News Beat
Does The Chinese Hot Water Trend Actually Work?
TikTok users are ‘becoming Chinese’ this month by embracing traditional cultural habits to level up their modern beauty and wellness routines. If you haven’t heard of this, you may need to get working on your algorithm as there have been 3.2 million views of this topic on the clock app.
The practice that they’re all racing to take part in is formally known as Yang Sheng (meaning “nourishing life”) and users are joking that they are ‘turning Chinese’ by taking part. The most common practice, and the one that has gone wild in the app is drinking hot water before bed which promises glowing skin and a healthier body.
The trend focuses on removing “internal dampness” and aiding digestion by moving away from iced drinks in favour of thermal flasks. That’s right. Iced coffees are finally out of fashion. I never thought I’d see the day, either.
But, does it work? And how does introducing this to your night time routine affect your sleep? To answer this, nutritionists and sleep experts at Mattress Online explain the benefits and potential drawbacks of this practice.
Does the Chinese hot water trend work?
Helen Ruckledge, Registered Nutritionist at Mattress Online advises: “There is no consistent research that suggests hot water aids digestion or reduces bloating more than cold water. It is certainly not the case that hot water speeds up the metabolism or makes you wake up with a flat stomach.
“Hydration is fundamental to many aspects of health. For example, it is well established that being dehydrated can increase your risk of constipation.”
Ruckledge assures that whatever works best for you when it comes to drinking water is what you should stick to, saying: “The key to hydration is to drink water in whichever way you enjoy the most, to encourage you to drink plenty. There is certainly no research to suggest that cold water is detrimental. Many people find it more refreshing when cold.
“Others find hot drinks comforting and prefer drinking water hot. Just a cautionary note, if you opt for hot, do boil the water and cool it rather than taking it out of a hot tap. And of course, ensure the water is not scalding hot when you drink it.”
As for whether drinking hot water before bed helps us to sleep…
Hannah Shore, Head of Sleep Science at Mattress Online says: “Drinking a cup of hot water before bed probably won’t directly affect your sleep; however, it could have some benefits. Taking the time to sit and drink a hot cup of water could be the perfect thing to build into your wind-down routine.”
She emphasises that the habit of slowing down before bed with a hot drink may be more beneficial than the drink itself, saying: “As adults, we often forget the importance of a wind-down routine, which should help relax the mind and body, prompting us that it’s time for sleep.
“In turn, if this is done in the right environment, it can prompt the body to create sleep-promoting hormones, such as melatonin, helping you to drift off to sleep more easily.”
Stay hydrated and rested wherever possible, basically.
