It's True: On a Hot Day, A Hot Drink Can Cool You Down

On a scorching summer day, you're probably more likely to grab an iced coffee than a steaming cup of joe. But a study has shown that drinking a hot beverage on a hot day actually can cool you down. How?

As you might imagine, consuming a hot drink does add heat to your body, but that heat actually increases the rate at which you sweat, which can help cool you off. The scientists who conducted the study believe that thermosensors lining the throat and mouth might be what triggers the sweating response.

Of course, the sweat has to evaporate in order for you to feel cooler, so if you are wearing heavy clothing or live in a very humid climate, drinking a hot beverage won't help much. But on a hot, dry day when you're wearing shorts and a t-shirt, hot coffee might actually cool you off more than a glass of ice-cold coffee.

Read more: A Hot Drink on a Hot Day Can Cool You Down at the Smithsonian

Have you noticed that hot drinks keep you cool when the weather is warm?

Related: Do You Eat Spicy Food In Hot Weather?

(Image: Flickr member Marco Arment licensed for use under Creative Commons)