WE may all be sweltering in the summer heat, but research undertaken by Worcester Bosch indicates the very thing to cool us down might be a hot beverage.
The company asked Ron Eccles, Emeritus Professor at Cardiff University and former Director of the Common Cold Centre, to explore how our preference for hot or cold drinks can make us hot under the collar – and provide tips on combating such moments to create the most comfortable home environment possible.
As Eccles explains: “Body temperature is actually very closely regulated and rarely changes. What is more important is the perception of temperature, as we can feel hot and bothered by very slight increases in bodily temperature. Likewise, we can feel cold when there is a cooling of the skin and no change in body temperature at all.”
So what beverage should we be reaching for to maintain this feeling of a comfortable body temperature? As would be expected, when we feel hot, our instinct is to reach for a cold drink due to the refreshing effect is has on our bodies. Eccles also notes that a cold beverage has “an immediate alerting effect and can also relieve thirst more effectively than a drink at room temperature”, making our bodies feel more comfortable and revitalised.
But ironically, hot drinks may actually prove more effective in cooling us down in the summer period and help maintain a comfortable temperature. Although this sounds counter-intuitive, Eccles explains “a hot drink can promote sweating and therefore help to cool you down more than consuming a cold drink.” Fortunately for tea and coffee lovers, both drinks have the same stimulant effect and may promote sweating in the same manner, so you won’t have to choose between your favourite brews!
The benefits of hot drinks do not end there, and Eccles recommends that anyone struggling with a summer cold over the coming months should turn to a warm beverage. “When suffering from a cold”, he says, “a hot drink will not only make you feel warmer but will help relieve symptoms such as a persistent cough and sore throat.”
For those seeking a winter warmer – something to make us feel warm and comfortable – a bowl of warm soup would be Eccles’ number one choice, with a sprinkle of pepper added to heighten the effect. “Pepper makes us feel red in the face, and in turn feel warmer. Yet, it has no actual effect on body temperature”, he says. However, while spicy and peppery foods make us feel warmer, they are actually the key to helping us cool down. Eccles notes: “Spicy foods contain the chemical capsaicin, and although this can make people feel warm, it can also promote sweating which may help people cool down.”
Interestingly, the amount of stress an individual is under may also impact feeling hot or cold due to the effect it has on our bodies. “Although there are a number of factors that must be considered”, Eccles highlights, “stress and fear can cause the constriction of skin blood vessels which could make you feel colder.”
