Why is Drinking hot or warm Filtered Water Food for your Health?

Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. That’s the recommended amount the professionals advise to stay healthy. Make it filtered water and you’re adding even more health benefits by removing the potential nasties that may occur in tap water. Plus it will taste better so you’ll want to drink more.

But those 8 glasses a day don’t necessarily have to be cold. In fact there’s some beliefs that claim drinking warm or in some cases hot filtered water can be greatly beneficial to your health.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Beliefs

Take traditional Chinese medicine beliefs and Chinese culture. If you’ve ever walked into a restaurant in China you can expect to be offered hot water or tea as standard. You’ll have to ask for ‘cold’ water.

The reason for this?

Firstly, it’s a cultural and historical tradition. Some believe it is a ‘cure all’. That’s everything from the common cold to cholera!

Legend has it that in 1862 when the Shanghai cholera epidemic wiped out up to 3000 people a day and spread to Beijing, the people in the south remained untouched by the disease. It was widely known that most of the ‘Southerners’ drank more hot water than the north.

Historical research suggests the disease was actually carried north by the mailboats but common myth is that it was all down to the southerners drinking regular amounts of hot water!

In traditional Chinese medicine it’s thought that drinking cold water disrupts the normal body temperature and slows down organ function so it’s better to drink it warm or hot. Another belief is that it’s not good to mix hot food with cold water at meal times as your body has to work harder to balance the water temperature with the food in order to digest it.

All About Balance

To put it in simple terms, it’s all about balance. According to traditional Chinese medicine, every human body is made up of ‘yin’ and ‘yang’ elements. And to stay healthy it’s all about keeping those elements balanced. If the yang gets too strong then the body’s internal temperature rises and that person becomes susceptible to illness.

In order to treat an illness the extra yang (or excess heat) has to go. The best way to do this is to consume food and drinks that are thought to be a ‘yin’ food or drink. Hot water is a yin drink and it’s believed by drinking it, it lowers the body’s internal temperature and restores balance. (Source – The Culture Trip)

8 Health Reasons for Drinking Warm / Hot Filtered Water

1. Improves & Aids Digestion

A glass of warm water first thing in the morning kick-starts the digestive system. It’s thought cold water taken with food can slow down the digestion process and lead to indigestion

2. Improves blood circulation

It’s believed that hot or warm water aids blood flow so improving circulation. As the blood flow increases, this in turn helps to rid the body of toxins.

3. Helps to Reduce toxins

Warm water helps to flush out toxins in the body. It’s great for flushing the liver tissues so the toxins can be removed via the skin and bowels. This in turn helps the kidneys to filter properly.

4. Relieves Constipation

This condition can often be brought on by dehydration. It’s good to be aware of the common dehydration warning signs. A glass of warm filtered water in the morning will help to improve bowel functions.

The warm filtered water will help break down foods so they can pass easily through the intestine.

5. Helps with Menstrual cramps

If you suffer from uncomfortable cramping at a certain time of the month then a glass of warm filtered water can help. It will help the muscles relax and the cramps to ease.

6. Helps with a Cold & Sore throat

Got a niggly cold, sore throat or sinus problems? Drink a glass of warm filtered water. It acts as a natural expectorant by helping to get rid of phlegm in the respiratory tract.

Add ginger and lemon for added vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties, plus a bit of honey to ease the throat. Read on for the recipe.

7. Decreases Stress

By drinking a glass of hot/warm of the water, it helps your muscles to relax. This in turn increases a general sense of wellbeing. Add a herbal tea such as Chamomile before bed and it can help with a good night’s sleep too.

8. Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight

Many people believe that by drinking a glass of warm water in the morning will aid weight loss. This is because the warm water increases your body temperature and metabolic rate, so your body will burn more calories and your kidney function will improve. Add a slice of lemon and it will help break down adipose tissue (aka body fat).

Instant hot, warm or cold filtered water in seconds

Boiling a kettle each time can take time you want to drink a glass of hot filtered water can be time consuming and expensive. A simple solution is a WFA Duo hot and cold water filter.

The water filter system is compact and fits neatly under your kitchen bench. And you’ll have instant hot filtered water at the touch of a button. You can also control the temperature for warm or ambient filtered water.

A Simple Hot Lemon, Ginger & Turmeric Recipe

To add even more health benefits to your hot or warm filtered water, try adding lemon, ginger and turmeric.

The lemon will give you the vitamin C you need along with flavonoid compounds for anti-oxidants. Ginger, is great for its anti-inflammatory properties and to boost your immune system.

Plus add a little bit of turmeric. This member of the ginger family is thought to have great anti-inflammatory properties. Some believe it helps lower cholesterol, prevent Alzheimer’s and inhibit cancer cell growth. Whatever your beliefs this warm filtered water recipe tastes great and will help keep you on track for your eight a day!

You’ll need:

2 and ½ cups of boiling filtered water
1 organic lemon cut into slices
½ inch of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
⅛ teaspoon of ground turmeric
2 teaspoons of honey (optional)

Bring the water to the boil or add hot water from WFA Duo hot cold water system to a teapot or heat proof container. Add lemon, ginger and turmeric. Let it steep for 30 minutes. Then strain and enjoy. (Recipe inspired by The Harvest Kitchen)

You don’t just have to use the WFA Duo hot and cold water filter system for drinking hot or warm filtered water, there’s so much more you can do with it…like cooking pasta quicker, blanching vegetables, heating up baby bottles…more ideas to come.

Purchase a WFA Duo Hot and Cold Water Filter System today.

Read more on the health benefits of filtered water