As the US continues to experience heat waves, many people are opting for iced or cold brew coffee instead of hot coffee.
While the chilled version may cool you down, it can affect the drink’s impact on your health.
According to Dr. Majid Basit, a cardiologist at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital in Texas, A cup of hot coffee may contain more disease-fighting nutrients than iced coffee.
Additionally, the strong aroma of a steaming cup of tea has been shown to improve mood and reduce fatigue.
However, cold coffee can also have benefits. It is less acidic and can even help regulate blood sugar levels.
Research suggests that coffee can improve health by preventing chronic diseases and improving metabolism. But there has long been debate over whether it is better to drink it hot or iced.
“Hot coffee has been shown to contain higher amounts of antioxidants, which may provide health benefits,” Dr. Basit said HuffPost.
Antioxidants are molecules that attack free radicals. Free radicals are unstable compounds that increase oxidative stress in the body.
Too much oxidative stress has been shown to damage cells and lead to long-term health problems such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, kidney failure, and even some forms of cancer.
A 2018 study in the journal Scientific reportsfor example, found that hot coffee had higher levels of antioxidants compared to cold coffee. This is because brewing coffee with hot water extracts more nutrients from the beans than cold water.
Other foods rich in antioxidants include berries, green tea, dark chocolate, beans and artichokes.
Some research also suggests that hot coffee can give you a bigger energy boost. Study 2020 For example, research from the American Chemical Society found that hot brew methods resulted in slightly higher caffeine levels than cold brew coffee.
Jordan Karchner, a coffee expert and founder of Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co, told Rush that cold brew ‘has less caffeine, which is a plus for people who really crave a second cup of coffee but feel a little shaky.’
And even the smell of hot coffee can make you feel more relaxed, as hot coffee has a stronger smell than ice-cold drinks.
A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Research with rodents showed that a single sniff of hot coffee reduced fatigue and stress levels.
And Research 2021 found that people who inhaled coffee aromas before undergoing dental surgery were less anxious and more relaxed than those who did not.
“Because more vapors are released with hot coffee, it is possible that this effect is greater with hot coffee than with cold coffee,” Dr. Basit said.
And a Study from 2009 found that participants who held a cup of coffee for a few minutes were more likely to view others as generous, caring, and warm-hearted than participants who held an iced coffee.
Drinking coffee in moderation can be good for you, according to researchers. The caffeinated beverage has been linked to reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and liver disease, among other benefits
However, iced coffee can also have its own benefits.
For example, cold coffee is less acidic than hot coffee because heat increases the acidity. Drinks that are more acidic can disrupt the healthy bacteria in your gut, leading to digestive problems.
Dr. Eva Cwynar, an endocrinologist based in Beverly Hills, told First for women: ‘Sour coffee disrupts your natural intestinal flora, which makes you feel listless.’
Cold brew coffee has also been shown to contain higher levels of magnesium and antioxidants called chlorogenic acid. These can help regulate blood sugar levels and lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of developing heart disease.
However, Dr. Barit cautioned that the research is limited and much is still unknown about which coffee temperature is better. “More research needs to be done,” he said.
