Can hot water boost the digestive process?
Switching your morning glass of water for hot instead of cold could aid toxin drainage, boost the circulation of blood and help keep your digestive system in tip top shape. It’s hypothesised that hot water can aid digestion by speeding up the breakdown of food – and by flushing out toxins faster, you’ll give your body an automatic circulation boost too.
Interestingly, there is some science behind this principle – one study that was conducted on post-weaned rabbits who were given warm water to drink, found that it optimised the growth and performance of beneficial gut flora.
A constipation remedy
Do you find that you have difficulty passing bowel movements, or are you struggling to stay regular? Constipation is often caused by dehydration, so if you suffer from this condition regularly, drinking a few glasses of very warm water soon after you get up could make a crucial difference – as it will stimulate your bowel movements and loosen up your stools.
There’s research to support this theory – one study conducted on stroke victims, found that giving warm water to participants for three days running eased their constipation symptoms, with 80% of the participants experiencing relief!
It can help relieve period cramps
Do you dread it when it’s time for your monthly cycle due to the onset of the dreaded cramps? If so, downing a few glasses of hot water could help ease some of the pain you experience, as the heat from the water has the power to soothe uncomfortable stomach muscle spasms.
Science attests to warm water’s pain relieving power – researchers conducting a study on patients who had undergone abdominal surgery discovered that warm water was able to relieve their intestinal spasms and aid digestion, plus it had a positive effect on the intestines.
