As January brings in 2018 just as cold as December left 2017, we find ourselves adding to the ways we try to stay warm. We start with sweatshirts, heavy socks, and undershirts. We graduate to blankets, space heaters, and excessive showers and baths. Finally, we’re here at the final attempt to stay warm: imbibing warm water.
While drinking tea or hot water is an excellent way to keep yourself warm as the snows fall, it’s also a very healthy practice for your mind and body.
1. Warm Water…Improves Blood Circulation
Warm water causes blood to rush to the skin and relaxes the muscles surrounding blood vessels. Veins and arteries expand and improve the blood flow. If you have issues with circulation, it might be a good idea to adopt a yoga routine to your life, in addition to drinking more warm water.
2. Calms the Nervous System
In addition to better circulation, warm water soothes the nervous system and can improve symptoms of arthritis. Warm water has these positive effects when inside or outside of the body, so if you’re not in the mood for a cup of tea, jump in a hot bath.
3. Lessens Stress
This benefit is a little bit of a no-brainer because every organ in our body needs water to operate well. Studies have shown that our cortisol/stress hormone levels are higher when we’re dehydrated and ironically, the more stressed we are, the more dehydrated we become. Drinking the recommended 2 liters of water a day, warm or cold, can help ease up on that vicious cycle of dehydration and stress.
4. Eases the Winter Sniffles and Coughs
Warm water is nature’s cold, cough, and sore throat remedy. The heat helps soothe and eradicate phlegm from your throat, and the steam can clear nasal congestion and ease the pain of sniffles (technical term) and runny noses.
5. Flushes Toxins
When drinking or surrounding yourself with warm water—surprise surprise—your body heat rises. To level out its temperature, it’ll produce sweat and release toxins and irritants from your body, cleansing it. The best way to accomplish this is to sip warm water throughout the day every 30 minutes or so. Pro-tip: add lemon for an extra health kick.
6. Alleviates Pain
Dehydration, in general, can cause headaches, fatigue, and nauseousness, so it’s always a good idea to stay on top of water consumption. However, upping the temperature of the water you drink can add to those benefits. Warm water can additionally alleviate menstrual distress, constipation, muscle spasms, cramps, and not to mention the simple discomfort of being cold.
7. Promotes Hair and Head Health
Believe it or not, drinking warm water is good for your hair! It stimulates the nerve endings present in the roots and actually makes it softer, longer, and shinier. Drinking enough water even lessens dandruff. A hydrated head is a happy (and less flaky) head.
8. Improves Metabolism and Digestion
Drinking water can help break down tough food in your stomach, but cold water can harden food oils and create a layer of fat on your intestines. Warm water breaks down that food in your stomach, washes away those fatty oils, and speeds up digestion. This can also lend itself to a faster metabolism. Drinking 2 cups of warm water can up your metabolic rate 30% for as much as 40 minutes.
9. Takes it Easy on Teeth
According to Sandra Moldovan, MS, DDS, warm water is easier on the teeth than colder water due to the contracting effect cold water can sometimes have. Warm water is better for restorations and is absorbed more easily.
10. Revitalizes Skin
Skin is one of the first places we show our health, and it can usually indicate whether or not we’re drinking enough water. Drinking warm water can add a natural glow and can even prevent premature aging. When warm water washes out the toxins from our bodies, it improves the elasticity of our skin and reverses wear and tear.
