Can Drinking Hot Tea Cool You Down?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the question of whether drinking hot tea can cool the body down. Participants explore the effects of caffeine, the temperature of the drink, and potential physiological responses such as sweating and metabolism. The conversation touches on empirical data, personal opinions, and references to related studies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if drinking hot tea can cool the body, noting that caffeine opens arteries and is a diuretic.
  • Another participant asserts that a hot drink will raise body temperature due to its higher temperature, although caffeine may induce sweating and increase metabolic rate.
  • A participant expresses uncertainty and asks for empirical data or studies to validate or dismiss the question of whether hot tea can cool the body.
  • Some participants suggest that the presence of antipyretic substances in certain herbal teas could potentially contribute to cooling effects, though they question the validity of such claims.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; multiple competing views remain regarding the effects of hot tea on body temperature and the role of caffeine.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for empirical data and studies, indicating that the discussion may be limited by a lack of specific measurements or established research on the topic.

Ranger Mike
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i did a search in the forum and no posts on this..
question- will drinking hot tea cool you down??
...it does have caffeine..if i remember correctly, caffeine opens your arteries ...it is a diuretic...
is there any emperical data or does anyone have any knowledge of lab experiments?
 
Last edited:
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I know you're an engineer, but you know, we do have other forums here...

[moving to medical sciences]
 
thanks Russ..thats why you are a mentor!
 
Obviously a hot drink will raise your body temperature simply through the intake of fluids of a higher temperature than that of the body. The caffeine in tea is rather low dose however there may be some effect as both caffeine induces sweating and increases metabolic rate. This paper deals with some of the effects that caffeine has on exercise and outlines some modes of action. Personally I would be of the opinion that there will not be that much of an effect and the majority of the effect that does happen is simply due to drinking a hot drink will raise your temperature due to it's temperature.

Increases in perspiration and metabolism will be dealt with shortly like any alteration in homeostasis.
 
Ranger Mike said:
i did a search in the forum and no posts on this..
question- will drinking hot tea cool you down??
...it does have caffeine..if i remember correctly, caffeine opens your arteries ...it is a diuretic...
is there any emperical data or does anyone have any knowledge of lab experiments?

Although tea has a caffeine that opens up your arteries, how can you think that it can cool your body? How can a hot drink can cool your body?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
alenp
that is the question that I ask. Has there been any studies, or specific measurement to validate or dismiss this question?
is there any data to support or refute this question...i have no thoughts one way or the other..hence..my post..
 
AlenP said:
Although tea has a caffeine that opens up your arteries, how can you think that it can cool your body? How can a hot drink can cool your body?

It could be possible if the drink contained an http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipyretic" . IIRC some Chinese herbal teas are used to treat fever because they do contain drugs of this nature though I would question whether or not this was an unsubstantiated alternative medicine claim. So it's not a bad question, there is some merit to it.

EDIT: Just remembered that the over-the-counter medicine Lemsip can be administered as a hot drink but also contains an antipyretic intended to reduce fever.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
thanks for the help...Ryan MB
good insight
 

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