Hot Summer Days in North Dakota Call for a Hot Refreshing Drink, Yes Really
The temperatures have been in the 90's recently. It's important to stay hydrated in the heat. How about some hot tea on a hot day? Thank you, but no, not for me. Not how I would cool down, personally.
Obviously, a hot drink makes you hotter and a cold drink makes you colder, won't they? So why would you want to get hotter on a hot day?
How bout this, hot tea actually DOES cool you off on a hot day.
Yes, drinking something hot might actually cool you down.
Why it matters: With July breaking all-time heat records, it's more crucial than ever to find strategies to stay cool and hydrated.
"When we have a hot drink, we sweat more, and when we sweat more, it cools us down more than, say, a cold drink," said William Kornrich, an internal medicine specialist at NYU Langone Medical Associates - Riverhead, as reported by Axios.
This is true as long as you are not overdressed and are not in an environment that is too humid, as sweat must evaporate in order to remove heat from the body.
Be smart: "On hot days, you have to listen to what your body is telling you," Kornrich said. "Water is wonderful," but if you're exerting yourself, consider supplementing with electrolyte drinks.
If you need more help cooling down, you could use ice or a cold compress on your skin "where veins are a little bit more prominent, such as our groin and underarms."
Hydrate and get out of the sun if you've got cold and pale skin, a rapid or weak pulse, muscle spasms, dizziness, or nausea. Those are signs of heat exhaustion.
I have to admit that I have my doubts about hot tea on a hot day. I still prefer to sip from a tall glass of icy water. How about you?