Feeling Heavy After a Meal? Ginger-Lemon Tea Could Be Your Natural Fix
In this feature, we explore its many benefits, from aiding digestion to boosting immunity and even improving skin health. Whether you are looking to ease acidity, feel lighter, or simply enjoy a calming sip, ginger-lemon tea is the answer your kitchen already holds.
Also Read: Detox Diet: 5 Detox Teas To Have After A Heavy Dinner
Why Ginger-Lemon Tea Is Ideal Post Meal:
1. Improves Digestion And Reduces Acidity:
According to 'The Healing Foods' by DK Publishing, ginger is known to stimulate digestive enzymes and reduce issues like gas, bloating, and acidity. Lemon complements this by aiding liver detox and enhancing bile production, which helps break down fats more efficiently. Together, they activate the digestive system and prevent that post-meal sluggishness.
2. Helps With Weight Management:
Trying to shed a few kilos? Ginger-lemon tea might help. According to experts, ginger boosts metabolism, helping the body burn fat more efficiently. Lemon, rich in citric acid, supports detoxification and curbs cravings. When consumed regularly after meals, this tea may help support your weight goals without extreme diets.
3. Flushes Out Toxins:
Post-meal fatigue is often linked to toxin buildup. Ginger promotes circulation and sweating, while lemon acts as a natural diuretic. This combination helps eliminate toxins from the body, making you feel lighter and more energised.
4. Keeps You Hydrated:
In cooler months or after heavy meals, we often forget to drink water. Ginger-lemon tea offers hydration with added benefits, including maintaining fluid balance and prevents dehydration, especially in winter when thirst cues are low.
Also Read: Why You Shouldn't Drink Water Immediately After Meals
Photo Credit: Pexels
Bonus Benefits That Go Beyond Digestion:
5. Boosts Immunity:
Both ginger and lemon are packed with antioxidants. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, while lemon is a rich source of vitamin C. Together, the tea helps fight seasonal infections like cold and cough, making it a great post-meal choice during flu season.
6. Improves Skin Health:
Want glowing skin? Ginger reduces inflammation and lemon boosts collagen production. Experts suggest that regular consumption of this tea can help reduce pimples and improve skin texture.
7. Enhances Mood And Reduces Stress:
The aroma of ginger and the zing of lemon have mood-lifting effects, which can help reduce mental fatigue and improve focus, making it a calming end to your meal.
Also Read: 7 Post-Meal Mistakes That Make You Gain Weight. Stop Now!
Ginger-Lemon Te- Recipe: How To Brew It Right
Ingredients:
1 inch fresh ginger (sliced or grated)
Juice of half a lemon
1.5 cups water
Optional: honey or tulsi leaves
Method:
Boil water and add ginger.
Simmer for 10 minutes.
Strain and add lemon juice.
Sweeten with honey if desired.
Drink it warm, ideally 20-30 minutes after your meal.
Ginger-lemon tea is a simple drink that offers a host of benefits that align beautifully with Indian dietary habits and seasonal needs. So, the next time you finish a meal, skip the sugary dessert or fizzy drink and brew yourself a cup of ginger-lemon tea instead. Your gut, skin, and mood will thank you.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Advertisement
About Somdatta Saha Explorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.
For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube.
Tags:
Digestion
Post Meal Drink
Ginger-lemon Tea
Show full article
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
Feeling Heavy After a Meal? Ginger-Lemon Tea Could Be Your Natural Fix
Picture this: you have just finished off a delicious meal, maybe a serving of biryani, rich and aromatic, or a comforting bowl of khichdi on a rainy afternoon. The flavours linger, but so does a familiar heaviness. You feel full, maybe even a little bloated. What if there was a simple, soothing way to wrap up your meal that not only refreshed your palate but also helped your body digest better? Enter ginger -lemon tea, a warm, zesty brew that deserves a permanent place in your post-meal routine. Plus, this timeless wellness ritual does more than just settle your stomach. In this feature, we explore its many benefits, from aiding digestion to boosting immunity and even improving skin health. Whether you are looking to ease acidity, feel lighter, or simply enjoy a calming sip, ginger-lemon tea is the answer your kitchen already holds. Also Read: Detox Diet: 5 Detox Teas To Have After A Heavy Dinner Why Ginger-Lemon Tea Is Ideal Post Meal: 1. Improves Digestion And Reduces Acidity: According to 'The Healing Foods' by DK Publishing, ginger is known to stimulate digestive enzymes and reduce issues like gas, bloating, and acidity. Lemon complements this by aiding liver detox and enhancing bile production, which helps break down fats more efficiently. Together, they activate the digestive system and prevent that post-meal sluggishness. 2. Helps With Weight Management: Trying to shed a few kilos? Ginger-lemon tea might help. According to experts, ginger boosts metabolism, helping the body burn fat more efficiently. Lemon, rich in citric acid, supports detoxification and curbs cravings. When consumed regularly after meals, this tea may help support your weight goals without extreme diets. 3. Flushes Out Toxins: Post-meal fatigue is often linked to toxin buildup. Ginger promotes circulation and sweating, while lemon acts as a natural diuretic. This combination helps eliminate toxins from the body, making you feel lighter and more energised. 4. Keeps You Hydrated: In cooler months or after heavy meals, we often forget to drink water. Ginger-lemon tea offers hydration with added benefits, including maintaining fluid balance and prevents dehydration, especially in winter when thirst cues are low. Also Read: Why You Shouldn't Drink Water Immediately After Meals Photo Credit: Pexels Bonus Benefits That Go Beyond Digestion: 5. Boosts Immunity: Both ginger and lemon are packed with antioxidants. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, while lemon is a rich source of vitamin C. Together, the tea helps fight seasonal infections like cold and cough, making it a great post-meal choice during flu season. 6. Improves Skin Health: Want glowing skin? Ginger reduces inflammation and lemon boosts collagen production. Experts suggest that regular consumption of this tea can help reduce pimples and improve skin texture. 7. Enhances Mood And Reduces Stress: The aroma of ginger and the zing of lemon have mood-lifting effects, which can help reduce mental fatigue and improve focus, making it a calming end to your meal. Also Read: 7 Post-Meal Mistakes That Make You Gain Weight. Stop Now! Ginger-Lemon Te- Recipe: How To Brew It Right Ingredients: 1 inch fresh ginger (sliced or grated) Juice of half a lemon 1.5 cups water Optional: honey or tulsi leaves Method: Boil water and add ginger. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and add lemon juice. Sweeten with honey if desired. Drink it warm, ideally 20-30 minutes after your meal. Ginger-lemon tea is a simple drink that offers a host of benefits that align beautifully with Indian dietary habits and seasonal needs. So, the next time you finish a meal, skip the sugary dessert or fizzy drink and brew yourself a cup of ginger-lemon tea instead. Your gut, skin, and mood will thank you. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information. Advertisement About Somdatta Saha Explorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day. For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Digestion Post Meal Drink Ginger-lemon Tea Show full article
India Today
13 hours ago
- India Today
What Pepsi's prebiotic launch says about the future of what we drink
Who knew that fizzy bubble drinks could one day become wellness in a can?It's 2025, and people are steadily moving towards a more health-conscious world. To keep up, brands are rolling out functional beverages, protein shakes, and cleaner ingredient lists to match evolving consumer this shift, the functional beverage industry is expanding. Recently, PepsiCo jumped on the bandwagon and announced a new addition - Prebiotic No artificial sweeteners. 5 grams of cane sugar. 30 calories. This is the new fizz in town, and it's called Pepsi 'Prebiotic Cola'. 'It delivers the classic crisp, refreshing taste of Pepsi with the added functional ingredient of 3 grams of prebiotic fibre,' reads the press release. The launch of this 'innovation' product line is set to hit shelves online this fall and at retail in early it's a new direction for the cola giant, it also highlights the growing trend of functional beverages. But is it actually "functional" like it claims to be and most importantly, what is fuelling this trend? A variety of drinks, like low-sugar soda, kombuchas are making to shopping aisles (Photo: Pexels) First things first. Let's understand the basics: what are functional beverages really?Functional beverages - drinks with a purposeFunctional beverages are drinks that do more than just hydrate your body. These non-alcoholic beverages aim to enhance specific functions of the body. They are typically fortified with ingredients that support immunity, digestion, cognition, energy, or relaxation. These drinks may have herbs, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, fibre, prebiotics, probiotics and water, kombucha, probiotic and probiotic dairy-based drinks form part of the functional beverage product to Sarika Varshnei, chief growth officer, Borecha, functional beverages are supposed to add value, support wellness and not treat someone for illness per se. 'I don't believe in the term 'health drink.' I prefer 'functional beverage.' When you say something is functional, it means it does something in your body. Like adding probiotics or adaptogens, as these are functional elements. It's not like taking medicine for a headache and expecting immediate relief. They are meant to support your system in subtle ways,' she tells India in functional fizzThe concept of functional foods and drinks has been around since the 1960s. Japan was one of the pioneers in officially establishing regulations around it after the there has been a massive boom in the past few years, and experts have determined why everyone's sipping on to a 2023 report by Mintel, 'About 2 in 5 Indians seek multifunctional benefits in food and drinks in a quest for wellbeing. The market is growing multifold with an uptick in demand for health-related products from consumers." Prebiotic soda (Photo: Atmosphere Studio) It is interesting to note that there is a plethora of options for consumers to pick their taste in functional drinks, yet biggies are chasing the gut-friendly buzz, highlights that its latest product line addresses a significant shift in its consumer behaviour. "Behavioural trends are telling us that consumers want optionality, and functional beverages are a big piece of that. It's bold, functional, and growing fast – and we're continuing to invest in its momentum,' a PepsiCo spokesperson shares exclusively with who are these consumers? Gen Z and millennials (no surprises).According to the brand, 'better-for-you-ingredients' resonate with 'flavour-seeking" Gen Z consumers. 'It's designed specifically for cola lovers, including those who've left the category – offering the iconic Pepsi taste with less sugar, no artificial sweeteners, fewer calories, and added functional ingredients. It helps to grow the category from two distinct angles – bringing new consumers in and bringing former consumers back.' Gen Z is leading the functional beverage rise (Photo: AI Generative) advertisementIf we talk numbers, International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group (IMARC) reports, 'The functional beverage market has already reached USD 6.20 billion in 2024 and expects it to reach USD 16.25 billion by 2033.'Blame it on the pandemicThe pandemic is considered a major catalyst."In the last couple of years, especially after Covid-19, there's been a big movement towards wellness. People are now leaning towards beverages that are more natural, low in sugar, and furnished with other health benefits too,' says Rebekah Sood, founder of Atmosphere Studio. Varshnei is in agreement, healthGut health is one of the biggest wellness trends today, with more research and attention being directed toward drinks like kefir, fermented juices, and kombucha are gaining traction."Functional beverages may support gut microbial balance, mucosal immunity, and metabolic function through probiotics and prebiotics. However, clinical efficacy depends on dosage, and individual response. It also requires cautious, evidence-informed use," says Dr Hemant Jain, gastrointestinal tract cancer surgeon, Lilavati Hospital, Sood shares how inaccessible products for probiotics led to her building her brand. 'Ariella (co-founder and a nutritionist) had numerous people coming into her centre who had gut issues and were in need of probiotics. So this was a big driver for us in starting the business, just understanding that there was this need for a product like kombucha.'Other factorsQuick commerce has become the bridge between consumers and emerging wellness brands. Platforms today let customers explore, compare, and choose from a range of beverages, and they can make informed decisions without an there is the concept of disposable income and how people are willing to spend more on their wellness. Amidst the hustle culture, being able to sip wellness while juggling meetings and emails is a luxury on the vs realityadvertisementBe it supermarket aisles or the shelves of local kirana stores, you can easily find products that are sold as 'healthy' in the form of chips, mixtures, or drinks. Varshnei strongly believes that 'healthy drinks' are one of the most abused It's all about the there is something known as the health halo - a perception that the food or beverage is healthy even when it isn't. That's where several brands tend to cash in, hoping we don't read labels!'I would say some functional drinks do offer health benefits if they have evidence-based ingredients, but many are overhyped, and it's like a health halo because they're full of added sugar, preservatives, and may affect our health,' shares Vidhi Chawla, dietician and founder of FISICO Diet and Aesthetic just because it screams gut-friendly or low-calorie, it does not make it magical. And in order to steer clear of these health halos, it is essential to have knowledge of the ingredients. Reading labels has become a life skill (Photo: AI Generative) The good news is that consumer awareness about reading labels is increasing too."About a third of consumers, particularly those who are financially healthy (31 per cent) and those living in Western India (32 per cent) and metros (33 per cent) are clear about the fact that they will adopt functional foods if they are convinced about their effect," reports reading 101So, the heavily worded ingredient lists on the packaging can be intimidating. And that's the trick: if you can't pronounce it, you probably won't question it. But honestly, you don't really need a degree to understand the ingredient starters, let's understand the misconceptions and basics. Chawla enlists common mistakes that consumers make:The most common mistake is assuming that terms like 'low fat' or 'sugar-free' automatically mean a product is healthy. These products usually compensate with added sugar, salt, or artificial sweeteners, which are not good for mistake is ignoring the serving size. Many people read the calories or nutrition value per serving size, but do not calculate the whole package, leading to underestimating their trusting front-label claims like 'natural,' 'immunity boosting,' or 'zero trans fat.' These can be misleading. Always flip to the back and read the how do we spot those red flags?Watch out for terms like maltodextrin, corn syrup, and fructose syrup. It's sugar under many unpronounceable names on the list? Can be an alert for preservatives and additives. Definitely not wellness in a caffeine dosing, undisclosed amounts of the probiotic, and ambiguous phrases like "natural flavour" can be red flags, according to Dr found in products with palm oil or labelled simply as 'vegetable fats' should be market evolves as per consumer needs. Label reading being a need of the hour, one prebiotic soda can at a time, there is a new breed of platforms helping decode the age of health halos and wellness products, making smart choices is important.- Ends
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Radiologist shares 5 common breast cancer signs most women overlook: ‘If it looks like an orange peel, get it checked'
Many women unknowingly overlook subtle signs that could be early indicators of breast health issues. From minor changes in skin texture to unexpected discomfort, these symptoms often go unreported until it's too late. Breast imaging expert highlights subtle signs of cancer patients often ignore. (Pexels) "In my 15 years of experience as a breast radiologist, I've seen countless cases where early warning signs were overlooked or dismissed. While most women diligently check for lumps during self-examinations, I frequently encounter patients who've ignored other critical symptoms for months or even years. As someone who interprets thousands of mammograms and breast imaging studies annually, I want to share the subtle signs that often slip under the radar but deserve immediate attention," says Dr Namrata Singal Sawant, a Mumbai-based senior radiologist. She further shared with HT Lifestyle 5 subtle symptoms you shouldn't ignore and why early detection matters. 1. Changes in breast texture and appearance One of the most significant findings I encounter in my practice is architectural distortion, changes in breast skin texture that many patients attribute to normal ageing. The most common early signs of the same are: Any dimpling or puckering of the skin can suggest an underlying carcinoma pulling the skin or Cooper's ligament. Characteristic orange-peel appearance (peau d'orange) can be a sign of inflammatory breast carcinoma. Shrinking of the size of any one of the breasts. This can be seen in some lobular carcinomas, which are difficult to diagnose. Increase in the size of the breast. We must be aware of the natural asymmetry of our breasts, if any. Any increase in the size of the breast, especially asymmetrical, must be viewed with caution. We must contact our medical professional about this. Nipple changes and lymph node evaluations are often overlooked yet crucial in diagnosing breast cancer.(Pexels) 2. Nipple changes and discharge Nipple changes often provide crucial diagnostic clues that patients initially overlook. Nipple discharge, particularly when unilateral, spontaneous and blood-stained, has led me to identify high-risk lesions and early-stage ductal carcinomas. Nipple retraction. Some ladies give a history of their nipples being inverted from childhood. However, if the nipple retraction is a new finding, then it must be looked at with suspicion. Nipple directional changes or scaling. Many of the ductal abnormalities, like papillomas, papillary carcinomas, atypia, dysplasia, DCIS or even Intraductal carcinomas can present with any of the nipple symptoms. With the help of advance technologies especially high resolution ultrasonography, MRI and DR mammograms these diagnosis can be made at and much earlier stage. Further evaluation with guided biopsies are suggested. 3. Any lump in the armpits From my experience interpreting breast MRIs and ultrasounds, lymph node evaluation is a critical component that patients rarely consider during self-examinations. I've diagnosed several cases where palpable lymph nodes were the presenting symptom, leading to the discovery of occult breast cancers that weren't detectable through conventional screening. My clinical advice: Any palpable lump in the armpits must be evaluated with ultrasonography and SOS, as well as further investigations like FNAC, biopsy, mammography, MRI, etc. Even primary breast cancers are found in the axillary tail of the breast, which is found in the armpit. Any lymph node that remains palpable for more than two weeks, especially if it's firm, fixed, or progressively enlarging, requires immediate imaging evaluation with ultrasound and possible tissue sampling. 4. Any skin discolouration over the breast In my radiological practice, inflammatory changes represent some of the most challenging cases to diagnose early. Inflammatory breast cancer, while rare, can initially present as simple skin irritation that patients often treat with topical remedies for weeks before seeking medical attention. Through my imaging experience, I've learned that skin changes that don't respond to conservative treatment within 1-2 weeks, particularly when accompanied by breast swelling or warmth, require immediate evaluation with specialised imaging protocols. I've diagnosed several cases of inflammatory breast cancer where patients initially attributed symptoms to allergic reactions or skin conditions. 5. No signs at all I can not stress enough this last point that most of the breast cancers can only be caught at an early stage with the help of screening. Screening implies the patient does not have any complaints and still gets a routine checkup, and a mammography is done. According to the recommendations by the Breast Imaging Society of India (BISI), annual screening mammograms are recommended for those between the ages of 40 and 70. In case of high-risk individuals with a family history of breast cancer or BRCA 1 or 2 genes positive amongst others, the screening starts at a much earlier age. After years of interpreting breast imaging and counselling patients, I cannot stress enough the importance of trusting your instincts about your body. In my practice, I maintain an open-door policy for patients who notice changes, no matter how minor they may seem. Also, the take-home message again is that to diagnose this disease early, we must understand the importance of screening protocols and consult our medical professionals for annual clinical breast examinations. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
