5 reasons we should all be drinking hot water
Anything that promises to ease an upset stomach will galvanise the internet into trying it immediately. But like many things on Instagram and TikTok, what some believe is a newly discovered trend is actually something that many cultures have integrated into their routines for centuries. At a time when Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has never been more popular, one TCM practice the internet can’t stop raving about is sipping hot water.
Here, the experts break down why you should consider ditching ice and drinking warm water instead.
The benefits
Pasu Harisadee, CMD, traditional Chinese medicine educator at RAKxa Integrative Wellness, says that sipping warm water is considered a longevity habit in TCM that helps the digestive system and balances our energy’s flow. Warm water, she explains, is the “fuel” to the digestive fire and can help the body break down nutrients. “Heat is a vasodilator,” says Harisadee. “Drinking warm water helps relax the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and encourages the flow of chi (vital energy) and blood.”
“We can think of this digestive fire as a metaphor for our stomach and spleen, the organs responsible for digestion in TCM. They thrive on warmth, which allows food to be properly broken down, nutrients to be absorbed and healthy, strong chi to circulate throughout the body,” adds Saher Hussaini, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist and founder of Set Your Intention Acupuncture. “In contrast, iced cold water weakens our digestive functioning by forcing the body to expend additional energy to warm the contents of the stomach before digestion can even begin. Over time, this can lead to symptoms of bloating, sluggish digestion and that pesky feeling of post-meal fatigue.”
From a Western medicine perspective, Zulia Frost, MD, cofounder and clinical director of Recharge Health, says that drinking warm water promotes a “rest and digest” signal to the nervous system. It may also support digestion, reduce bloating and help stimulate bowel movement. Though she says that studies may be limited in warm water’s effects on our metabolism and that benefits are mostly indirect, it can support many things. Some of the most common benefits of drinking warm water include:
“Warmth helps the body metabolise fluids more efficiently,” says Harisadee. “[It can] help the body expel excess dampness and cold that causes sluggish digestion (and can keep the internal flow clear and light).” Dr Frost adds that warm liquids can help relax our gastrointestinal tract to support pushing food through our digestive system and encourage slower and more mindful drinking and eating.
Harisadee explains that the stomach’s energy is supposed to move downward to eliminate waste products in our bodies and warm water helps the body do that more efficiently.
Because warm water helps move waste products more easily, Harisadee says that drinking warm water can help with abdominal pain, such as period cramps, bloating and any other forms of discomfort.
If you’re struggling to drink enough water throughout the day, drinking warm water may be the answer. Dr Frost says that many people find that they hydrate better when drinking warm fluids.
Because warm water promotes a parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous system, Dr Frost says that warm water can help support relaxation and reduce stress-related digestive issues. She says it can also give you respiratory comfort, should you feel congested and have a calming ritual effect.
The downsides
Downsides are minimal, but there are a couple of things you should take note of. Dr Frost says that sipping very hot water outside of meals may release gastric juice prematurely, which could possibly cause digestive issues for those who are already dealing with a sensitive gut.
In TCM, Harisadee says that you have to consider if drinking hot water can cause disharmony in your body and energy. For example, if your body is already “overheating,” whether from a fever or you’re just naturally warm-blooded, she says that adding a hot liquid into the mix is like “throwing yang to wood onto a fire” and makes you feel even warmer. If you have a yin deficiency (meaning that your body is lacking in moisture and cooling properties), drinking warm water may make your dehydration worse. And if you’re suffering from inflammation or “damp heat,” she says that hot water can make that worse too.
How to drink hot water for best results
Harisadee says that there is no real “best” time to drink hot water. You just have to think about what feels right for your body. But if you’re looking for some structure to schedule your hot water, Hussaini usually tells patients to do so before and after their meals to activate and support their digestive system. She says that in TCM, the stomach chi is most active in the morning between 7 am and 9 am and it would be beneficial to support the stomach first thing in the morning.
“I have found that mornings are also an ideal window of time for increasing our hydration, as it becomes much harder to drink enough water once the workday gets busy,” she says. “It seems simple, but this has really made the biggest difference for so many of my patients’ well-being.”
Mixing in herbal ingredients into the water can also have added health benefits. In TCM, Harisadee says adding a lemon or a type of citrus can support the liver. Adding fresh ginger can be an immune booster. Adding a goji berry or the Chinese date jujube can help energise the body. Adding chamomile or chrysanthemum with licorice root can clear your internal heat and balance your energy. But if none of that interests you, you can just drink plain hot water. “Plain water is the most neutral and widely recommended baseline,” she says.
Dr Frost agrees and recommends that the simplest way is the way to go: sip warm (not boiling) water slowly, ideally in the morning or between meals and add something like a lemon or ginger for added digestion benefits. If you have a sensitive stomach, plain warm water is best. “The key is consistency, moderation and listening to your body rather than forcing a trend,” she says.