What Are the Benefits of Drinking Hot Water?
Hot lemon water or just plain hot water is calming and helpful to many. Warm water helps promote better digestion, ease muscle tension, and increase body temperature. Like cold water, it also aids in maintaining your fluid intake. Your health and well-being must stay hydrated.
Compared to drinking cold water, some people assert that drinking hot water especially can help with digestion, ease congestion, and even encourage relaxation.
There isn't much scientific study on the health advantages of hot water, thus the majority of the benefits are based on anecdotal stories. This medication works well for many people, particularly when taken in the morning or right before bed.
Some research indicates that the ideal range for hot beverages is 54–71°C (130–160°F).
Drinking anything hotter than that can cause injuries or burns.
Try making lemon water by adding a twist of lemon to hot water for an additional nutritional boost and some vitamin C.
Ten potential health benefits of drinking hot water are examined in this article.
May relieve nasal congestion
Steam is produced by hot water in a cup. Taking a deep breath of the mild vapor produced by holding a cup of hot water will help clear congested sinuses and even alleviate sinus headaches.
Warming up your sinuses and throat with hot water will help relieve sore throats brought on by mucus accumulation because your sinuses and throat are covered in mucous membranes.
A hot beverage, like tea, provides fast, long-lasting relief from a runny nose, coughing, sore throat, and fatigue, per a previous 2008 study. Compared to the identical drink at room temperature, the hot beverage had greater effectiveness.
May aid digestion
Water consumption keeps the digestive system functioning. The body can better expel waste as the water passes through your intestines and stomach.
Some people think that activating the digestive system is particularly effective when one drinks hot water.
Hot water is also thought to be able to break down and disperse food that your body may have had difficulty digesting.
Although a 2016 study shows that warm water may have positive benefits on bowel motions and gas ejection following surgery, more research is required to confirm this advantage.
Meanwhile, there's no harm in trying this as a treatment if you find that drinking hot water facilitates better digestion.
May improve central nervous system function
Drinking too little water—hot or cold—may negatively impact how well your nervous system works, which can then have an impact on your mood and cognitive abilities.
Research from 2019 indicates that consuming water might elevate mood and central nervous system activity.
According to this study, drinking water decreased participants' self-reported anxiety and increased their brain activity during taxing tasks.
May help relieve constipation
Constipation is frequently brought on by dehydration. Constipation can often be effectively relieved and prevented by drinking water. Drinking enough water softens and facilitates the passage of feces.
Regularly consuming hot water may assist in maintaining regular bowel motions.
Keeps you hydrated
Some evidence suggests that cold water is better for rehydrating, but water of any temperature will keep you hydrated.
According to the Institute of Medicine, men should drink 112 ounces (3.3 liters) of water per day, while women should drink 78 ounces (2.3 liters) per day. Water from food, such as fruits, vegetables, and anything that melts, is included in those numbers.
Additionally, whether you're nursing a baby, working in a hot climate, or participating in rigorous activities, you need a lot more water.
Consider having a cup of hot water at the beginning and end of the day. The importance of water cannot be emphasized because your body needs it for almost all vital processes.
Reduces shivering in the cold
A 2017 study found that shivering is the body's normal reaction to cold, drinking warm liquids can help lessen shivering, according to a reliable source.
Subjects drank water at various temperatures, up to 126°F (52°C), while wearing suits circulated with somewhat warm water.
Researchers discovered that individuals had to exert less effort to maintain their body temperature when they drank the hot water quickly. According to the study, that might be useful for people who work out or work in chilly weather.
Improves circulation
Everything from your blood pressure to your risk of cardiovascular disease is impacted by healthy blood flow.
Your arteries and veins, which are your body's circulatory organs, will enlarge and distribute blood more efficiently when you take a warm bath.
The impact of drinking hot water can be comparable. There isn't much evidence, though, that this works.
Taking a warm bath or drinking a hot drink at night can also help you relax and prepare for a restful sleep.
May decrease stress levels
If you drink hot water, you may find that your anxiety level decreases since it enhances central nervous system processes.
A 2014 study found that consuming less water was associated with lower levels of happiness, tranquility, and good emotions.
Thus, maintaining hydration may lift your spirits and promote calmness.
May help the body’s detoxification systems
A 2020 study indicated that drinking more water can help preserve the kidneys while dissolving waste elements in the blood, yet there is no conclusive evidence that hot water has any particular benefits in this regard.
The Arthritis Foundation says that water is important for keeping your body clean. It can also help you avoid gout, lower swelling, and keep your joints smooth.
May help relieve symptoms of achalasia
When you have achalasia, your esophagus has difficulty passing food down to your stomach.
Achalasia patients have difficulty swallowing. Foods could feel as though they are caught in their esophagus rather than going down to the stomach. We refer to this as dysphagia.
The reason behind this is unknown, although a 2012 study suggested that persons with achalasia may find it easier to digest food if they drink warm water.
What are the risks?
Water that is too hot can hurt your esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. It can also make your tongue and taste buds sore. Be very careful when drinking hot water. Cold water, not hot water, is better for making your body hydrated.
However, drinking hot water is usually not harmful and can be used as a treatment.
The bottom line
Although the advantages of drinking hot or cold water have not been thoroughly studied, it is generally accepted that drinking hot water is safe and can help you stay hydrated all day.
You can easily make drinking hot water a habit. Start your day with a cup of hot water that has cooled down a bit. If you don't like tea or coffee, try hot water with lemon.
Do some light stretching along with drinking hot water, and you'll feel more energetic and ready for the day.
You can make warm water more enjoyable by squeezing some lemon or lime juice into it. This will give it a fresh and tangy flavor.
Drinking warm water before bed can help you relax after a hectic day. You'll sleep better knowing the health benefits of warm water.
