Good Idea or No-No? An expert addresses a concern about what is and isn’t advisable
By Jacqueline Simoneau
Is it Safe to Drink Iced Beverages to Cool Down in Summer?
It’s fine, but… During a heat wave, having a frozen treat or an ice-cold drink is refreshing—for a little while. However, it doesn’t help to cool down the body. Surprisingly, you can cool off more by drinking coffee or tea. “Having a hot drink stimulates receptors in the mouth, which send a signal to the brain to let it know about the change in temperature,” says nutritionist Jessica Lambert-De Francesch. “The brain triggers the sweating process to lower body temperature. The cooling of the body will be even more noticeable if the ambient air is dry enough to allow sweat to evaporate efficiently. On the other hand, drinking iced drinks slows down the sweating process.”
In times of intense heat, the important thing is to drink enough fluids (preferably water), either hot, warm, or cold, to prevent dehydration.
