Does drinking honey lemon water really work?

Recently, a Taipei mayoral candidate mentioned that "honey lemon water" can be a "panacea" during a political platform speech, sparking heated discussions from all walks of life. The topic even jumped to the top of Google's trending search rankings. Some people claim that this drink can not only helpDissolves fatToday, let's delve into the properties of honey and lemon, and the practical health benefits of honey lemon water, a combination of the two.

Honey: An ancient ingredient with modern health benefits

Honey, a thick, sweet liquid produced by bees and related insects, is one of the oldest foods in human history. Records of humans using honey for both food and medicine date back to the Stone Age. In the medicinal realm, the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all used honey to treat skin ailments, and numerous modern studies have confirmed its potent healing properties, making it suitable for skin care. A literature review involving over 3000 people showed that honey is more effective than traditional treatments for treating severe burns. Honey can also improve the healing rate of foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

Furthermore, microbiologists have found that honey can fight up to 60 different bacteria and inhibit common pathogens that cause colds and coughs. It's particularly effective in reducing the severity and frequency of coughs in young children with respiratory infections. However, it's important to note that while honey is a viable option for relieving children's coughs, it may contain botulinum toxin spores. The immature gastrointestinal tract of infants under one year old cannot completely eliminate these bacteria, allowing them to multiply in the intestines and compromise their fragile immune defenses. There have even been cases of fatalities from consuming honey. Therefore, it's strictly forbidden to feed honey to infants under one year old.

Lemon: A nutrient-dense citrus fruit

Lemon is a citrus fruit with edible flesh and peel.Vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids, and a small amount ofVitamin B Lemons contain beneficial ingredients such as vitamin C and potassium. Clinical studies have shown that kidney stone formation is primarily caused by the accumulation of high-density minerals such as calcium oxalate crystals in the urine. The citric acid in lemons can bind to calcium oxalate crystals, helping to prevent kidney stone formation. Another study involving over 1 people showed that vitamin C can reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals on organs, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Therefore, it can be inferred that consuming lemons rich in vitamin C may help prevent these cardiovascular problems.

Furthermore, the flavonoids in lemons have been scientifically proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and even slow cognitive decline. Animal studies have also shown that the limonoids in lemons help reduce triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (commonly known as "bad cholesterol") in the body. However, it's important to note that drinking lemon water on an empty stomach can lead to excessive stomach acid secretion, potentially causing gastric or duodenal ulcers. This is one reason many people add honey to their lemon water.

Honey lemon water: The efficacy needs to be viewed rationally

Based on the aforementioned health benefits of honey and lemon, coupled with the desire for a balanced taste, it's widely believed that consuming both together offers greater health benefits. A research report titled "Potentiating effects of honey on antioxidant properties of lemon-flavored black tea," published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, suggests that honey can enhance the antioxidant activity of lemon tea, inhibit lipid peroxidation, and increase the content of antioxidant compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, and organic compounds.

Another study, titled "Does short-term lemon honey juice fasting have effect on lipid profile and body composition in healthy individuals?" and published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, showed that 50 healthy subjects fasted for four consecutive days and drank only 4 ml of honey lemon water four times a day. Their weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), free triglycerides, body fat percentage, and total serum cholesterol all showed significant decreases, suggesting that honey lemon water may have certain weight loss potential.

Clinically, honey lemon water has been shown to provide some relief when experiencing a cold or upper respiratory tract infection. However, it's important to note that there's currently no scientific evidence to support the popular claims that honey lemon water can detoxify, clear acne, boost brain function, or even treat cancer. Therefore, we can consider honey lemon water a pleasant drink that may offer additional benefits like antioxidants, weight loss, and cold relief. However, caution should be exercised regarding other unproven claims.