Drinking hot water has become a new trending habit. Many people are stating that it benefits health by helping you lose weight, helping with digestion, and giving you glowing healthy skin.
While these claims have not been clinically tested or proven, it is still a fun thing to do to add into your daily habits. Plus, it is free and easy to do!
The theory behind drinking hot water is that you will feel satisfied with your drink before you even drink it. The temperature of the water makes you add more than just the typical amount of water you would drink.
Like said before, there are no proven benefits to drinking hot water, but it is up to you if you want to add this habit into your life. Try having a cup of warm or hot water before breakfast to see if you feel more full and hydrated.
Hot water can help you relax
Although this is a very basic function of water, relaxing benefits of hot water are often overlooked. Hot water can help you relax and relieve stress and anxiety.
Drinking hot water has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, which may help with thinking and reasoning skills. This is because blood carries oxygen and other nutrients to the brain, as well as carries away waste products such as lactic acid.
A good way to use hot water to relax is by taking a warm shower or bath. Even if you only have a few minutes, jumping into a warm shower can help relieve stress and anxiety.
Another way to use hot water for relaxation is by drinking it. There are many ways to do this, but the main ones are boiling water, adding ice cubes, or putting it in the fridge before drinking it. The first one increases the temperature of the water, the second one decreases the temperature of the water, but both have the same effects on the water.
Hot water is great for your skin
Although this is more of a secondary benefit, hot water is great for your skin. If you suffer from dry skin or eczema, showering in warm water will soothe your skin.
Dry skin is caused by a lack of moisture in the skin. Warm water will help bring additional moisture to the surface of the skin, making it more smooth and healthy looking.
If you are in a hurry and do not have time to let the water heat up, just add some boiling water to the shower with you. The heat from the water will help enhance the benefits of the warm water already there.
Hot water can also help rid your body of toxins. If you have a hard time sleeping because you are hot at night, try taking a bath or shower in warm or even hot water early in the morning. You will start your day feeling refreshed and more awake.
It helps you digest your food better
Although it may seem strange, drinking hot water can actually help you digest your food better. This is because hot water helps to stimulate blood circulation in the body.
Blood circulation helps carry nutrients and oxygen to the digestive system to help with digestion.
Hot water also helps to relax the muscles in the digestive system, helping everything work more efficiently. Plus, it aids in eliminating waste from the body.
If you find that you have symptoms of indigestion or flatulence after eating, try drinking a glass of warm water before going to bed to see if it helps prevent these symptoms in the morning.
Indigestion can be a problem for some people, so trying this simple trick can help prevent further issues down the road.
Hot water helps clear your nasal passages
Hot water helps clear your nasal passages and aids in breathing. If you’re suffering from congestion, try taking a relaxing shower or bath with warm to hot water.
Breathe in the hot water and let it soothe your sinuses and tighten up the blood vessels in your nose. This helps to clear out the mucus in your nose and makes it easier to breathe.
Plus, the heat will relax your muscles, including those in your face, neck, and shoulders. A good massage can add to the relief as well.
Showers are also more beneficial than baths for health reasons. According to Medical News Today, showering for at least eight minutes uses up enough water to make a difference.
Baths can be slightly more relaxing due to the warm water and relaxed state you enter, but they use more water.
It can provide some pain relief
People have been using hot water to soothe pain for centuries. For example, ancient Greeks and Romans took hot baths to relax and purify the body.
In more recent history, physicians have recommended heating pads and warm showers or baths as ways to relieve muscle and joint pain. Hot water has also been a part of pain management strategies in hospitals.
Studies show that heat activates certain nerve fibers in the skin that transmit a sensation of warmth to the brain. This signal prompts the body to relax tense muscles and reduces pain.
Heating up a cup of water isn’t as effective as taking a bath or shower, but it can still have benefits. It all comes down to how comfortable you feel while drinking the water.
Drinking hot water may help you stay hydrated, but it doesn’t really provide any other health benefits.
Helps keep your oral health better
Another advantage of hot water is that it helps to keep your oral health better. Hot water helps to clean your mouth by killing bacteria and washing away particles that stick to your teeth.
Particles such as food debris and plaque can build up on your teeth, gums, and tongue, causing a bad smell known as dental plaque. This is why it’s important to wash it away.
As mentioned before, the temperature of the water does not matter when it comes to cleaning your mouth. The problem occurs when the water is very hot or very cold.
Hot water can actually damage the tissues in your mouth which can lead to a poor taste or pain. Cold water can lead to swelling of the tissues which makes it harder to remove particles from the surface of the tissue.
Improves blood circulation
Drinking hot water has health benefits beyond just cleaning your mouth and teeth. It can improve your blood circulation throughout your body.
Many people suffer from poor blood circulation in their hands and feet as well as in other areas of the body. Hot water can help remedy this problem by improving the flow of blood to the entire body.
This is due to the fact that hot water increases the temperature of the body which causes the body to respond with increased circulation to cool it down.
The increased circulation is due to more active sweat glands which help remove excess heat from the body. This also helps improve sleeping patterns for those who are sleep deprived.
If you are one who suffers from poor blood circulation, try drinking a glass of hot water every day to see if you notice a difference in your overall health and well-being.
Reduces fatigue and improves performance
Over the past few years, more and more studies have shown the benefits of supplementing your diet with beta-alanine.
This amino acid is found in meat and protein foods, but relatively small amounts are consumed through diet. That’s why many people choose to supplement with beta-alanine.
Beta-alanine has been shown to reduce fatigue and improve performance in a number of different settings. It does this by increasing levels of another molecule called carnosine in the body.
When we exercise, our muscles breakdown chemicals called electrolytes. We know this because we lose salt and other minerals from our sweat.
Carnosine acts as a protective buffer against these electrolytes, keeping them from being too high or dropping too quickly. This helps us maintain energy and stamina during exercise.
