As we head into the colder months, and possibly bemoan the sometimes icy grip of winter, there lots of positive news out there. And it’s as simple as drinking a hot drink. Let’s face it, very little in life can’t be improved with a hot drink. They can warm us or cool us down. They help numb pain when we’re ill. They even help us see the best in other people.
*Hot drinks are relied upon for waking up, punctuating workdays, welcoming home, relieving poorliness and lulling to sleep. They can be cheering, reviving, relaxing, cooling (if you’re hot) and warming (when you’re cold). And they soften the pace of life. You can’t guzzle a hot drink, it has to be taken slowly (making it the perfect way to measure out breaks), and while you’re sipping and blowing and waiting for that optimum comfortable drinking temperature, you can inhale and warm your nose with the aromatic vapours.
It seems there’s scientific proof that feeling warm on the inside can not only make you seem a friendlier person to others, as apparently if you’re seen cupping a mug of hot tea, chocolate, coffee (or glühwein for that matter), it gives the impression that you’re more approachable.
Warms you up, cools you down
Imbibing hot liquid can be cooling and warming. If you’re hot, it may warm you up a little, but when it reaches thermosensors in the oesophagus and stomach, these react as though the entire body is as hot as the drink, and turn up the sweat flow so much that, provided your clothing allows it to evaporate, you’ll end up cooler than when you started.
Piping hot placebos
In 2008, Professor Ron Eccles of the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University decided to study the effect of hot drinks on colds. He gave bunged-up sufferers cups of either hot or room temperature Robinson’s apple and blackcurrant cordial. “What surprised us,” says Eccles, “was how effective the treatment was. Both drinks were beneficial, but the hot drink was much more beneficial.”
It provided “immediate and sustained” relief from coughing, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness.
It’s all about the mug
I don’t know of many people that don’t have a special mug and ‘ware anyone else who puts their grubby paws on that mug.
We become attached to our own drinking vessel of just the right degree of chunkiness, weight, feel and hue; although it’s been shown that heavier crockery generally makes its contents more satisfying.
With all of this good news come the colder months, things are definitely looking up. Even better news is that we at AquAid have plenty of hot water (not hot air) to keep you warm and fuzzy and apparently more approachable (which is good news to those around you) throughout winter. We have a selection of hot water boilers to fit into any niche whether it’s at the office, a construction site, clubhouse or school. Cheers! (Just don’t nick my mug).
*excerpts from an article at The Guardian
