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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Some of us cannot face the day without a steaming hot cup of coffee. Others prefer to sip from a mug of tea. But what about drinking simple hot water? As it turns out, a warm glass of H20 might provide a few health benefits. The practice of drinking hot water long has been used in Chinese medicine as a way of promoting health. Today, this traditional form of drink is making a comeback among some people.

The benefits of drinking hot water

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of drinking hot water is that is helps to keep you hydrated. “Opting for warm or hot water may be beneficial if you prefer it over cooler water,” says Carrie Dennett, a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Nutrition by Carrie. “During cold weather, drinking warm or hot water may feel warming and comforting.” Hot water also might be a better alternative to coffee, which contains caffeine, a diuretic that can lead to more frequent urination. But the positive impacts of drinking hot water don’t stop there. “Drinking warm or hot water can help improve digestion, and promote relaxation,” says Ana Reisdorf, a registered dietitian and founder of The Food Trends, a website that features discussions about issues related to food that are trending. Research has found that drinking hot water might relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, promoting digestion. For this reason, it can make sense to drink warm water before a meal. A warm beverage also might help to keep you regular. “Some people find that drinking a warm beverage in the morning helps facilitate bowel movements,” says Dennett, who is also is a Seattle Times nutrition columnist and author of “Healthy for Your Life: A Non-Diet Approach to Optimal Well-Being.” Drinking warm water can even give your weight-loss efforts a boost. Researchers have long known that drinking water increases the sense of feeling full, but one study also found that drinking warm water increases metabolism for up to 40 minutes. Other benefits of drinking hot water are similar to those of indulging in any hot drink. For example, warm drinks can help to raise your body temperature when its cold outside. The heat from a drink also may expand blood vessels, improving circulation. “If you have a cold, warm or hot beverages can help promote mucus flow and ease congestion,” Dennett says. Sipping on warm water can also aid in detoxification, which is the process of removing toxins from the body. However, Reisdorf  notes that “this is no different from drinking room-temperature water.”

The potential drawbacks of drinking hot water

On the other hand, there are some potential drawbacks to drinking hot water. “Drinking water that is too hot can increase your risk of burning yourself and might irritate the lining of the esophagus,” Reisdorf says. Drinking hot water can also temporarily damage taste buds or scald your tongue. One way to avoid these problems is to keep your water from becoming too hot. Experts generally suggest that you avoid drinking hot fluids that are warmer than 136 degrees Fahrenheit. So, it is best to use a thermometer to check your drink and wait until it has cooled to at least that temperature. Another potential drawback to drinking hot water is that you simply might not enjoy it. “If you don’t like drinking warm or hot water but think you should for some reason, then this may lead to not drinking enough water overall,” Dennett says.

How to maximize the benefits of drinking hot water

To get the biggest benefit from drinking hot water, it probably makes sense to sip from your first cup early in the day, Reisdorf says. “The best way is to start your day with a cup of warm water to stimulate the digestive system,” she says. “Drinking warm water before meals can also support healthy digestion.” Drinking hot water before bed also might help to put you in a relaxed state. To make sipping hot water more appealing, consider adding flavors such as lemon or mint, or a slice of ginger to your drink, Reisdorf says. “These can improve the flavor and offer additional health benefits, like vitamin C from lemon or anti-inflammatory properties from ginger,” she says. Dennett also recommends adding flavoring such as lemon or a cinnamon stick to your hot water if you find that drinking it plain “isn’t very exciting.” Some people turn to hot water because they enjoy hot drinks but already have had their limit of coffee or tea for the day. If hot water doesn’t work well for you, another alternative is to sip caffeine-free teas made from herbs, fruits or flowers, Dennett says. “Or maybe sipping a cup of hot broth is more your ‘cup of tea’ if you want a savory option,” she says. But before turning up your nose at drinking hot water, try it and see where it takes you. “Let your preference be your guide,” Dennett says. “You might discover you truly enjoy warm or hot water in the winter but prefer cool or even cold water in the summer.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="181469" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1737310534324{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/jove-water-alkaline-1-liter"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="181470" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1737310551517{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/simple-truth-purified-water-reusable-bottles"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="181471" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1737310571525{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/stur-liquid-water-enhancer-freshly-fruit-punch"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]