The Benefits of Honey & Lemon
Mar. 20, 2008 by Lisa Currie
As an alternative to cough medicine, consider honey, reports the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter.
A recent study from Pennsylvania State University of children (2 and older) with colds found that a teaspoon of honey at 
bedtime worked better than a cough suppressant (artificially honey-flavored) or no treatment. Never give honey to infants less than a year old, however, since it may contain botulism spores, which can be fatal to babies. Some researchers theorize that any sweet liquid preparation may help reduce coughing.
And if you drink tea, the Wellness Letter also reports that adding lemon helps preserve tea’s antioxidants, according to a study from Purdue University. Tea – particularly green tea – is rich in catechins, antioxidants linked to reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. When researchers looked at the effects of milk, citrus juices and other added ingredients on catechin levels in tea during simulated digestion, they found that lemon juice preserved nearly 80% of the catechins. Normally, these substances are fairly unstable and most break down before the body can absorb them.