People Drink Cold Beverages to Cope With the Summer Heat. Science Suggests You Should Do the Opposite

Summer is around the corner, and staying well-hydrated is essential. The heat makes a glass of cold water especially appealing, but some say that hot water is even better. Is this a myth, or is there a valid reason behind it?

Drinking water. In the end, the most important thing is to drink water, whether hot or cold. Water keeps your body hydrated, which is the main goal. However, drinking hot water and cold water can have different effects on your body.

Better digestion. Hot herbal teas are a popular choice after meals. Beverages such as coffee, tea, and chamomile are often enjoyed, particularly after a hearty meal. When you drink these beverages, you’re essentially consuming hot water, which helps hydrate your body and aids the movement of food through your digestive system.

While hydration itself plays a significant role, some studies suggest that temperature may also impact digestion. A 2016 study investigated patients who had recently undergone colon surgery. It found that drinking warm water had a “favorable impact” on their subsequent bowel movements.

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Drinking a Glass of Water Before a Meal Is a Popular ‘Trick’ for Losing Weight. Science Says Otherwise

Losing weight by drinking water? In 2023, a group of researchers conducted an experiment. One group of participants was required to consume a certain amount of warm or hot water after meals. Meanwhile, the control group drank the same amount of water at an unspecified temperature. The research team reported that the group consuming hot water lost body mass at a faster rate than the control group.

This might explain why we often associate beverages like tea with weight loss. The diuretic effects of some teas and the benefits of others on intestinal transit could be linked to the simple act of drinking hot water. However, the evidence is currently limited, which means hot water can’t be included among the “miracle diets” yet.

Cooling down with hot water. It may sound unappetizing, but hot infusions are a staple in some of the world’s hottest environments. Our bodies maintain a temperature of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When you consume something at a higher temperature, your bodies absorb that heat. This doesn’t seem like a good strategy.

Surprisingly, it works sometimes. Experts say the key lies in how your body dissipates heat through sweating. Drinking a hot beverage can activate nerve receptors that signal your brain that the temperature is higher than it really is. This prompts your body to start sweating and dissipate heat through the water you excrete from your skin. Staying hydrated is also crucial for this process.

However, drinking hot water to cool down can be counterproductive in certain situations, especially in high-humidity environments. Humidity makes it harder for sweat to evaporate, hindering the body’s ability to cool down.

Temperature and hydration. Regardless of temperature, the most important property of water is its ability to hydrate. Our bodies need this liquid to survive, and beverages are our primary source of hydration. However, not all beverages hydrate equally. Does the temperature of water affect its hydrating capacity?

A 2013 study examined how water temperature affects the rehydration process. Water that is too hot can trigger sweating, leading to additional water loss during rehydration. In contrast, water that is too cold or too hot may cause you to drink less. Researchers found that the most effective rehydration occurs when consuming cool water at around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature similar to that of tap water.

Image | Piotr Chrobot

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