"Drink more hot water" has already become a common phrase used and heard online and in real life. Nowadays, many men in both daily life and on the internet like to tell women "drink more hot water," whether it's for a cold, stomach ache, or menstrual discomfort. It's always "drink more hot water" when someone is sick. Water seems to have become everyone's "panacea." But this is not the case. So, which illnesses require and are suitable for drinking more hot water, and which do not?
Why drink more water when sick?
There are multiple reasons why drinking more water can alleviate physical discomfort. First, when you're sick, you lose a certain amount of body fluids, and drinking water can replenish them. Second, drinking water promotes the transport and effectiveness of drugs in the body and also helps the body expel metabolic waste through excretory organs. Furthermore, when free water increases, cellular activities like metabolism are more easily carried out, often leading to more vigorous life activities. This allows for the secretion of more antibodies and the synthesis of more stress-resistant proteins to defend and repair the body. Moreover, drinking water reduces blood viscosity and promotes many physiological activities.
When you have these illnesses, it is suitable to drink more hot water
Wind-cold cold: At this time, drinking more hot water can not only accelerate blood circulation and fight viruses, but also replenish fluids and help reduce fever.
Infectious diarrhea: Drinking more hot water can prevent dehydration.
Pneumonia: The role of hot water is to allow the medicine to quickly reach the site of infection and eliminate inflammation.
Gastrointestinal spasms: For gastrointestinal spasms caused by exposure to cold or gastrointestinal motility, drinking more hot water can relieve symptoms of spasms and pain.
When you have these illnesses, you should not drink more hot water
Wind-heat cold: You should drink more cool water and eat more cooling foods like watermelon to nourish yin and reduce internal heat.
Pharyngitis, tonsillitis: Hot water will stimulate the inflamed area, causing more swelling and congestion. Cool water is a better choice, and adding honey to the water can also help alleviate the condition.
Primary dysmenorrhea (functional dysmenorrhea): Drinking more hot water has the effect of promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, and relieving pain. For secondary dysmenorrhea with other organic lesions, such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine malformations, etc., drinking more hot water can be counterproductive.
How to boil water healthily—the correct way to boil water
Normally, when boiling water, the goal is to kill the microorganisms in the water, and boiling it is the best method for sterilization. However, the excretions of microorganisms in the water, especially the endotoxins released after pathogenic bacteria are killed, cannot be eliminated at 100°C. Therefore, you should turn off the heat 2 to 3 minutes after the water has boiled.