Hongkongers tend to enjoy drinking hot water, even if its summer, but some Westerners living in the country aren't a fan of room temperature water. But here's why generations of Chinese grandmothers prefer hot water in Hong Kong.
According to the South China Morning Post, some aren't drinking cold water as it might hurt their sensitive gums or might have an internal chill, so Hongkongers believe hot water could give them soothing feeling and makes them less stressful. They might have been right all along as studies showed that hot water could improve blood circulation and can protect the internal organs.
Some people drink hot water as a holistic health remedy, wherein they drink it first thing in the morning or before going to bed. The temperature of the warm water should be between 120°F and 140°F, and it should not be hot enough to scald or hurt your taste buds.
Warm water calms the nervous system by helping people manage their stress and anxiety. A previous study found that drinking hot water (in forms of coffee or tea) could reduce stress and feeling of anxiety, suggesting that the warmth improved the mood of the participants.
Aside from this, drinking hot water also aids digestion by soothing and activating the digestive tract. As the water moves in the intestines and stomach, the digestive organs are well hydrated and can eliminate waste. Moreover, warm water helps clear nasal congestion if a person has a cold as it creates steam. Just take a deep breath and inhale the vapor in the cup of hot water to loosen clogged sinuses and relieve a sinus headache
Other studies further noted that drinking hot water can activate the metabolism, which encourages weight loss. The reason why this likely happens is that warm water can help dissolve the fat - such as the grease when you eat a hamburger. It is like a dishwasher wherein cold water cannot cut the grease, while hot water can.
Some people think that ordering cold drinks to wash down the food is helpful, but rather, they should opt for ordering something warmer - like hot tea - instead of lemon iced tea or cold beer. Although there's not a lot of options in certain restaurants, some locals tend to choose ordering hot lemon Coke or hot ginger Coke. Even though some non-locals find these drinks weird, these are beneficial if a person has a sore throat.
