By Franklin Delgado
The phenomenon of drinking warm water has captured the attention of young people globally. Originally promoted by traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, this habit has proliferated through social platforms, being popularized by influencers in TikTok and instagram.
They are videos with millions of views that are tagged with the phrases “newly Chinese language” and “Chinamaxxing.” They mainly show young people drinking warm water, eating hot food for breakfast and starting the day with stretching, highlights a publication from BBC World.
Traditional medicine holds that warm water enhances natural energy, or Qi, promoting health and longevity. Users like Maryam Khan highlight an improvement in personal well-being through this easy habit, in addition to associated practices such as tai chi.
Khan confesses that, after drinking caffeine, she felt quite dizzy afterwards, “so I started drinking hot water alone, sometimes with mint, lemon… and I did feel cooler.”
The science behind the habit
Health experts offer critical insight into the benefits. While some studies highlight benefits in digestion, others emphasize the lack of solid evidence to support more extreme claims about “detoxifying” the body or weight loss.
The growing interest in habits such as drinking warm water can be seen as a response to distrust in modern medical practices. Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, from the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights the need to balance traditional and contemporary medicine, highlighting their cultural and spiritual value in the search for holistic well-being.
Possible side effects
Drinking warm water regularly is generally safe and carries no major risks for most people, as long as the temperature is not too high and consumption is moderate.
When there may be risks
- Very hot temperature (more than “warm”): If the water is very hot, it can burn the oral mucosa, tongue or esophagus, and prolonged consumption of very hot liquids has been associated with a greater risk of damage to the digestive mucosa and in some studies with certain eso-gastroesophageal tumors.
- Tooth sensitivity: Drinking hot or very hot water frequently can, over time, weaken the enamel and promote tooth sensitivity or cavities.
- Excess volume: If you drink a lot of warm water (or another temperature) in a short time, overhydration or hyponatremia (dangerous decrease in sodium in the blood) may appear, with symptoms such as nausea, headache, confusion or fatigue.
What is considered “lukewarm”?
- As a reference, water is usually considered warm when it is around 37–45ºC, that is, close to body temperature or slightly warmer to the touch, without scalding.
- Drinking warm water in reasonable amounts (e.g. 1–2 liters a day spread out) is considered safe and can aid digestion and hydration.
You can drink warm water as normalbut avoid it being boiling or very hot; Make sure it doesn’t irritate your mouth or throat and don’t overdo it with the full daily amount of water. If you have gastritis, esophageal problems or dental sensitivity, it is advisable to consult with your doctor to adjust temperature and volume.
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