Drinking Hot Water - A Healthier Temperature
//Colder yet older//
Cracking open a cold one or quenching my first with some ice cold water has always been a refreshing feeling. Yet as my age progresses, and the seasons shift to cold and dry climates, I have found great benefit in drinking hot water. Our body is made up of about 60% of water and we should be aiming to sufficiently hydrate as appropriate. Simply paying attention to water consumption will help to improve mental health and physical conditions considerably. It’s also highly important to take in enough water when your body is feeling under the weather to combat possible invasions of foreign bodies. With viruses and bacteria creeping in all over, getting into the habit of drinking water is not a bad idea.
//Hot or Cold//
Cold water has actually been shown to cause adverse effects in the body during exercise and disrupts homeostasis processes. In fact, when trying to feel cooler, drinking a sudden rush of ice cold water causes restricted blood flow. The body tries to maintain stability and will try to stop heat from escaping as much as possible. If the surrounding environment is dry and of a relatively low temperature, it’s better to drink something warm to promote sweating and accelerate the cooling process of the body.
//Mental improvement//
Drinking water is common but how often do you opt for a cup of hot water? Chinese medicine has long since prescribed balance of hot and cold. It’s believed that it helps with blood pressure and detoxification of the body. Modern science has only recently been interested in the value of consuming hot water in the last decade. I was particularly interested to find out about the effects of certain beverages on mental wellbeing. Studies carried out in in 1997 found that the consumption of hot water would ease stress management and lower anxiety levels. While caffeine is a big part of daily stimulus, heat is an important factor in achieving feelings of relaxation.
//Stable and metabolic//
Increasing metabolism has also been linked to hot water and for those wishing to burn some more calories, warm drinks may be the way to go for residual support. I struggle to drink heaps of water and will tend to use herbal tea as a way to add flavour and healthy nutrients to my daily beverage. It also gives me the motivation to take a break from whatever I’m doing and prepare a drink. In some cases it might be seen as a placebo, if one was not consuming enough water in the first place, the noticeable effects may be amplified. Regardless of this, hot water boiled and cooled for consumption is a great addition to a daily lifestyle that is directed to stability and better wellbeing.
Sources
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319673.php#benefits-of-drinking-hot-water
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs002130050438?LI
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-drinking-hot-water
https://www.runtastic.com/blog/en/stay-cool-warm-cold-drinks/