As temperatures soar, many are taking precautions to beat the heat, from staying indoors with curtains drawn to savoring icy treats. While the instinct may not be to reach for a hot drink, research suggests that a steaming cup of tea or coffee could actually help cool you down.
A study conducted in 2012 by University of Ottawa researchers explored the impact of hot beverages on body temperature. Surprisingly, the findings indicated that consuming a hot drink can lead to a decrease in body heat.
Dr. Ollie Jay, one of the study’s authors, shared with Smithsonian Mag that hot drinks prompt increased sweating, which aids in dissipating heat as the sweat evaporates from the skin.
Sweating is a natural cooling mechanism for the body, allowing excess heat to escape as the sweat evaporates. However, in humid environments, this cooling process is less effective, rendering hot drinks less beneficial for cooling purposes.
Dr. Jay emphasized that in extremely hot and humid conditions, where sweat evaporation is limited, opting for a cold drink would be more effective in lowering body temperature. In dry heat, though, hot beverages can indeed help cool you down.
Ultimately, the key takeaway is that hot drinks can be cooling in dry heat, but in humid climates, it’s better to stick to cold beverages for optimal cooling effects.