A new study by researchers at San Diego State University has found that the temperature of the food and drinks we consume might affect our mental and digestive health.
The research, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, looked at more than 400 adults from Asian and white backgrounds living across the United States.
This is the first study in the U.S. to directly examine how cold and hot food and drink intake may be linked to problems like anxiety, trouble sleeping, and digestive discomfort. The results suggest that something as simple as choosing between an iced drink and a hot tea could influence how we feel—both mentally and physically.
For example, during the summer, Asian participants who drank more cold beverages reported more anxiety, worse sleep, and stronger feelings of fullness in the stomach. On the other hand, white participants who consumed more hot drinks during the winter showed fewer signs of depression, better sleep, and less digestive trouble.
The study was led by Tianying Wu, an associate professor of epidemiology at SDSU. She said that food and drink temperature is a daily habit for most people in the U.S., so its possible impact on health is important to consider.
The study also highlighted that these effects were more noticeable in people who said they often had cold hands, which may suggest poor blood circulation.
Within the Asian group, Chinese participants drank the least amount of cold drinks and had fewer health issues. In contrast, Asian Indian participants showed stronger links between drinking cold items and experiencing anxiety, insomnia, or stomach problems.
In Western medicine and nutrition, temperature of food and drink is rarely discussed. But these findings support beliefs from traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, which have long suggested that cold consumption can harm the body, especially in certain individuals.
According to Wu, more research is needed to understand these links better. She suggests that future studies should follow people over time or test what happens when individuals change their hot or cold consumption habits.
People with poor circulation or older adults may need to be particularly careful with cold items, as they could be more sensitive to the effects.
This study adds a new layer to how we think about food, beyond just calories or nutrients. It shows that the temperature of what we eat and drink might matter more than we thought.
The study is published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
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