Why Hot Tea is Necessary in Hot Summer

Tea is just water mixed with leaves; it is more than a drink. It represents familiarity, tradition, and life events that made one like it. I remember growing up in Swat, where tea was a part of our daily routine. We would drink it on busy streets, in shops, at work, and in our own homes. We call it 'chai.' Tea is an enhanced beverage made with cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon in our region. It is more than just a formality; it symbolized love and a way to connect with others and hear their stories. 

 

Though contradictory, drinking specific types of hot tea in summer is supported by science and tradition. For instance, green tea and herbal teas like peppermint and chamomile have several benefits in summertime. Understanding them can help us understand this conflicting tendency.

Sweating and Keeping Your Body Cool

Hot tea is good for summertime because it helps keep your body temperature stable. In response to drinking something hot, your body makes more sweat. This sweat, when it evaporates, cools the body. Research in Physiology & Behaviour discovered that hot drinks reduce body heat via increasing sweating, which cools the body better than cold drinks.

Staying Fluid

 

Hot weather requires plenty of fluids, and tea can help. In addition, herbal teas are a great way to stay hydrated. Contrary to popular opinion, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that moderate tea consumption hydrates, even though it's a hot drink, because it doesn't cause diuresis like cold drinks do.

Customs and practices from other cultures

 People often drink hot tea in places where it's hot. In Morocco, for instance, people drink hot mint tea all day, even when it's boiling outside. Moroccans have known for a long time that hot drinks can help cool you down, so this is not only a traditional practice but also a useful one. In the same way, hot tea is always served in the Middle East and some parts of India, no matter what the weather is like. In China, hot tea is a staple even in the hottest summer months, with locals believing that it helps balance the body's yin and yang energies.

 

Moroccans drink hot mint tea traditionally. Tea refreshes, aids digestion and cools through perspiration. Hot tea is popular in desert nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. People in the area know that drinking hot drinks can help keep your body temperature in control by making you sweat.

Scientific Proof

It's not just tradition that supports the idea of hot tea in summer rather its benefits are scientifically proven. Scientific research from the University of Ottawa has shown that hot drinks can actually help your body store less heat. This is because hot beverages stimulate sweating, which cools the body down as it evaporates.

 

According to the European Journal of Applied Physiology, sweat cools the body. They found that hot beverage drinkers sweated more and cooled faster than cold drinkers in hot settings. 

 

Researchers have found that the risk of cardiovascular disease is 31% lower in people who frequently consume green tea. 

Good Things About Tea 

·  Tea is rich in cancer prevention agents like flavonoids and catechins, which assist with combatting free radicals and lessen oxidative pressure.

·   Green tea reduces cholesterol and circulatory strain, decreasing cardiac illness and stroke risk.

·  Tea can replace coffee because its caffeine helps concentration and readiness.

·  Green tea and a good diet and exercise can upgrade digestion and reduce weight.

·  Teas with herbs, like peppermint and ginger, can assist with alleviating stomach-related problems and issues like gas and indigestion.

·  Tea helps maintain hydration by increasing fluid consumption.

·  Relaxing herbal drinks like chamomile and lavender can improve sleep and stress.

Taking Tea Drawbacks

 However, it's important to be aware of the potential drawbacks.

· The caffeine in tea, for instance, can lead to jitteriness, sleeplessness, or an elevated heart rate in some individuals.

·  Tea tannins can inhibit iron absorption, causing inadequacies if ingested in large amounts.

·   Due to the inherent pigments in tea, regular drinking might eventually discolor teeth.

· Some teas pose a health concern if not acquired from reputable companies because they may contain pesticides or heavy metals.

· Flavoured teas and those with artificial components and additional sugars might negate their health benefits and cause weight gain and other health problems.

· Certain herbs or tea additions used in different varieties may cause allergic responses in some persons.

·  Too much tea, especially tannin-rich teas, can upset your stomach or worsen acid reflux.

Conclusion

Summertime hot tea is both culturally and scientifically proven to keep you cool. However, it's important to remember that moderation is key. Hot tea helps regulate body temperature by hydrating and sweating. Adopting this tradition in a balanced way can improve our heat tolerance, supported by real-world examples and scientific facts. By knowing about these perks and practicing moderation, you can make your summer more comfortable and fun.