The importance of hydration during exercise is well established, but what should you drink after a workout? Is it better to drink a hot beverage or something cold?
Interestingly, there has not been much research done on the benefits of hot vs cold drinks after exercise, but we can look at the impacts of hot and cold drinks in general and draw some conclusions.
In theory, drinking hot beverages will cool you down if you are already hot. As you drink the hot beverage, you are adding heat to your body which will cause your core temperature to rise. This will cause signals to be sent to your brain to produce more sweat, and the increase in perspiration will have a cooling effect. This applies whether you are hot because you have exercised, or simply because it is a hot day.
Drinking something cold has the opposite effect. It will lower your core temperature, reducing the amount you sweat. Interestingly, when you do drink something cold it only takes around five minutes for that drink to be warmed to your body temperature. It is important not to overdo it though, as drinking too many cold fluids will make you shiver, which is your body’s way of warming you up again!
Another consideration is that drinking hot drinks will make you feel less thirsty, which may inadvertently lead to you drinking less and increasing the risk of becoming dehydrated. So, if you do choose to drink something hot after your workout, make sure you keep drinking enough to replenish the fluids lost during your workout.
If weight loss is one of your exercise goals, drinking hot drinks will speed up your metabolism slightly due to the increase in your body temperature. The impact will not be significant, but every bit helps, right?
The increased sweat produced after drinking hot beverages will also clear out your pores and help repair their cells, improving skin elasticity and helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles as you age.
On balance, it seems there are more benefits from drinking something hot after a workout, compared to drinking something cold. However, the temperature of your chosen beverage is less important than making sure you drink enough to keep yourself adequately hydrated and give your body the best possible chance of recovery. So, if you prefer a cold drink after you exercise, then drink something cold. Just make sure you drink something!
There are so many advantages to working out in the comfort of your own home using home exercise equipment from BeFit Hire. Check out the range of fitness equipment we have available for hire including treadmills, manual and programmable cross-trainers, upright and recumbent exercise bikes, rowing machines.
We invite you to contact your local BeFit Hire agent today to discuss your specific needs. Remember, you can rest easy knowing your BeFit Hire agent has tested, cleaned, and disinfected your hire equipment prior to delivery. Contactless delivery is also available on request.
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