Ginger Water Recipe With Lemon: What It Can and Cannot Do

Quick answer: Simmer 2 inches of thinly sliced fresh ginger in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes, strain, and stir in lemon juice. It is a warm, spicy, hydrating drink. Ginger has been studied for nausea, mostly as supplements. We found no study showing that ginger water helps with weight loss, so enjoy it for the flavor.

Ginger water is one of the simplest drinks you can make: sliced fresh ginger, water and a little lemon. This ginger water recipe is warm and peppery on a cold day and refreshing over ice on a warm one. You will also see it promoted for nausea and weight loss, so below is what the research really says.

Ginger water variations at a glance

Variation	What it adds	What the research shows	Main caution
Plain ginger water	Ginger flavor and almost no calories	No study of ginger water found; most ginger research used supplements (NCCIH)	Stomach discomfort or heartburn are possible side effects (NCCIH)
With lemon juice	About 3 calories per tablespoon (USDA)	No study found that lemon adds any benefit	Same cautions as plain
With honey	About 21 calories per teaspoon (USDA)	No study found	Adds calories and sugar
Served cold over ice	Nothing: same drink, chilled	No difference found	Keep it cold and covered

Calories are from USDA FoodData Central and are estimates.

How to make ginger water

This ginger water recipe is a simple infusion: you simmer slices of ginger so some of its flavor moves into the water, then you strain it. The amount of ginger and the time on the heat set the strength. Two inches of ginger for two cups of water gives a balanced drink. Use more ginger or a longer simmer for a stronger bite. That is the whole ginger water recipe: one pot, one strainer, 20 minutes.

Cut the ginger into thin slices across the root. Thin slices give more flavor in the same time. If the ginger is well washed, you do not need to peel it.

Ginger lemon water and other ways to flavor it

The lemon version is the one most people want from a ginger water recipe. Adding lemon juice brightens the taste. One tablespoon of lemon juice has about 3 calories, according to USDA data. Honey makes the drink sweeter, and a teaspoon has about 21 calories.

More ideas, all about taste:

• Add a slice of lemon or orange to the pot.
• Stir in a cinnamon stick while it simmers.
• Serve it over ice with extra lemon.

We found no research showing that any of these add a health benefit, so choose the one you like best.

If you like warm drinks, our matcha latte recipe is another five-minute option. Another popular drink with big weight-loss claims is covered in our guide to the baking soda recipe for weight loss, where we also look at what the research says.

Tips for the best ginger water

• Slice thin. Thin coins release flavor faster than thick chunks.
• Keep the lid on and the heat low. A gentle simmer keeps more of the aroma in the pot than a hard boil.
• Taste before you sweeten. Lemon is often enough, and honey adds calories.
• Add the lemon at the end. Stirring it in after the heat is off keeps its fresh taste.
• Strain well. A fine strainer keeps small bits of ginger out of the cup.
• Make a small batch. Two cups is enough for a day, and you can scale it up.

If your ginger water is too strong or too mild

Too strong or too spicy: add hot water to the cup, or simmer for a shorter time next time. Too mild: use more slices or simmer a little longer. The right strength is the one you enjoy, because the ginger water recipe you like is the one you will make again.

What research says about ginger

Ginger has been used in folk medicine for a long time, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says there are many studies in people, though some were not high quality. It also says most studies on nausea tested dietary supplements rather than foods. That matters here: a cup of ginger water is not a supplement, and we do not know how much ginger ends up in a cup.

Nausea in pregnancy. NCCIH says research shows ginger may help. A 2022 meta-analysis (PMID 31937153) found that ginger supplementation significantly relieved nausea compared with placebo, but had no significant effect on vomiting. An earlier review (PMID 24642205) described potential benefits for nausea in pregnancy, with a limited number of studies and low-quality evidence.

Chemotherapy and surgery. NCCIH says it is uncertain whether ginger helps with nausea from chemotherapy or after surgery. A 2025 meta-analysis (PMID 38625733) found that ginger capsules taken alongside anti-nausea drugs helped manage severe chemotherapy-related nausea, particularly with the strongest chemotherapy regimens. That is a medical situation: talk to the care team before adding anything.

Motion sickness. According to NCCIH, most studies have not shown ginger to be helpful.

In short, ginger has some support for nausea in pregnancy, mostly from supplements. It is not a treatment, and a cup of ginger water is not proven to do the same.

Ginger water recipe for weight loss: what to expect

Ginger water is often sold as a weight-loss drink. We searched PubMed for trials and reviews on ginger and weight and found no study of ginger water. The studies we found are about ginger supplements, and they disagree:

• A 2025 meta-analysis with dose-response analysis (PMID 41101746) concluded that ginger supplementation does not seem effective in improving body weight and BMI.
• A 2024 review of 27 randomized trials (PMID 38261398) found that ginger may affect body composition, and called for better trials.
• A 2022 meta-analysis (PMID 36165525) found that ginger supplements can improve lipids and body weight at the right dose and duration, and said more studies are needed.

So the honest answer is that the evidence is mixed, comes from supplements and is not about a drink. A glass of ginger water adds almost no calories, which may help if it replaces a sugary drink, but we cannot promise it will change your weight.

Should you drink it in the morning or at night?

We found no research on the best time. Choose the time you enjoy it. If it gives you heartburn or an upset stomach, which NCCIH lists as possible side effects of ginger by mouth, make it weaker or skip it.

Safety: who should be careful

NCCIH lists abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea and mouth and throat irritation as possible side effects of ginger by mouth. It also says that if you take any medicine, you should talk with your health care provider before using ginger or other herbal products, because some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.

On pregnancy, NCCIH says ginger supplements during pregnancy may be safe, but you should consult your health care provider, and that little is known about ginger while breastfeeding. Those statements are about supplements. A cup of ginger water is a different amount, so ask your provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Nausea that is strong, lasts, or comes with other symptoms needs a doctor, not a drink.

Storing ginger water

Keep chilled ginger water in a covered jar in the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below (USDA cold food storage chart). The USDA says not to leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it is above 90°F. We did not test how long ginger water keeps, so make a fresh batch when in doubt.

How we researched this

• Ginger and health: we read the NCCIH page on ginger on October 18, 2026.
• Studies: a PubMed search on October 18, 2026 for trials and reviews on ginger with nausea, weight, obesity and blood glucose, plus a second search on ginger and weight. We read the conclusions and cite only what they say.
• Nutrition: values come from USDA FoodData Central for lemon juice and honey. We did not count the calories of the ginger, because it is strained out and discarded.
• Food safety: we read the USDA charts linked above.
• Not tested by us: we did not measure how much ginger ends up in the water or test any health effect.

Good to know

This article is general information. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace a conversation with your doctor or a registered dietitian. Nutrition values are estimates. If you have a health condition, take medicine, are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your healthcare professional before using ginger regularly.