It’s the latest wellness trend to go viral on TikTok, but what do nutritionists say about drinking hot water rather than cold?
If your TikTok feed is anything like ours, you might’ve noticed the recent influx of hot water videos, or the arrival of what Chinese-American TikTok creator Sherry calls “a very Chinese time in your life”.
What Sherry means is that there’s been a notable uptake of bloggers and TikTokers enjoying hot beverages, warm breakfasts of congee and brothy rice, and snacking on boiled fruits — a very ‘Chinese’ way of eating and drinking.
Rooted in theories of Eastern medicine, warm food and drink are an integral part of practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda — but are there any real benefits of choosing hot water over cold?
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The ‘hottest’ TikTok trend
“On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I noticed that whenever I asked for water at a restaurant, I was served a cup of hot water instead of cold,” explains L360’s deputy editor Evelyn Richards.
The trend is all about being warm — which is certainly a welcome wellness ritual in the colder winter months. But while it sounds ideal, you might be reluctant to make every switch that this trend entails, such as swapping your breakfast cereal for hot soup.
@sherryxiiruii how i boil my apples as a chinese baddie #chineseamerican #sherry #chinese #chinesebaddie #chineseculture ♬ original sound – sherry
Why Eastern medicine champions hot water
The philosophy centres around the concept of Agni, or digestive fire, which TCM practitioners believe needs to be maintained for optimal health.
Drinking cold water is thought to dampen the fire, forcing the body to expend extra energy to warm itself back up. According to TCM, this diversion means that there’s less energy available to heal or maintain overall health.
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The benefits of drinking hot water
Does science back it up? Unfortunately, not really.
“When we look at controlled human studies, water temperature alone doesn’t appear to offer measurable benefits for digestion, metabolism or inflammation,” says Emily Somers, registered associate nutritionist and behaviour change coach at Voy.
While staying well-hydrated supports normal digestion, it seems that there isn’t strong evidence to support the hot-water theory. Emily explains that while hot water may feel soothing, we’re not experiencing a physiological response.
What she did add is that water overall can impact your body’s detox response, so it’s important to stay hydrated — whether that be from hot or cold water. The choice, as it stands, is yours.
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Are there any benefits of having a hot breakfast over cold?
Akin to sipping on a warm tea, a hot breakfast can feel more satisfying and filling than a cold one.
“There’s no strong evidence that a hot or cooked breakfast is healthier than a cold one,” says Emily. “But we should shift our focus to ensuring that our breakfasts focus on balance.” She points to protein, fibre, carbohydrates and healthy fats as being necessary inclusions on our breakfast plates.
“Both hot and cold breakfasts can meet these criteria, whether that’s eggs with vegetables or yoghurt with fruit, nuts and seeds,” Emily explains.
For those with a sweet tooth, she recommends opting for a hot porridge or cold overnight oats. That way — whichever temperature you prefer — you should feel equally nourished and satisfied.
Feature image: Freepik
