What are the 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Hot Water?

Water is essential for maintaining good health. After oxygen and food, water is the third most important resource for our body. But did you know that drinking hot water could sometimes be more beneficial than cold? In this article, we explore 10 surprising health benefits of drinking hot water and why it should be part of your daily routine.

10 Health Benefits of Drinking Hot Water

Drinking Hot Water: A Time-Honored Tradition

While in many Western countries, we typically associate hot water with morning beverages like tea, coffee, or wintertime herbal infusions, in other parts of the world, drinking hot water is a daily tradition with centuries-old roots. In the Middle East and Eastern countries, drinking hot water is considered a regular practice for promoting good health. 

In China, a country with a rich medical history dating back over 3,000 years, hot water is widely recommended for proper hydration, as it does not tax the body’s energy. According to a study published in Nutrition Reviews, water that’s closer to body temperature is absorbed more effectively. Drinking water at the right temperature prevents thermal shock, ensuring that the body doesn’t waste energy trying to heat or cool the water.

Health Benefits of Hot Water

Drinking hot water offers several health benefits. But what exactly are these benefits?

1. Cool Off in Summer with Hot Water

As surprising as it may sound, hot water is more effective than cold water for cooling the body. Our bodies are homeothermic, meaning our internal temperature stays constant around 37°C through sweating. Drinking hot water raises our internal temperature, triggering sweating, which helps expel heat from the body. However, more sweating means more water loss, so it’s essential to drink water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.

2. Warm Up in Winter

In winter, hot beverages help maintain a healthy body temperature. Besides warming you up, the nutrients in teas and herbal infusions are better absorbed, contributing to overall well-being.

3. Fight Cold Symptoms

Hot drinks are excellent for decongesting the nose and soothing sore throats. If you’re feeling under the weather, hot water is an easy remedy to relieve cold symptoms.

4. Improve Blood Circulation

The heat from hot water helps relax blood vessels and muscles. This improves blood flow and allows oxygen to circulate better throughout the body, while expelling toxins more efficiently. Healthy circulation is key to preventing issues like cramps, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases.

5. Support Healthy Skin

Drinking hot water encourages sweating, which opens up the pores, helping to release toxins. This can lead to clearer skin and reduced acne breakouts. Drinking hot water daily offers similar benefits to steam baths, but is far more convenient.

6. Promote Healthy Hair

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. The vascular tissues in the scalp deliver nutrients to the hair, promoting growth and vitality. Drinking hot water helps improve circulation, providing the scalp with essential nutrients.

7. Boost Calorie Elimination

Drinking hot water in the morning helps boost metabolism, which can reduce the accumulation of waste products that might otherwise turn into fat.

8. Prevent Premature Skin Aging

Hot water helps maintain skin elasticity by promoting the regeneration of skin cells. This can reduce wrinkles, making your skin look smoother and more youthful.

9. Aid Digestion

Hot water is highly effective for the digestive system. It helps break down food faster and promotes smoother digestion. Drinking hot water before or after meals can improve digestion and ease bowel movements.

10. Relieve Menstrual Pain

The heat from hot water can relax abdominal muscles, helping to relieve cramps and contractions associated with menstruation.

Conclusion

Drinking hot water offers numerous health benefits, from improving digestion to promoting healthier skin and hair. Incorporating this simple practice into your daily routine can have a significant positive impact on your overall well-being. Just make sure to drink water at the right temperature—between 37°C and 40°C—so that you can enjoy all these benefits without the risk of burning your mouth.

Medical Sources:

• Mayo Clinic: "Water: How much should you drink every day?"

• National Institutes of Health (NIH): "Hydration and Health"

• Harvard Health Publishing: "The importance of staying hydrated"

• Cleveland Clinic: "Benefits of Drinking Warm Water"