Warm water with honey and lemon is a morning ritual for millions of people. Social media credits it with everything from detoxing to melting fat. The truth is less dramatic, but it's still a pleasant, simple habit. Here's the real story.
What's in it
A typical glass contains:
- Warm water: hydration after a night without fluids.
- Lemon juice: a small amount of vitamin C. The juice of half a lemon provides several milligrams.
- Honey: natural sweetness, about 21 calories and 6 grams of sugar per teaspoon, plus small amounts of antioxidant compounds.
What it may do
It helps you hydrate. Starting the day with water is a good habit, and flavoring it may make you more likely to drink it.
It can soothe a sore throat. Research supports honey for easing coughs from colds in adults and children over one year old. Warm liquids can also feel comforting.
It can replace a sugarier drink. If honey lemon water replaces juice, soda or a sweet coffee drink, you'll likely consume less sugar.
The myths
"It detoxes your body." Your liver and kidneys handle detoxification. There's no evidence honey lemon water flushes toxins.
"It melts belly fat." No drink burns fat on its own. Any effect on weight comes from replacing higher-calorie drinks.
"It alkalizes your body." Your body tightly regulates blood pH regardless of what you eat or drink.
"Hot water makes honey toxic." There's no good evidence that honey in hot water becomes harmful. Very hot water can degrade some of honey's delicate enzymes and aromas, though, so warm is best.
How to make it
Ingredients:
- 8 to 12 oz warm water (not boiling)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 teaspoon honey
Steps:
- Heat water, then let it cool until comfortably warm.
- Squeeze in the lemon juice.
- Stir in the honey until dissolved.
- Taste and adjust.
Variations:
- Add a few slices of fresh ginger.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or turmeric.
- Make it iced: dissolve the honey in a little warm water first, then add cold water, lemon and ice.
Protect your teeth
Lemon juice is acidic, and regular exposure to acid can wear down tooth enamel over time. To reduce the risk:
- Drink it with a straw.
- Rinse your mouth with plain water afterward.
- Wait about 30 minutes before brushing, since enamel is softer right after acid exposure.
Who should be careful
- Infants under 12 months should never have honey.
- People with acid reflux may find lemon irritating.
- People managing blood sugar should account for the honey.
- Anyone allergic to bee products should skip the honey.
The bottom line
Honey lemon water won't transform your health, but it's a hydrating, comforting, low-calorie drink that can be a pleasant part of your morning.
Lemon water vs honey lemon water
Plain lemon water has almost no calories, while honey adds sweetness and roughly 20 calories per teaspoon. If you're drinking several glasses a day, those teaspoons add up, so consider honey for your first glass and plain lemon water afterward. Either way, the biggest benefit for most people is simply drinking more fluid, especially first thing in the morning when you've gone hours without any.
A functional twist
For a cozy variation, stir a 14g packet of HYVE Mind Focus & Memory into warm water with a squeeze of lemon. The vanilla-chocolate flavor pairs surprisingly well with citrus, a bit like a chocolate orange.
Each packet contains 100% raw, USDA Organic honey with 222mg of organic lion's mane extract (20:1, from 100% fruiting body), 80mg of L-theanine, organic raw cacao, organic bee pollen and organic vanilla. That's 45 calories and zero caffeine.
Use WELCOME20 for 20% off your first order.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not for infants under 12 months or anyone with bee or bee-product allergies.
