger infusion may help open up your nasal cavities — helping
Although these effects are mostly anecdotal and supported by folk medicine, they may be useful to keep in mind during cold and flu season or if you experience seasonal allergies.
Lemon-ginger tea won’t cure you of any of these, but it may help loosen up congestion, allowing air to flow through your nose a little easier.
Constipation can result from several factors, including dehydration and a diet that’s low in fiber.
When constipation stems from dehydration, relaxing in the evening with a warm cup of lemon-ginger tea may help since water helps stool pass through your digestive tract more easily.
If you feel chronically constipated, be sure you’re drinking enough fluids throughout the day, too.
Speak with a healthcare professional if you have:
- trouble having a bowel movement
- less than three times a week
- blood in stool
Gingerol, one of the plant compounds found in ginger, boasts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Chronic inflammation is linked to conditions like metabolic syndrome, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease.
However, studies show mixed results on whether ginger has anti-inflammatory effects in people.
Plus, it’s worth keeping in mind that there isn’t enough research currently to know just how much gingerol is needed to achieve these effects — and how much of it you would actually get from drinking a typical cup of lemon-ginger tea.
When you drink lemon-ginger tea, you are, of course, drinking water — which means you’re hydrating your body.
This is important, because staying hydrated keeps vital organs, like your kidneys, gut, and heart, functioning properly.
How much water you need per day is affected by many factors, such as your medications, activities, and any health issues.
Making lemon-ginger tea at home is easy. After all, you’re simply infusing water with fresh ginger and lemon.
Lemon-ginger tea
Makes one serving
Ingredients
- 1-inch (2.5-cm) piece of fresh ginger root, peeled
- 1/2 lemon, quartered and 1 fresh wedge for garnish
- 1 cup (237 mL) of water
- honey or agave nectar, to taste
Directions
- Combine the ginger and lemon with water in a small saucepan and allow to simmer on your stovetop. Let this steep for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
- If you find the tonic too weak, consider grating in your ginger instead, or cutting the piece down into smaller chunks. You can also zest in some lemon peel if you want more lemony notes.
- Stir in honey or agave nectar to taste, if you wish. Garnish with a fresh wedge of lemon.
You could also make a larger batch and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to warm it up again. To do so, multiply this recipe for a few days’ worth.
An infusion of lemon and ginger has the potential to calm minor bellyaches, help ease a stuffy nose, and quell or even prevent nausea.
What’s more, the simple act of drinking lemon-ginger tea may help bring on feelings of relaxation and could be a great tool for practicing mindfulness.