Hot or cold? Which coffee cools better in the heat: explanation

When it's hot outside, many of us are looking for ways to cool off and refresh ourselves. At first glance, the answer may seem obvious – cold coffee should be more refreshing.

However, as in many other cases, it's not that simple. Sprudge and unlawfulthreads.com write about which coffee is better for cooling in the heat.

According to scientific evidence, drinking hot coffee can actually help regulate body temperature and keep you cool.

How hot coffee keeps you cool on hot days

Stimulating sweating. When you drink a hot beverage like coffee, your body temperature rises slightly. This triggers your body's natural cooling mechanism: sweating. Sweating allows heat to evaporate from your skin, dissipating excess heat and providing a cooling effect.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that hot drinks, such as coffee, can increase the rate of sweating and promote thermoregulation.

In another study conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, participants were given "crushed ice soft drinks" while another group was served "normal temperature" drinks. By comparing body temperature before and after the experiment, the researchers found that cold drinks can make your body feel hotter than drinks served at a higher temperature.

This is likely due to the lack of additional sweating from cooler drinks. And sweat is the key. The more sweat, the more evaporation, the more cooling.

In addition, in many Middle Eastern countries, where temperatures are usually high, people like to sip hot coffee, such as Turkish coffee or kahwa. They believe that the initial heat stimulates sweating, helping to keep the body cool in arid climates.

Vasodilation. Drinking hot coffee can cause vasodilation, which is the dilation of blood vessels throughout the body. This process increases blood flow and circulation. When the blood vessels on the surface of the skin dilate, heat can be released through the skin, contributing to cooling. A study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that hot drinks such as coffee can lead to vasodilation and improve thermoregulation.

In Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, locals typically drink hot brewed coffee, known as "buna," in warm weather. They believe that the dilation of blood vessels from hot coffee helps dissipate heat from the body and provides relief from the climate.

While it may seem counterintuitive, drinking hot coffee can help you stay cool on hot days. By stimulating sweating, promoting vasodilation, and triggering internal cooling reactions, coffee plays an amazing role in thermoregulation. Cultural traditions in hot regions further support this idea. So the next time you reach for a cup of hot coffee on a hot day, rest assured that science and culture are on your side.

As a reminder, during the intense summer heat, employers need to organize an optimal work and rest schedule, as well as take certain safety measures to prevent employees from overheating. In the heat, labor productivity is significantly reduced and the likelihood of accidents increases.

Earlier, the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine published its advice on how to survive the heat.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, extreme heat can have serious health consequences, such as fatigue, dehydration, dizziness, and exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, Ukrainians are urged to monitor their health more closely in case of abnormal temperatures.

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