Many of us reach for coffee or tea first thing in the morning, but you may want to switch up your morning drink of choice to hot water. Not to discredit coffee or tea, but many of us drink these beverages with added sugar or cream, making them less healthy. Drinking simple hot water instead can actually go a long way for your health. Learn about these benefits by reading on.
Health benefits of drinking hot water
Improves digestion: Hot water helps break down food so if you’re suffering from indigestion or constipation, then drinking hot water can help move things along. Hot water also helps to widen blood vessels in the bowels to help prevent constipation.
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Relieves cramps: If you’re a woman dealing with period pains and cramps, then hot water is your best friend. Hot water helps relax muscles and reduce the bloating that often occurs with menstruation.
Aids weight loss: It’s recommended that you drink water when you feel those slight hunger pangs because you may actually just be dehydrated. Furthermore, drinking water helps you feel full so in turn you eat less. When you consume hot water, it can help you cut down on your portion sizes and increase your metabolic rate, which means you burn more calories. Lastly, drinking hot water helps break down fat deposits, which is part of successful weight loss.
Encourages detoxification: Water in general helps you detox, but hot water is especially detoxifying. This is because it promotes urination and makes you sweat, meaning those nasty toxins can exit from your pores. Hot water also promotes better circulation and purifies the blood. And with proper detoxification, you can prevent premature aging.
Relieves nasal decongestion: Gently inhaling the warm vapors of hot water can help loosen clogged sinuses and even help relieve a sinus headache. Drinking hot water can also warm and soothe a sore throat.
Calms the central nervous system: Drinking hot water can stimulate your nervous system, priming it for healthy and controlled reactions. This can help you have fewer aches and pain as well as feel calmer throughout your day.
Improves circulation: Having a similar effect as taking a warm bath, drinking hot water can also help to improve blood circulation. Additionally, drinking a warm beverage before bed can help you relax and get to sleep much quicker.
Can decrease stress levels: Drinking hot water can make you feel less anxious as its warmth can soothe the central nervous system. One study even found that adding warm milk increases calmness.
Helps relieve constipation: Hot water can cause the muscles in the digestive tract to contract, promoting the passage of waste through the intestines. This works best when hot water is consumed on a regular basis but may also be effective during rare periods of constipation.
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Comfort arthritis: Using warm water in baths and pools can help ease pain and discomfort caused by arthritis. The use of hot water bottles or bags may also prove beneficial. Warm water is great for relieving joint pain, cramps, and muscle spasms.
As you can see, there are several benefits to drinking your water hot. Although it may seem boring, the benefits really speak for themselves. If you do find hot water to be dull and not your cup of tea, then simply add a few lemon slices to boost its flavor and make it an even more powerful health beverage.
Related: Is drinking eight glasses of water a day a myth?
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
