6 Top Benefits & Side Effects Of Drinking Hot Water

Drinking adequate amounts of water is very important to keep our body hydrated and it does not matter whether it is cold water or hot water. Apart from hydration there are few other benefits to drinking hot water too. I usually love to drink hot water when the climate is very cold or when I have a throat pain or suffer from indigestion and and I was thrilled to learn that most of these habits are backed by a clinical research!

6 Top Benefits Of Drinking Hot Water

1. Improves Nasal Airflow

Any hot drink, it does not matter whether it is hot water or hot tea helps improve nasal air flow when we are suffering from cold or flu. In a study done on 30 subjects suffering from cold and flu, drinking a hot drink improved symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, cough and sore throat, chilliness and tiredness !

The same drink at room temperature only provided relief from runny nose, cough and sneezing. If you are suffering from cold or flu and don’t have the energy to make any warm drink, just have a cup of hot water, it will help.

2. Keeps Us Hydrated

We constantly loose water throughout the day and especially, if you are living in a very hot country like India, it is very important that we stay hydrated. Usually the daily suggested amount of water that a man needs in a day is around 3 litres and for women, it is 2 litres.

This amount can vary depending upon your activity level and also the place where you staying. Consuming water rich foods, herbal teas and best of all, plain water (whether it’s cold or hot water) is the best for staying hydrated. Aim to drink the suggested amount everyday and you will see a marked improvement in your overall health.

3. Treats Constipation & Helps With Flatulence.

As we all know, dehydration is one of the most common causes for constipation and drinking adequate amounts of water is one of the most effective ways to relieve constipation. Drinking warm water has been proven to help with flatulence in post-operative patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

In the study, 60 patients were observed after the operation, 30 patients were control group and the rest 30 were given 200 ml warm water after the surgery. The study proved that drinking warm water significantly decreased the amount of time required for passing gas after the operation and had positive impact on intestinal movements. Drinking warm water before colonoscopy helps reduce pain and is especially helpful for patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

4. Keeps Us Warm

During cold climates, I love sipping on hot water and always feel warm immediately after drinking it. I found an interesting study that proved that there are thermoreceptors along our gastrointestinal tract that independently has an effect on sweating. It was observed that when a person drinks hot water, there was sharp change in the sweat rate within a minute of consuming.

This is not due to heat transfer as it would take some time for the heat to transfer but because of the presence of thermoreceptors in the gastrointestinal tract which has a capacity to modulate sweating. So if a person is shivering, a cup of hot water will greatly help warm up the body immediately. Though it is not effective for modifying the core body temperature completely, it will definitely help improve thermal comfort.

5. A Natural Detox Drink

We all hear the word detox a lot and so many packaged drinks are sold as detox drinks. In my humble opinion, warm water is the best detox drink in the world as it helps flush out the toxins. Drinking adequate amounts of water helps lower blood pressure, increases body temperature, dilutes blood waste materials, reduced blood urea nitrogen concentration and also protects kidney function.

Along with all the above mentioned benefits, it also helps with digestion. I always have a cup of warm water after consuming foods that are difficult to digest like deep fried snacks, it greatly helps prevent indigestion and also sluggishness that we usually experience after consuming very oily foods.

6. Improves Our Mood:

One of the simplest ways to fight off stress and improve our mood is by drinking adequate amounts of water. In an interesting study, 22 habitual high volume water drinkers were asked to decrease their water consumption to 1 litre a day for a period of 3 days and 30 low-volume water drinkers were asked to increase their daily water intake to 2.5 litres a day.

In the group with increased water consumption, there was a significant decrease in fatigue and thirst, better mood and sleep patterns. The group with low water intake experienced significant reduction in calmness, positive emotions and activity levels. If you are feeling low or anxious, try increasing your water intake.

Drinking Hot Water Side Effects:

When you are drinking hot water, make sure that it is not scalding hot else it can burn the tongue and the soft lining of the oesophagus. Drinking adequate amount of water is important but don’t overdo it. Too much of water consumption can lead to side effects like headache, tiredness, nausea, imbalance in electrolyte levels leading to cramps, etc.

Tips To Improve Water Intake:

• If you don’t like to drink plain hot water, add in few slices of lemon to improve the taste.
• You can also add in herbs like mint or rosemary to enhance the taste, they will also help improve digestion.
• If you feel sluggish try consuming a cup of hot water infused with spices like jeera or ajwain.
• If you are shivering, drink a cup of hot water, it will immediately help bring down the shivers.
• If you are suffering from cold or cough or stuffy nose, have a cup of hot water infused with tulsi leaves, it will greatly help.