The scorching temperatures experienced in large parts of South Africa, could put many at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Babies, children and the elderly are particularly sensitive to the heat.
Appropriate hydration is key to avoiding heat-related ailments and illnesses, but before you reach for something cold to cool you down – a warm cup of (Rooibos) tea might be a better option, say experts.
It sounds illogical that a hot drink could cool you down, but there is now hard science behind this old wives’ tale that dates back hundreds of years.
A series of studies conducted by the University of Ottawa found that ingesting a hot drink on a summer day lowers the amount of heat stored by the body, provided that the sweat produced by the hot beverage can evaporate.
Research Director for the SA Rooibos Council (SARC), Joe Swart explains that sweating is the body’s way of cooling us down.
“As sweat evaporates from the surface of the skin, it cools and removes excess heat to keep our body temperature in check. It’s interesting to note that during one of the studies, researchers also tested the effect of a warm drink on those participating in exercise for 75 minutes at a relatively low intensity, in 24 ºC at 23% relative humidity, while consuming water at different temperatures. It was only after participants had consumed the warm drink, that their overall body temperature dropped.
“However, it is important to keep in mind that because conditions, such as airflow and humidity were controlled during the trials, the results could be different in an environment where sweat evaporation is limited, such as in hot, humid weather where one is dripping with sweat. In these circumstances, the cooling effect of hot drinks is likely to be less effective, in which case colder drinks should be taken,” he says.
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