Myth Busted: Do Hot Drinks Actually Cool You?

When it's crazy hot outside, we all have our little tricks to cool down, right?

There's an old saying that's popular in countries like India and China: sipping hot drinks, like tea, can help you chill. Sounds counter-intuitive, huh?

The logic is hot drinks make us sweat, which is our body's natural AC. But is there any science to back this up?

Let's dive in and find out together.

The Big Question:

"Does drinking hot tea or hot water really help you cool down in hot weather?"

To get a handle on this, we need to figure out what happens in our bodies when we drink something hot.

Here’s the pros and cons…

Pro: Old is Gold

This belief has deep roots in age-old healing systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. They believe in balancing the body's internal heat, and it's worked for many folks over the years.

Pro: Feels Like Cooling

Drinking a hot beverage might make you "feel" cooler for a bit, thanks to the contrast between the drink's heat and the air temperature.

Pro: The Sweat Factor

Hot drinks can get you sweating, which is how your body naturally cools down.

When you gulp down a hot drink, it sends a signal to your brain via thermoreceptors in your stomach - the message? Time to sweat it out!

Con: The Weather Game

The cooling effect from sweat depends on your location. To cool you down, sweat must evaporate off your skin, which doesn't work well in humid places.

Con: Heat Spike

Sipping hot drinks can raise your body's internal temperature because they're hot. That can make you feel warmer after you're done drinking.

Con: Just Uncomfortable

Let's be real - downing a hot drink when it's already boiling outside can be pretty uncomfortable. It could even make you feel like you're getting hotter, and may not quench your thirst.

Con: Dehydration Danger

If all that extra sweat you're producing doesn't evaporate effectively, you could lose more fluid and get dehydrated - not something you want in hot weather, especially if you’re exercising!

Myth Busting Time

Research from the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition" found no significant difference in how quickly food leaves the stomach (the 'gastric emptying rate' for the science buffs) between cold and hot water. But here's the kicker - folks who drank cold water ended up more hydrated than the ones who drank hot water [1] [2]. So hot water doesn't dehydrate you, but cold water might help you stay hydrated, particularly in hot, muggy weather.

Then there's this study from the "European Journal of Applied Physiology" found drinking cold water reduced sweating more than hot water. But oddly enough, both groups ended up equally hydrated [3]. So, while hot drinks might make you sweat more, they don't necessarily better hydrate you.

To sum it all up, while hot drinks might kickstart your body's natural cooling system, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

You've got to consider things like the weather outside, how comfortable you are, and whether you're staying properly hydrated.

While water is a great choice, rehydration salts or isotonic drinks can replace lost electrolytes during a heatwave.

When it's hot out, your best bet is to keep sipping on fluids you're satisfied with. Ultimately, listen to your body and choose a drink that makes you feel refreshed and hydrated.

Bonus: Mean Lean Smoothie

Beat the heat and stay hydrated with this Mean Lean “Hydration” Smoothie Recipe.

Wash all ingredients and place in a high-speed blender.

Ingredients:

• 2 kale leaves
• ½ avocado
• ½ apple
• ½ cucumber
• 1 celery stalk
• ½ lemon, juiced
• mint spring

And That's a Wrap!

So, while the idea of hot drinks cooling you down isn't nonsense (they can stimulate sweating), they're not necessarily your best bet when it's hot.

The latest research suggests that cold water better keeps you hydrated and controls your body temperature, especially when you're active.