With the arrival of summer, the heat is becoming increasingly unbearable, so the first idea that comes to everyone’s mind is the same: drinking ice-cold water to cool off. And, although this seems totally normal, the reality is that drinking water with ice could end up delivering exactly the opposite effect. Doctor David Callejo has spoken about this topic on his TikTok account, giving a clear warning: you are doing it wrong if you reach for frozen water to refresh yourself. But why does this happen? The answer is much easier than it seems and has to do with how the body reacts to sudden temperature changes.
The “rebound” effect of ice water
According to Dr. Callejo, our body is a perfect machine that always seeks balance. “Your body, whether in summer or in winter, tries to stay at 37 °C. If you drink water that is very, very cold, your internal temperature will drop and your body will activate mechanisms to raise that temperature again,” warns the doctor. This is precisely what can end up generating that sensation of intense heat a few minutes after drinking. When the temperature drops abruptly and the body tries to warm itself back up to reach those 37 °C, the organism ends up producing what is known as metabolic heat, which is exactly what creates that feeling of heat.
Is it better to drink hot tea in summer?
Sure you’ve heard that in Arab countries or in Asia they drink extremely hot tea in the middle of the desert to combat the heat. Dr Callejo clarifies that this trick has a grain of truth, but with caveats. The point is that hot beverages make us sweat more, and when that sweat dries on the skin, the body cools naturally. The big problem is that no one feels like sipping scorching coffee or tea when the heat is unbearable. Not to mention that the first sips will give you even more heat before the effect starts to kick in.
Do not drink it frozen nor boiling
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James Whitaker
I’m James Whitaker, a UK-based journalist focused on emerging trends and everyday stories gaining attention across the country. I cover the topics people start talking about before they fully break into the mainstream. My work aims to stay clear, factual, and closely connected to how news is actually consumed today.