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Drink temperature affects mood, anxiety and sleep, university study finds

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Whether it’s hot chocolate or iced coffee, the temperature of beverages and when you drink them can affect your mood, researchers say.

A new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition was shared in the San Diego State University newsletter on September 22. More than 400 American adults participated in the study, and all of them were Asian or white.

“Researchers found that food and beverage temperature, long recognized in traditional Asian medicine, has measurable links to anxiety, insomnia, and intestinal distress,” SDSU said in its statement. he said.

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According to the study, drinking more cold beverages during the warmer months was associated with “increased anxiety, more sleep disturbances, and greater feelings of abdominal fullness” among Asian participants.

White participants, on the other hand, reported less depression, better sleep quality and fewer gastrointestinal problems when they drank hot beverages in the winter.

Researchers at San Diego State University found that beverage temperature can affect mood and sleep quality. (iStock)

Researchers largely attribute the different patterns to cultural consumption habits and individual temperature sensitivity; Although there are notable differences across Asian subgroups, there are stronger effects among participants with “cold hands.” They emphasize that the results show correlation, not causation, and are based on self-reported data.

“This is the first study in the United States to directly link cold and hot diet consumption to multiple health outcomes, with important implications for addressing increased rates of anxiety, insomnia, and digestive issues,” SDSU said in a statement. The statement was included.

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Tianying Wu, an associate professor of epidemiology at SDSU, said the study “provides a snapshot of how hot and cold consumption may be associated with health outcomes.”

Wu added: “The findings have broad relevance to daily health choices, as cold and hot consumption is a routine part of daily life in the United States, at home and in restaurants.”

Asian participants reported more anxiety and sleep problems when drinking cold drinks during the warmer months. (iStock)

“The next step is to conduct more rigorous prospective and intervention studies, as the effects can be dynamic—for example, older adults or people with poor circulation may be particularly vulnerable to cold exposure.”

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Wellness expert and occupational therapist Jessica Mack told Fox News Digital that consuming hot foods and beverages “can have a measurable impact on the body’s stress response.”

The New York-based therapist said warmth can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation, and can affect the release of mood-regulating chemicals such as serotonin.

Researchers noted that white participants found their mood and sleep quality improved when consuming hot beverages in the winter. (iStock)

Mack, who was not involved in the research, also said hot drinks “can stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps lower heart rate and increase feelings of calm.”

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“The increase in body temperature can also increase circulation and trigger the release of feel-good neurotransmitters such as serotonin,” Mack added.

“Warmth is associated with safety and comfort,” said one expert. (iStock)

“Psychologically, warmth is associated with safety and comfort, so even something as simple as sipping tea or eating a warm bowl of soup can help the body and mind shift out of fight-or-flight mode. It’s a small sensory cue that has a huge calming effect.”

The SDSU study was published shortly after another study found that: cup of coffee It can boost your mood in the morning.