When you grab an iced coffee on a hot day or enjoy a warm bowl of soup in winter, you might not realize that the temperature of your food and drinks could be shaping your health.
A new study from San Diego State University suggests that what’s hot or cold on your plate or in your cup may influence both your mental wellbeing and your digestive system.
The research, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, looked at more than 400 Asian and white adults across the United States.
It found clear links between the temperature of foods and beverages and problems like anxiety, sleep troubles, and gut discomfort.
For Asian participants, the study showed that drinking lots of cold drinks in summer was tied to higher anxiety, poor sleep, and feelings of abdominal fullness.
In contrast, white participants who drank more hot beverages during winter reported lower levels of depression, better sleep, and fewer digestive issues.
The researchers say this is the first study in the U.S. to connect hot and cold eating habits to such a wide range of health outcomes.
While nutrition advice in the West rarely considers temperature, many Asian traditions, including Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, have long warned against overconsumption of cold foods and drinks.
“Something as simple as the temperature of what we eat and drink can have real impacts on health,” explained Tianying Wu, associate professor of epidemiology at SDSU and lead author of the study. “Because hot and cold consumption is part of daily life, these findings matter for everyone.”
Interestingly, the strongest effects were seen in people who often reported having “cold hands,” which may signal poor circulation. Among Asian groups, Chinese participants—who typically consumed fewer cold foods—experienced fewer negative effects, while Asian Indians showed the strongest link between cold drinks and health problems.
The findings don’t prove cause and effect, but they open the door to new ways of thinking about diet and health.
The researchers say more studies are needed, especially ones that track people over time or test changes directly. Older adults and people with circulation issues may be especially sensitive to food and drink temperature.
For now, the message is simple: paying attention not just to what we eat, but also to how hot or cold it is, may help us sleep better, feel calmer, and ease our digestion.
Source: KSR.
