What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Hot Water Regularly

Water makes up about 60% of your body and is necessary to regulate temperature, eliminate waste, transport nutrients, and carry out countless other vital processes. Warm water can be a warming and soothing way to meet your daily hydration needs.

The main benefit of drinking water at any temperature is that it can keep you hydrated.

Water needs vary depending on factors such as body size, activity levels and environment. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that adult women consume between 67 and 91 ounces (2 to 2.7 liters) of water per day and adult men consume between 84 and 125 ounces (2.5 to 3.7 liters) per day.

Drinking fluids like water and eating foods rich in water can meet your hydration needs. Hydration is essential to overall health and can help support brain function, prevent kidney stones and constipation, and maintain a healthy weight.

Drinking more water is linked to several health benefits, including lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Studies show that a short-term increase in water consumption can also improve your health. One study found that increasing daily water intake from 1.3 liters (43.9 ounces) to 2.0 liters (67.6 ounces) without changing calorie intake led to a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (the highest number), an increase in total body water concentration, and an improvement in markers of kidney function.

This means that increasing your water intake by sipping hot water could improve and protect your short- and long-term health.

Although research is limited, some evidence suggests that drinking warm, hot water may improve your appetite, which could benefit those trying to gain weight or those with poor appetites.

A small study found that food intake and appetite were lower in those who drank 500 milliliters (16.9 ounces) of water at 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) compared to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius).

Researchers found that cold water slowed stomach contractions, thereby reducing appetite, while hot water sped up contractions, thereby increasing appetite.

For this reason, drinking warm or hot water can benefit people with a poor appetite and who need to increase their calorie intake. Further research is needed to confirm this potential benefit.

There’s a reason why most people crave hot drinks like tea or lemon water when they’re feeling under the weather. Drinking warm water can temporarily soothe symptoms such as sore throats, headaches and congestion.

An older study found that drinking a hot beverage improved nasal airflow, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, chills and fatigue in people with a cold or flu. Room temperature drinks only improved the symptoms of runny nose, coughing, and sneezing.

This suggests that having a cup of hot water rather than room temperature water may be more effective in improving cold or flu symptoms.

Illnesses like the flu can also lead to dehydration, triggering headaches and other symptoms. Staying hydrated can help treat and prevent headaches and help your body recover from illnesses faster.

Drinking warm water can also support your overall digestive health.

Dehydration can lead to several digestive issues, from constipation to an imbalanced microbiome (the community of organisms in your digestive tract). Studies show that people who drink more water have lower rates of constipation than those who don’t drink enough. Dehydration slows the movement of stools through the digestive tract and makes them drier and more difficult to pass.

Dehydration also disrupts the balance of microbes in your gut, making it harder for your body to eliminate pathogens and fight infections.

Some evidence suggests that drinking water in warmer temperatures may impact your mood and cognitive health.

One study found that participants who drank tea heated to 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) experienced more positive emotional reactions, including happiness and satisfaction. Drinks at colder temperatures of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) and 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) were associated with more negative emotional responses.

These results suggest that sipping warm beverages, such as hot water, may produce more positive and calming sensations than drinking lukewarm or cold beverages.

Dehydration has also been shown to impact mood, energy levels, and mental performance in people of all ages. A recent study found that low hydration levels were associated with greater declines in cognitive function in older adults over a two-year period.

While drinking hot water can benefit your health in several ways, drinking water that is too hot is associated with health risks.

Studies show that regular consumption of beverages hotter than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) is associated with an increased risk of oral and esophageal cancer. Research suggests that very hot drinks trigger an increase in the rate of cell division, which increases the risk of developing cancer.

Drinking very hot drinks can also burn your mouth and esophagus. Avoid regularly drinking beverages over 140 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent these risks.

If you like drinking hot water, there are several ways to enjoy it:

• Drink warm water with a splash of fresh citrus juice for added vitamin C and antioxidant benefits.
• Prepare a soothing tea with hot water and herbal teas, such as hibiscus or chamomile
• Sip a cup of warm water when you feel sick to soothe symptoms like sore throat and cough.
• Drink warm water first thing in the morning and before bed to improve your overall hydration status