To test whether they do, we need to know a bit more about how the body controls the temperature in different environments. The process of maintaining an optimal body temperature is called
, which involves a delicate balance between producing and losing heat.
Humans are warm-blooded or endotherms, which are scientific ways of saying we can control our body temperature independent of the environment. We can do this because our bodies are constantly producing heat as a by-product of internal chemical processes (metabolism).
How it all works
Metabolism is necessary to keep our bodies functioning correctly. It includes digestive processes involved in breaking down nutrients in food, the absorption and transportation of those nutrients to the cells, and their conversion into building blocks or energy necessary for physical activity.
The heat this generates is beneficial when it’s cold, but when outside temperatures rise, we need to avoid overheating. While it may seem logical that introducing something cold, like ice-cream, into the stomach should help reduce temperature, its initial cooling effect is rapidly replaced by heat generated by digestive processes needed to break down the nutrients in ice-cream. Digesting calorie-rich food leads to an increase in body temperature.
Myth busted. Frozen treats, like this strawberries and cream slab
So ice-cream is not the best option for cooling down, but what about cold beverages? The heat transfer between a cold beverage and the digestive system can directly
. But, this is only momentary and depends on the quantity and caloric content of the ingested liquid.
A small amount of liquid will lose its cooling effect quite quickly as it gets warmed up by the surrounding organs. And large amounts of cold liquids will cause blood flow to slow, making heat transport less effective.
As you can imagine, beverages with a high caloric content, such as soft drinks, will have a similar effect as ice-cream and kick start our metabolism shortly after ingestion.
But I feel cooler…
The cooling effects of cold liquids are more likely explained by their
effects. If heat does build-up, the body will attempt to lose excess heat by transporting it away from the vital organs to the skin surface where it is transferred directly to our environment through convection and radiation.
The cooling effects of cold liquids are more likely explained by their rehydration effects. Get your refreshing summer fix in the form of Aperol spritz with blood orange pops
For this to occur, the ambient temperature needs to be lower than our own temperature, or the opposite happens and heat will transfer into our body. Just like the heat radiated from the sun on a hot summer day.
Sweating is the most effective way our bodies lose heat. Sweating occurs when an increase in core body temperature is detected by the brain, which responds by stimulating the sweat glands distributed all over the body to produce sweat.
Sweat on the skin surface evaporates, causing the skin to cool down (also called evaporative cooling). Blood that’s flowing close to the surface of the skin gets cooled in the process and helps reduce core temperature.
On average, an adult can lose up to half or one litre of sweat every day, but in hot environments, this can increase to almost a litre and a half an hour. That’s why it’s essential to keep the body hydrated during hot weather.
Turn the heat up. Warm beverages and spicy foods, like this Indian-spiced fish and potato curry
A different approach
What about alcoholic beverages? Many people reach for a cold beer on a hot summer day in an attempt to cool down. But alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it will make your body lose water and so reduce your ability to lose heat through sweating.
Surprisingly, warm beverages might be a good way to keep you cool. Although counterintuitive, drinking a warm beverage causes receptors in your mouth and throat to trigger a sweat response, allowing your body to cool down without having to ingest a large amount of the warm liquid.
Active ingredients in
have the same effect; they too trigger a sweat response that allows the body to cool down. That’s why these types of foods are popular in warm climates.
So while cold treats can be satisfying and are certainly refreshing, a better way of cooling down is to spice things up, get your sweat on and, most importantly, rehydrate!
This article was originally published on . Read the .
Summer reading:
The dangerous sunscreen food myths that could damage your skin8 ways to hold onto that summer vibe
Throw that summer picnic already!
FAQs
Everyone believes these delicious frozen treats are the best way to cool down in summer. However, experts say ice cream does not have quite the cooling effect and rather raises the body temperature.
Do ice cold drinks cool you down? ›
On average in very hot conditions (high 30s) we sweat 3-4 litres per hour and up to 10 litres a day, the same as 40 cups of tea. For a short amount of time, hot drinks raise your core body temperature. But it induces sweating, which then lowers your temperature. Cold and ice drinks do cool you down too.
Does ice cream help you cool down? ›
While ice cream might provide a momentary relief by reducing the temperature in our mouth, it does not directly cool down our core body temperature. In fact, consuming ice cream triggers a more complex response from our body's thermoregulatory system.
Does eating cold food lower your body temperature? ›
Cold foods and beverages
Cold and refreshing food and beverages are often associated with cooling you down, such as enjoying ice cream on a hot summer day. Interestingly, eating or drinking cold foods may cause a slight decrease in your body temperature ( 10 ).
What is the effect of ice cream hot or cold? ›
Although, it may seem like a 'cool' treat, but ice cream is loaded with sugar and fat, and made with incompatible combinations that are heavy to digest and produce more heat as a result.
Why does ice cool drinks? ›
In other words, ice absorbs heat from the water. As the water molecules lose energy, they begin to slow down, and consequently to cool. So, it's kind of the opposite of what we might think: when we put ice in water, the ice doesn't give its cold to the water, it takes heat from the water.
What cools you down more, hot or cold drinks? ›
As Jay put it, “If you drink a hot drink, it does result in a lower amount of heat stored inside your body, provided the additional sweat produced when you drink the hot drink can evaporate.” So, if you are in a highly humid environment, say a sauna or a rain forest, or submerged in water, where your sweat already can' ...
Do popsicles help cool you down? ›
You might want to forget the ice cream and reach for a bowl of hot chili. On a steamy summer day, we all have our favorite frozen treats to cool us down. If you reach for ice cream, homemade popsicles or a glass of ice water, you instantly feel refreshed.
What is the best thing to cool down? ›
Below are eight tips for reducing body heat:
- Drink cool liquids. ...
- Go somewhere with cooler air. ...
- Get in cool water. ...
- Apply cold to key points on the body. ...
- Move less. ...
- Wear lighter, more breathable clothing. ...
- Take heat regulating supplements. ...
- Talk to a doctor about thyroid health.
If you are looking for a longer-lasting, more effective cooling option and are willing to pay a little extra, then dry ice may be a good choice for you.
Some of the best cooling foods for body include foods like cucumber, watermelon, coconut water, mint, buttermilk, etc.
Is eating ice cream in winter bad? ›
That thrill alone is a reason to indulge in dessert all winter long. Plus, bonus point - research suggests that breaking down of the ingredients of the ice cream into usable blocks of energy actually creates heat in the body. So why worry - just enjoy your ice cream because it can actually keep you warm.
Is it better to eat cold food or hot food? ›
Hot Foods Offer More Nutritional Content
Because hot food makes the digestion process run smoother, nutrients from hot food are more easily absorbed. This makes more nutrients available to the body. Still, some cooked foods actually contain more nutritional content than they do when they are raw.
Is icecream hot for the body? ›
The breaking down of the ingredients of an ice cream, into usable blocks of energy creates heat in the body. The initial cooling effect of eating an ice cream is thereby overturned by the digestive process.
Which is colder ice or ice cream? ›
They are the same temperature. However, the specific heat of ice cream (1.67 KJ/kg*C) is lower than that of ice (2.09 KJ/kg*C), and the thermal conductivity of ice is much higher as well, resulting in a more rapid transfer of heat from your body to the ice, and thus a sense of greater "coldness"....
What not to eat during a cough and cold? ›
Fruits and Foods to Avoid During Cough and Cold
- Citrus Fruits. Citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C. ...
- Sweets and Sugary Foods. Sugary foods can lower your immune system's power and make it harder for your body to fight germs. ...
- Spicy Foods. ...
- Fried and Fatty Foods. ...
- Dairy Products. ...
- Alcohol and Caffeinated Beverages. ...
- Crunchy Snacks.
While hot drinks can increase sweat rates, the consumption of ice or very cold liquid can measurably reduce sweat output.
Should you drink hot or cold drinks in hot weather? ›
A hot drink means your body will sweat faster, to get rid of the excess heat; however after a cold drink, your body will sweat more slowly. What should I do? When you're hot, the key thing is to stay hydrated – and your drink can be as hot or cold as you like!
