This is why you shouldn't drink coffee on cold days.
As temperatures drop, a steaming cup of coffee might seem like an invigorating start to the day. However, it turns out this beverage can work against you, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Why? Normally, our bodies are warmer than the surrounding environment and radiate heat. However, when it's cold, the body reacts by shivering, generating more heat in the core.
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Drinking a cup of coffee on a cold day might make you urinate more because caffeine is a diuretic. And that's "another way to lose heat because the liquid is much warmer than the surrounding environment," says Alan Hedge, director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Lab at Cornell University.
Are there any other drinks that don't warm the body? Yes, there's alcohol. It's also a diuretic that causes blood vessels to dilate. That's why some people who drink alcohol in cold weather may experience hypothermia.
So what can you drink to warm your body? The answer comes from Mongolia. Since the time of Genghis Khan, people there have warmed their bodies by drinking a beverage containing butter from Tibetan yaks. Mongolians drink warm, fresh mare's milk, giving them the ability to sustainably maintain a high-calorie diet, providing warmth, high heat retention, and keeping their bodies warm.
Therefore, you can go ahead and order a hot chocolate or latte – just make sure it's decaffeinated. If you're not a milk fan? Try a decaffeinated beverage in the 37 range.oC (normal body temperature) to 46.1oC.
Studies show that drinks within this temperature range will make the body feel about 2.6 degrees warmer.oC, the Wall Street Journal reported. A fragrant cup of chamomile tea is the secret.
