Iced coffee or hot chocolate? Study: Drink temperature differences may affect mood and digestion

Fox News reported on the 24th that according to a new study from San Diego State University (UCSD), whether you are drinking hot chocolate or iced coffee, the temperature of the drink and the timing of drinking it may affect your mood.

According to a UCSD press release, this study published in the "British Journal of Nutrition" surveyed more than 400 American adults, and the participants were all Asian or white. "Researchers have found that dietary temperature, long valued in traditional Asian medicine, is measurably linked to emotional and physical symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia and gastrointestinal discomfort," the press release reads.

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The study found that Asian subjects' preference for cold drinks when the weather is warm is associated with "increased anxiety, increased sleep disturbances, and increased abdominal fullness." However, white subjects reported less depression, better sleep, and less gastrointestinal discomfort when drinking hot drinks in the winter.

Researchers pointed out that these differences can be mainly attributed to cultural consumption habits and personal sensitivity to temperature, with a stronger impact on participants with "cold hands". At the same time, there are also significant differences between different Asian groups. The team emphasizes that the results only show correlation, not causation, and are based on self-reported data.

Wu Tianying (transliteration), associate professor of epidemiology at San Diego State University, said that this study "provides a preliminary overview of the relationship between hot and cold food consumption and health outcomes," adding that the consumption of hot and cold food is very common in daily life in the United States, whether at home or in restaurants, and these findings have broad reference value for daily health choices.

She said: "The next step is to conduct more rigorous prospective studies and intervention studies, because these effects may be dynamic. For example, the elderly or people with poor blood circulation may be particularly sensitive to cold exposure."

Health expert and occupational therapist Mike (Jessica) Mack, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News that a warm diet "can have a measurable impact on the body's stress response," noting that warmth may help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation, and may affect the release of mood-regulating chemicals such as serotonin.

Mike also said that warm drinks can "stimulate the vagus nerve, helping to lower the heart rate and promote a sense of calm," adding that increased body temperature can also improve blood circulation and promote the release of pleasant neurotransmitters such as serotonin. She says, "Psychologically, warmth is often associated with safety and comfort, so something as simple as drinking tea or hot soup can help the mind and body transition out of fight-or-flight mode. It's a small sensory cue, but it has a significant calming effect."