Drinking hot water with lemon
By sedel1027
@sedel1027 (17846)
Cupertino, California
July 7, 2012 5:40pm CST
I ran across a blog with different vegetarian and vegan recipes. The person who writes this blog happens to be Indian. A drink she recommends (that she says is a custom in India) is hot water with lemon, spices (turmeric, salt, chili pepper or cayenne pepper) and raw sugar. http://www.indianasapplepie.com/2012/04/wake-up-the-right-way-hot-water-and-lemon-infusion/
I decided to try this out. I am a big coffee drinker and love hot beverages even in the summer. Since I prefer hot beverages I will drink coffee all day. I know I get some water intake with drinking coffee, however, I know I need more when the temps start to climb. The last few days I have been substituting some of my coffee with this drink. I have to say I'm hooked! I haven't had a chance to run out to the store so I've made some substitutions: ginger instead of turmeric (turmeric is in the same plant family), agave nectar or pure local honey instead of raw sugar. I've kept the other ingredients the same. I've also added fresh mint leaves to make a mint tea out of the mixture.
I have to say I feel better and I have been trying to loose about 5 pounds that I put on and the weight is starting to come off. I haven't made any other changes to my diet or exercise routine.
Anyone else drink this mixture? Do you think it helps or its in my head?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Jul 12
I am not surprised, the woman I got my vinegar/honey tea from was Indian and I have lost inches drinking that tea. I am going to save this to make later, because we have no A/C and I can only drink hot liquids in the morning.
But there is a drink I have been making for this awful heat wave, and that is flavored water. I just slice up a variety of fruit in a pitcher and add water, let it sit over night and I have a nice flavored water without the calories. Then when it got extremely hot, I remembered my husband talking about this movie or book he read where a couple of guys were hiking, (probably getting away from the bad guys) and when they reached a spring, the older man stopped the younger one from drinking. He pointed out mint on the bank and told him to eat a couple leaves and then some water.
I have done this and it's amazing how more refreshing cold water is after eating mint. So, this year I took some of my mint, washed it well, then I crumbled the leaves, added to a pitcher and then water. I stuck it in the fridge over night and sure enough, I had a nice minty and refreshing water to drink..
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
8 Jul 12
That is how I make my mint tea 
I wish I could get on board with drinking refrigerated water. We have a huge brita pitcher that is filled at all times in the fridge. I just don't like how I feel after drinking cold water. Sometimes it even upsets my stomach 
I wish I could get on board with drinking refrigerated water. We have a huge brita pitcher that is filled at all times in the fridge. I just don't like how I feel after drinking cold water. Sometimes it even upsets my stomach 1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
8 Jul 12
I have a Keurig so what I do is just bruise a few mint leaves then let the hot water pour over them. I let it brew a few minutes (and let it cool down 
) and sometimes add a bit of honey and lemon.
Do you guys have fans? I can't imagine being in the heat without a house built to be without a/c. I'm trying to eek through the summer without running the a/c. Thankfully the area we live in typically doesn't get too warm and we are having a cooler than usual summer. The house style (adobe with stone throughout) we are in is meant to stay cool during the summer.
) and sometimes add a bit of honey and lemon.
Do you guys have fans? I can't imagine being in the heat without a house built to be without a/c. I'm trying to eek through the summer without running the a/c. Thankfully the area we live in typically doesn't get too warm and we are having a cooler than usual summer. The house style (adobe with stone throughout) we are in is meant to stay cool during the summer.1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Jul 12
I usually drink my water at room temp, but when it started going into triple digits and without A/C, the water was not refreshing at all..I have made my mint tea hot and two different ways. One I put it through a coffee maker or two, I dry it and put it through a tea strainer and dip it in a hot cup of water. But that way, the mint is so strong, I feel I need to sweeten it. This way the mint is very subtle and I don't feel I need add anything to it,
Fortunately the heat wave has broken, so now back to room temp water for me..:D
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
8 Jul 12
That's awesome! I have not tried it but bookmarked the page so I can make it. We just recently bought tumeric so we got some in supply. I'll have to check if we have cayenne. Don't have sea salt I don't think so might just leave that out and add the rest. I hope it tastes good because it sounds amazing. I'm glad to also hear that your weight is coming down, that would be due to the boost in your metabolism.
How many cups do you drink a day for that? :)
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
8 Jul 12
I tried the sea salt and it was too much so I've just been using a pinch of regular table salt. I've been drinking 3 cups. I'm not touting this as a miracle weight loss at all. I think it mostly works because it's a cleansing drink so all those toxins in your liver kidney, bowels, ect get cleaned out. I have read that the average person carries 5-15 lbs of waste and toxins in their body. Get rid of that, there is the weight loss. Also the pepper does increase your metabolism, so I know that helps.
I've been drinking 3 cups a day. One first thing in the morning, then at or right after lunch and after dinner. I still drink coffe, just not as much.
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
8 Jul 12
Thanks for clarifying. I'm going to try one later to see how I like it. It's winter here so I'm right into hot drinks. I don't really need it for weight loss was more interested in the cleaning and clearing but I suspected the weight loss may have been due to the boosted metabolism. But losing a little bit of my flab would be a nice bonus :)
Thanks again :)
@BabyCheetah (1911)
• Australia
8 Jul 12
Well guys I have just made myself a cup now. I haven't tasted yet as it's too hot but it smells alright!
Kul2010 that's what I'd like it for. I think my body will love me if it has a good clean out. But I had dinner about an hour ago. If I like it I will make myself one tomorrow morning on that empty stomach and see how I feel. I hope it's addictive :)
Oh and I dont't drink a lot of coffee only if I'm out because it's good coffee and at home I have white tea and green tea usually. So this will be a nice change to have as well :)
@petersum (4522)
• United States
7 Jul 12
You can make a lot of changes as this isn't very Indian in my opinion. Real Indian medicinal drinks would (and do) include some different spices. Also, the lemons found in the East are somewhat different, being a little sweeter. They are much smaller and don't have the nipple shaped ends.
But whatever we may disagree about, the principle is GOOD! You can lose weight by this method. I prefer a cold drink rather than hot - I'm sure it makes no difference. It is also useful to drink in hot weather to prevent dehydration.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
7 Jul 12
I buy these hug organic super sour lemons and they do have those nipples (I think they are meyers lemons?). I would hate a sweet lemon As for how Indian this is, I will believe you.
I try drinking cold water (that is supposed to help burn calories too), but I just feel almost sluggish afterwards and my mouth feels gross. It's only cold, refrigerated water - any type. If I drink cool water prefer it straight from the tap.
As for how Indian this is, I will believe you.
I try drinking cold water (that is supposed to help burn calories too), but I just feel almost sluggish afterwards and my mouth feels gross. It's only cold, refrigerated water - any type. If I drink cool water prefer it straight from the tap.@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
8 Jul 12
I'm not a big sweet person, so I use a lot less of the honey than suggested with the same amount - or a bit more - of them lemon. I'm going to the store tomorrow to pick up some turmeric. I'm interested to see how that changes up the drink.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
7 Jul 12
Don't get me wrong, I do exercise some and I have a 2 year old at home. I'm not sitting on my booty all day. However, I had hit a plateau about 2 months ago with my weight loss and this (the only factor I've changed) has helped my weight start going down again.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
8 Jul 12
Lol yeah, this drink is a cleansing drink so your kidneys, bowels, liver, ect get flushed and then you have the natural metabolism boost as well.
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
9 Jul 12
Hi friend, good to that you are impressed with the Indian drink and prepare it to drink. I am from India and take lemon juice a lot of times, it is good for our health, your new recipe is good, i will try this out.
@StrawberryShortcake1 (103)
• Canada
7 Jul 12
My mother has been drinking hot water with lemon for years. She has lost abit of weight from it... It has also helped with her diabetes. Her sugar levels have dropped a good amound since starting the hot lemon water. It is good also to drink while eating. It cuts the fat in the food.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
7 Jul 12
I have heard that about the fat cutting as well. I have no idea how true it is though. I know many cultures drink hot tea after/during a meal to aid digestion.
