During the hottest days of summer, eating popsicles and drinking cold drinks are the most enjoyable and refreshing things to do. However, recently, a health regimen claiming to treat winter ailments in summer has been circulating on social media: avoid drinking iced beverages during the hottest days of summer and drink hot water to expel years of cold from the body.
This "treating winter diseases in summer" health regimen involves "avoiding cold foods and drinks, and refusing all iced beverages during the hottest days of summer; abstaining from alcohol! Soaking your feet in hot water every night, massaging your meridians, and trying to go to bed on time, avoiding staying up late! Please do not drink iced beverages or eat iced foods, as this will allow cold air to invade and not be expelled. To expel the cold air from your body, please insist on drinking hot water during the hottest days of summer, which will force out the cold air that has penetrated deep into your bones over the years. Reclaim your health and cherish this time for well-being."
Is drinking iced beverages in summer really that harmful to the body? Jin Xiaojing, from the Department of Gastroenterology at Nanjing Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, says that there are several situations where it's indeed not suitable to drink iced beverages. For example, people with poor digestion should avoid them, as the rapid drop in stomach temperature can easily cause bloating, indigestion, and even cramps and diarrhea. Some people like to drink large amounts of cold water after strenuous exercise. This habit causes the blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract to constrict suddenly and also leads to rapid closure of pores, temporarily stopping sweating and hindering the dissipation of body heat.
Drinking hot water is a common habit in China, but the claim that it can expel years of accumulated cold from the body is an exaggeration and lacks scientific support. Director Jin Xiaojing advises against drinking water that is too hot, as prolonged consumption can scald the oral and esophageal mucosa, causing stomatitis and esophagitis, leading to local congestion and edema. He recommends a water temperature of 40℃ to 45℃, which is suitable for both oral and gastrointestinal comfort.
