By Francis Taylor, Executive Editor
I used to think that a tall glass of ice-cold water was the best way to quench my thirst on a hot day until I was walking on the beach in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, many years ago. I encountered several native men fishing on the beach and after a brief chat offered to buy them a beer. I walked back to my hotel and purchased five cold beers only to learn that they would refuse the cold beer and asked for beer that had not been refrigerated.
I later learned that warm beverages, including warm water provides pain relief and boosts weight loss. By drinking a cup of hot water first thing in the morning, you can jump-start your metabolism. Warm water increases body temperature and increases the rate at which your metabolism burns calories.
Warm water prevents premature aging. Drinking warm water helps to flush compounds from the body that can accelerate aging. It also improves skin elasticity by aiding in cellular repair.
Hot water clears nasal and throat congestion. Hot water is a wonderful natural treatment for colds. It can naturally dissolve phlegm and clear your airways. It not only clears out nasal congestion, but it also soothes sore throat symptoms as well.
Hot water [prevents constipation. Hot water can help you to maintain bowel movement regularity. Dehydration is a frequent cause of recurring constipation problems. Not to mention that the movement of the bowel slows down as it fills up. The hot water can finish breaking down food remnants and flush them through the intestines.
Warm water aids your digestive process. It is believed that drinking cold water during a meal might promote hardening of oils in the food and lead to a fat deposit in the intestine. As mentioned previously, warm water boosts metabolism and aids the digestive process.
Hot water detoxifies your body. The act of drinking hot water naturally raises the temperature of the body. As the body temperature rises it activates the process of sweating, which flushes toxins out of the body through the pores of the skin. The extra hydration also helps the function of the kidneys to flush waste material out of the body, along with toxins.
According to Dr. Michael Wald, the director of Nutritional Services at Integrated Medicine and Nutrition in Mount Kisco, New York, consuming hot water activates receptors found in the stomach, esophagus, intestines and mouth. This stimulates pleasure regions of the brain and improves your outlook.
Practitioners of Chinese Medicine believe that drinking warm water that is similar to the temperature of the body maintains balance. They believe that extremes of either hot or cold throw off the body’s yin and yang. Imbalances are believed to be responsible for symptoms like chills, depression, thirst, “foggy” thinking, sleepiness, bloating and more.
Drinking warm water breaks down fat deposits that are present in the body and blood stream. The warmth increases the flow of blood circulation and promotes the removal of toxins. The increased circulation induces muscle relaxation, which can reduce pain.
A great way to enjoy warm water is by adding a squeeze or two of fresh lemon juice. This is especially beneficial first thing in the morning. Lemons contain citric acid, magnesium, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, pectin, calcium and limonene, which supercharge our immunity so that the body can fight infection. They also help to lower the activity of free radicals and increase the breaking down of body fat, also known as adipose tissue.
On the other hand, here is what is known about cold water. Cold water can interfere with many healthy bodily processes and be detrimental to your well-being in the following ways:
Cold water robs you of nutrients: The body’s natural temperature is 98.6 Fahrenheit. When you drink something that is very cold, your body must spend an exorbitant amount of energy to regulate your core temperature. This takes away energy that is needed to digest food and absorb nutrients.
Cold water may cause a sore throat: Extremely cold water may cause respiratory mucosa to build up, resulting in increased chance of infection causing a sore throat and can increase your risk of headache: According to a 2001 study, women who had experienced a migraine in the last year were twice as likely to trigger a headache by drinking cold water.
Thank you my Jamaican brothers and thank you for the glass of warm water!
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