The temperature of what people consume can have “real impacts on health”, new evidence has indicated.
A recent study led by San Diego State University has found that an individual’s mental and digestive health is influenced by the temperature of the foods and drinks they consume.
In the trial, the team of researchers looked at the health outcomes of more than 400 adults, all of whom were White and Asian.
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They discovered that food and beverage temperature can cause gut discomfort, anxiety and insomnia.
A high intake of cold drinks among the Asian participants in the summer was tied to anxiety, greater feelings of abdominal fullness and more sleep disturbances, the research has revealed.
Meanwhile, a high intake of hot beverages among the White participants in winter was associated with lower levels of depression, fewer digestive symptoms and improved sleep quality.
Lead author Professor Tianying Wu said: “Something as simple as the temperature of what we eat and drink can have real impacts on health. Because cold and hot consumption is such a routine part of daily life in the US, at home and in restaurants, the findings have broad relevance to everyday health choices.”
According to the findings, the effects were most common in those who regularly have cold hands.
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South Asian people displayed stronger associations between the consumption of cold food and drinks and adverse health effects, the study has reported.
Excessive consumption of cold foods and drinks is warned against in long-held practices in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
Professor Wu said: “This research provides a snapshot of how hot and cold consumption may relate to health outcomes.
“The next step is to conduct more rigorous prospective and intervention studies, since the effects can be dynamic – for example, older adults or individuals with poor circulation may be especially vulnerable to cold exposure.”
Read the study in the British Journal of Nutrition.
