The weather is finally turning favorable and that means it’s time to break out the hot coffee, or at least that people will stop looking at you funny for drinking a nice pour-over on a 100° day. And the switch from cold to hot drink may come with additional health benefits. According to a new study, beverage temperature is associated with mental and gut health.
Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers from San Diego State University examined the effects of hot and cold food and drinks on over 400 healthy adult Americans as part of the Healthy Aging Survey. The group was a near even split between Asian Americans and white Americans, both of whom were asked to report on “their frequency of cold and hot drink and meal intake, along with symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia and gastrointestinal issues.”
When adjusting for cofounders, the researchers found that among the Asian population, consuming cold beverages in the hotter summer months had a higher association with instances of anxiety and abdominal fullness. Meanwhile, white folks who drank hot drinks in the colder months were less likely to suffer from insomnia or have gas symptoms.
In analyzing subgroups among the Asian population, researchers found that Chinese participants who consumed the least cold food and drink experienced fewer negative outcomes while Indian individuals “showed stronger associations between cold consumption and adverse health effects.”
Researchers state these findings were more strongly associated in individuals with cold hands, which can be a sign of poor blood circulation.
The study notes that in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, consuming cold food and drink is considered unhealthy, but warm/hot food and drink is harmless or at times beneficial, particular during the winter. Such suggestions don’t exist in Western medicine.
One potential explanation for the distinctive effects of hot and cold beverages is how they impact the gut microbiome. Previous studies have shown that cold beverage can disrupt the microbiota and reduce core body temperature in elderly individuals, both of which have been linked negative health outcomes like impaired gut circulation and mental health issues.
Meanwhile things like heating therapy and drinking warm or hot water have been shown to improve blood circulation and alleviate gastrointestinal issues, helping to maintain core body temperature in patients during surgical procedures.
The sample size is currently limited and the results are purely correlative, but they appear to indicate that warmer beverages offer higher upsides for a person’s health, especially when consumed in the months they are deemed seasonally appropriate. I of course will continue to drink my hot coffee all year round because I like it and would do it even if it killed me. But it’s nice to know that it wont.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
