Health Myths And Facts: Does Drinking Honey And Lemon Water On Empty Stomach Help To Lose Weight? See What Experts Say

Starting your day with a glass of warm water containing a few drops of honey and one teaspoon of lemon juice is indeed a beneficial morning beverage.

Know If Honey Lemon Water Helps In Weight Loss

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Consuming honey with warm water is a longstanding home remedy for a number of ailments, including weight loss. Starting your day with a glass of warm water containing a few drops of honey and one teaspoon of lemon juice is indeed a beneficial morning beverage. This mixture can boost metabolic activity, has skincare remedies and also potentially aids in weight reduction.

In this regard, Dr Neeti Sharma, who is a Sr. Consultant - Nutrition & Dietitics at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Sector 56, Gurugram said, "Honey and lemon water early in the morning can help to reduce weight but you should follow a balanced diet along with it."

"Lemon water mixed with honey is a gentle yet powerful detoxification agent. It is a liver tonic that improves it’s function by neutralizing toxins, and helping it to flush them out of our body. But make sure, the water to be consumed is not too warm because honey can only be added in luke warm water and not in hot water as honey turns toxic in hot water. It is also important not to add more then one tea spoon of honey to your early morning drink with only half of lemon, and if it suits you then you can make it one lemon," she added.

Additionally, she also said that lemon is a antioxidant and good for skin care. So, lemon and honey water early in the morning is one of the best thing for acne control and you can drink one or two glass per day.

Benefits Of Drinking Honey And Lime Water:

Dietician Garima Goyal said, "Honey has a low glycemic index and that is why its a healthier alternative to refined sugar and can be used as a sweetening agent. It contains more than 181 vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants. The benefits of antioxidants present in honey contributed to the wide array of benefits that this drink provides."

• The presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids in honey help to reduce cough and treat upper respiratory tract infections.
• Also honey possesses strong anti microbial property and combats various diseases and infections.
• If lemon is added to the honey water, the vitamin C content helps to boost the immunity. If honey and lemon are considered separately, they have their long list of benefits. When both are combined, the benefits double.

Garima then went on to list the benefits of the drink:

• Detoxifying agent: This acts as a strong detoxification agent. So it aids in improvement of the digestive functioning, kidney and liver functions.
• Aids in weight loss: The drink is a low calorie beverage and has potency to burn fat. Additionally, this drink is also great to give an energy boost in the morning.
• Boost the immunity: Honey contains high levels of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants that protect against various infections. It also scavenged the free radicals from the body.
• Healthy and supple skin: The antibacterial properties of this drink make it a worthy one to get a clearer skin. Also lemon in this drink helps in blood purification and give a clean skin. 

Despite this Garima said that Ayurveda suggests to not consume honey in any warm beverage as it may lead to the formation of 'AMA' which has poisonous effect on the body.

"But these effects nullify if honey purchased is raw and organic, which is not heated to high temperatures. So this drink is a great metabolism booster and a great way to add all the health benefits in the diet," she said.

Who Should Avoid Drinking Honey And Lemon Water:

Talking about the conditions under which one should avoid this, Dr Neeti Sharma said, "Lemon and honey water should be avoided in the conditions if you are suffering from arthritis, hyperacidity, week bones, week teeth and mouth ulcer so you should avoid lemon honey water."

Is Honey and Lemon Water A Magic Drink?

Though, drinking honey and lemon water is believed to help one lose weight, Mohini Dongre, who is a Dietician at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital Gurugram said that its effectiveness is often exaggerated.

"While this concoction can offer some potential benefits, it's not a magic solution for shedding pounds. Lemon provides vitamin C and may aid digestion, while honey offers a touch of sweetness. Together, they can make water more palatable and encourage hydration. However, weight loss primarily depends on a balanced diet and regular exercise," she said.

Mohini further added that there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the idea that honey and lemon water directly cause weight loss. Incorporating it into a healthy lifestyle may have marginal benefits, but it's not a guaranteed strategy for significant weight reduction. To achieve lasting results, it is important to focus on a holistic approach to health and fitness.