Hot vs. Cold Drinks with Meals
Welcome back to Dr. Ark’s Healing Tribe!
Every country and nation has its own culture and traditions, which also apply to its eating habits. Drinking fluids before, during, and after meals is an area where cultures diverge quite a bit. American and many Asian eating traditions offer some unique perspectives and practices.
As we all know, when you go out to eat at an American restaurant, you’ll likely be offered a full, 8-16 oz glass of ice water, usually tap, regardless of the time of year.
In contrast, Asian restaurants traditionally offer a small cup (2-4 oz.) of hot green, jasmine, or ginger tea. Why is that? Let’s look at a few facts.
I found very little mainstream research specifically addressing the pros and cons of drinking ice versus hot liquids and their amount during meals. Let’s break it down from Asia's typical cultural approach.
Digestion is a warm metabolic process that involves several stages of chemical reactions. As you know, heat increases the rate of a chemical reaction, whereas cold decreases it.
Physiologically, the optimal temperature in the stomach for proper digestion is 98.6°F (37°C). Additionally, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dietary therapy refers to “100 degree soup,” to keep the stomach warm by eating and drinking warm foods and fluids. This temperature range is where digestive enzymes efficiently perform their job, supporting healthy digestion.
Consequently, consuming cold drinks during food intake may impair and slow digestion.
However, your body must continue the warm digestion process, wasting more energy to support digestion by maintaining an optimal stomach temperature for digestion.
Drinking cold or ice drinks with food works against our bodies, depleting the energy we could produce from food, and spending more energy on breaking down food.
Nevertheless, nothing is wrong with drinking cold or ice drinks. They are refreshing and satisfying, especially during hot weather. Just remember to drink them at least 30 minutes before meals and about 2 hours after to allow your stomach to digest food easily.
From my hands to your healing,
— Dr. Ark
