Hot water can soothe and activate your digestive tract. Drinking hot water can reduce the risk of constipation because it can break down food faster than cold or warm water. That’s why some people like to drink tea to soothe their upset stomach.

Hot water helps the body flush out toxins as you sweat and urinate. Body temperature will rise as you consume the hot drink, causing you to sweat. There is no need to subject your body to those trendy detox diets.

Drinking water and staying hydrated can help treat symptoms when you have the flu. But hot water can also help with blood circulation. Hot water is a vasodilator, which means it can expand the blood vessels, increasing blood flow. Your muscles relax as well, also aiding in better blood flow. Even when you take a relaxing warm bath, your arteries and veins will expand, which gives more space for blood to flow.

Have you ever heard of women with menstrual cramps applying a hot pack to their belly to ease the pain? On top of alleviating pain externally by using a hot pack, you can ease cramps by drinking hot water. The heat from warm water that you drink helps increase blood flow, relax cramped muscles and relieves the pain.

There are plenty of foods you can eat that can help you lose weight, but did you know that drinking hot water can also help? Drinking a lot of water helps to shed the extra pounds because you feel fuller, resulting in eating less. With hot water, it raises your body temperature, which increases your metabolic rate and helps you burn more calories.

Achalasia is a rare disorder that makes it difficult for food or liquid to pass through the esophagus and into the stomach. People suffering from this condition can feel like there’s food stuck in their esophagus or have trouble completely swallowing. But hot water is believed to help relieve some symptoms and can reduce lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure that makes it difficult to swallow cold food or beverages.

Constipation is a common result of not drinking enough water. Hot water helps your intestines to contract, which keeps the food moving down through your system. If the body is dehydrated, constipation can make bowel movement painful, which may cause hemorrhoids and bloat. Warm water will break down food faster, relieving your pain quickly. Also, warm water is more soothing for the intestines.

Not drinking enough water can cause your skin to become dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin is more prone to wrinkling. But there are also foods you can eat to get that healthy, glowing skin.

Whether a stuffy nose is from a cold or just your seasonal allergies acting up, hot water can help ease it. Drinking hot water can move your mucus quickly, which encourages coughing and makes nose-blowing more productive. Inhaling the steam from the cup of hot water also loosens up mucus.

There are scary ways that stress can affect your body, such as messing with your sleep, which could lead to insomnia. But a study published in Psychopharmacology suggests that hot liquids like tea or coffee are able to help relieve stress and reduce anxious feelings. According to the study, caffeine may have a part in that effect, but the warmth of the drinks also plays a role in comforting and improving the mood of the participants.

Drinking 2 liters of water per day can increase your metabolic rate by about 30% for up to 40 minutes, according to a study from the The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. This includes warm water, which increases your body temperature, resulting in a faster metabolism. Keep in mind that the difference won’t be huge — your metabolism is mostly affected by weight, age and genetics. Your metabolism changes with age, so here are healthy habits that can keep you young.

This is the perfect natural remedy for when you have a cold. Hot water dissolves the thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes and helps to remove it from the respiratory tract. Protect yourself from infections by drinking hot water and eating these foods that boost your immune system.

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