Dear ladies and gentlemen, shall we drink hot or cold water once having dinner? Here in China most people drink hot water, but did you know that many countries are more likely to drink cold, even ice, water when eating, also in winter? Hot or cold, which one do you prefer? One can help to get slimmer!
I remember clearly a moment of my childhood, one of the first time I had to bring water at the dinner table for my family: my mother asked me to fill the carafe again, because the first one I brought was with hot water, and not chill water. Indeed, in many Western countries, it is very common to drink cold water.
So I was very surprised once arriving in China to discover people are mostly drinking hot water here. But it seems I am not the only one: when I try to Google “Why Chinese drink…” it automatically presents me “hot water”.
Even though the Chinese could come up with a million of good things about drinking hot water, many tourists still refuse the hot water served in restaurants. That is why luxury hotels and international restaurants in China would serve cool water if they hear someone come for abroad.
Now, I also drink hot water. Once I was traveling to America, in wintertime, and I received a class filled with cubes of ice! But being used to live in China I had to ask them “room temperature” water. I am becoming Chinese somehow. Did you experience it? Now let’s compare the two options.
Advantages of drinking warm water
Calm down: Warm water helps your central nervous system to calm down, thus enabling more controlled reactions. Moreover, it will help to feel fewer aches, pains and panicked moments throughout the day.
Blood circulation: Warm water helps your organs to carry blood more effectively, decreasing risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Digestion: Warm water helps activating and soothing your digestion: digestive organs are better hydrated and able to eliminate waste. Hot water can dissolve and dissipate things you’ve eaten that your body might have had trouble digesting.
Nasal congestion: The steam of the hot water can help loosen clogged sinuses and even relieve a sinus headache. Since you have mucous membranes throughout your neck and upper torso, drinking hot water can help warm that area and soothe a sore throat.
Advantages of drinking cold water
Weight loss: Cold water will boost your metabolism by 550%, as your body needs to compensate the temperature lost. It will then burn more calories.
Cool down: In summertime, drinking cool water is good for your health. It is definitely the best to balance the heat, it helps your body to regulate its temperature.
What the best to do then?
Finally, it seems to be again the good etiquette rule we often give: it’s all about adaptation. Depending the moment, we should drink warm or cold water.
Warm water: Definitely recommended when eating, when being sick and in winter. It will help the body to preserve its energy by not having to compensate a liquid colder than the body’s temperature.
Cold water: This shall be kept for summertime during heat waves, or after heavy exercises. It would help your body to get back to normal temperature (but don’t drink ice water! It would be too much of a shock!)
So finally, which one do you prefer? Which one is the best according to you? Tell us your opinion!
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