Many people drink warm water first thing in the morning. But what does Science say?
Drinking heated water upon waking up has become a common trend in recent years. It is often associated with supposed “digestive” benefits, originally inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as speeding up metabolism and reducing menstrual cramps.
According to experts consulted by , there is some scientific basis for certain effects, although much more limited than many influencers on the Internet suggest.
Dietitian Diane Lindsay-Adler says drinking warm or hot water can be comforting — “and that has value too” — but the benefits are often exaggerated. In practice, the situations in which hot drinks seem to help best are related to comfort and temporary relief of symptoms.
In the case of colds and sore throats, warm liquids can soothe the irritation, even if only for a short time. Family doctor Natasha Bhuyan suggests, to enhance this sensation, adding ingredients such as garlic, honey and lemon. Additionally, hot water or soup can help relieve nasal congestion by facilitating mucus mobilization. A classic 1978 study indicated that drinking hot soup or hot water can speed up the clearing of nasal mucuswhen compared to cold water or consuming a hot drink through a straw.
Still, experts insist: alleviating is not healing. Hot drinks do not eliminate viruses or bacteria and are not a substitute for medical evaluation when symptoms are persistent or severe.
As for digestion, the explanation is mainly physiological. When something enters the stomach, nerves communicate to the rest of the gastrointestinal tract that “digestion is beginning,” explains Allison Miner, assistant professor of nutrition and food studies at George Mason University. In some people, filling the stomach with warm liquid can stimulate bowel movement and trigger the bowel movement reflex — which is why gastroenterologists sometimes recommend a warm drink as the first drink of the day, especially in cases of constipation or gastrointestinal discomfort.
Promises to “accelerate metabolism” or “detoxify the body” have little scientific support. The body quickly adjusts the temperature of what we ingest, with a minimal metabolic cost, insufficient to influence weight. And “detoxification” depends mainly on the liver and kidneys, not the water temperature.
Plus, there’s always a real risk: drinks that are too hot. Consuming liquids above about 65°C can irritate the esophagus and increase the risk of esophageal cancer, warns Bhuyan.
The doctors’ message is simple: the priority is hydration. If hot water helps someone drink more fluids, great. If not, room temperature water works equally well.
