- 1. The throat feels more comfortable and less itchy and irritated.
- 2. Drinking warm lemon and honey water supports the digestive system.
- 3. The body is hydrated and replenished with antioxidants.
- 4. Note regarding the added sugar content from honey.
- 5. Is warm lemon and honey water safe for everyone?
Drinking a glass of warm lemon water with honey in the morning is a regular habit for many people. Warm water with lemon and honey can soothe a sore throat, keep you hydrated, and aid digestion. This simple method provides vitamin C and plant compounds that support the immune system , as well as offering the following health benefits:
1. The throat feels more comfortable and less itchy and irritated.
The warm temperature of the water helps to thin mucus when you have a stuffy nose, clearing the airways and reducing the urge to cough. Combined with honey, which has natural soothing properties, this drink creates a thin film that coats the throat lining, limiting irritation caused by dry air, talking a lot, or mild upper respiratory infections.
A systematic meta-analysis showed that honey may reduce the frequency and severity of coughs more effectively than no treatment or a placebo. In some cases, warm lemon and honey water may even be more effective than antihistamines in soothing a child's cough.
2. Drinking warm lemon and honey water supports the digestive system.
Warm lemon water with honey can offer numerous benefits for the digestive system, skin, and overall health. (Illustrative image: AI)
For many people, warm drinks gently stimulate bowel movements and support digestive regularity. Drinking a glass of warm water in the morning can stimulate the gastrocolic reflex, signaling the colon to contract and encouraging bowel activity. Staying hydrated is also crucial in preventing constipation and maintaining colon health.
In addition, maintaining adequate hydration in the morning helps protect the intestinal lining, creating a favorable environment for the diverse and healthy growth of gut microorganisms.
3. The body is hydrated and replenished with antioxidants.
Adding lemon and a little honey to water can make it tastier, encourage you to consume more of your overall daily fluid intake, and help maintain better hydration. Both the hydration and the vitamin C in lemon water are essential for collagen synthesis and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. The addition of honey provides a small amount of polyphenols that help neutralize free radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress.
However, because vitamin C is very sensitive to high temperatures and begins to decompose significantly when exposed to water above 60°C, it is advisable to use lukewarm water before adding lemon juice.
4. Note regarding the added sugar content from honey.
Although honey is a natural food rich in trace minerals, it is essentially a concentrated sugar containing glucose and fructose. Honey is classified as an added sugar in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. While it contains beneficial trace minerals, your body processes the glucose and fructose in honey similarly to how it processes regular table sugar.
According to MSc. Dr. Dang Ngoc Hung - Director of the National Institute for Nutrition Research and Consulting (NRECI), honey is essentially classified as a rapidly absorbed sugar because it mainly contains sugars: fructose, sucrose, and glucose, similar to sugarcane sugar and fruit sugar. However, honey also contains some vitamins that bees absorb from pollen and plants during the nectar-gathering process, but this amount is not significant.
The body metabolizes the sugars in honey similarly to regular table sugar (sucrose), with a comparable glycemic index. Therefore, people monitoring their blood sugar levels need to factor in their total daily sugar intake when calculating the amount of honey they consume.
5. Is warm lemon and honey water safe for everyone?
Warm water with lemon and honey is safe for most adults, but certain groups of people need to be cautious and take specific precautions:
Infants under 1 year old: Absolutely do not give honey to infants under 1 year old due to the risk of botulism. This serious illness is caused by Clostridium botulinum spores, which can be found even in high-quality honey.
People with diabetes: Careful control of carbohydrate intake from honey is necessary, and consultation with a specialist is recommended to adjust dosages to suit their treatment plan.
Always check to ensure the water is at the right temperature, avoiding water that is too hot, which can burn the esophageal lining and destroy the nutrients in the lemon.