Ginger lemon tea
We're sorry to say that, unfortunately, the healthiest beverage to reach for this fall isn't a sugar-loaded Pumpkin Spice Latte. However, although it's not quite as sweat or creamy, ginger lemon tea offers great flavor and tons of health benefits that make it the perfect healthy alternative for when you need something to hit the spot. In fact, Dr. Ruiz says it can even help boost your metabolism! "Ginger has thermogenic properties that help increase the body's temperature and burn calories," she says.
The ginger will also help you reach your flat tummy goals for another reason: it can fight bloating. "[Ginger] helps improve digestion and can decrease bloating. This is because ginger contains compounds that stimulate gastric motility and aid in the absorption of nutrients," Dr. Ruiz raves, explaining that "once our digestion is functioning properly, we can better process the food we eat and prevent excess weight gain." Perfect!
And we haven't even gotten to the lemon part yet! According to Dr. Ruiz, this ingredient can really pack in the Vitamin C, "which aids in fat burning and supports a healthy immune system." She notes that if you aren't consuming enough Vitamin C, you run the risk of accumulating body fat, so regularly adding some lemon to your tea is a great way to stay as slim as possible. "Plus, lemon helps detoxify the liver, improving its ability to metabolize fat," she points out. Dr. Ruiz recommends adding 4 to 6 tablespoons of lemon juice or water or tea each day to reap these benefits.
While this tea is delicious on its own, some of us do have quite a strong sweet tooth. If you fall into this category, Dr. Ruiz recommends choosing an natural sweetener (like honey) over artificial sweeteners and refined sugar. "But remember that honey is rich in carbohydrates due to its fructose and glucose content, so use it sparingly if weight loss is your goal," she warns.
Of course, at the end of the day, there's no magical remedy for a faster metabolism or easy weight loss. As Dr. Ruiz reminds us, "this drink will only supplement a balanced diet and regular exercise routine. Hence, prioritize healthy food choices and physical activity in your weight loss journey." However, a cup of lemon ginger tea each day can certainly make a difference—and it's way healthier than most of those seasonal Starbucks drinks!