SDSU study links food and beverage temperature to mental and gut health

Be it a cool iced coffee or warm cup of soup, the temperature of what we eat and drink may influence our mental and digestive health, according to new research led by San Diego State University.

The study, recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition, examined more than 400 Asian and white adults across the United States. Researchers found that food and beverage temperature, long recognized in traditional Asian medicine, has measurable links to anxiety, insomnia, and gut discomfort.

According to the findings, among Asian adult participants, higher summer cold drink consumption was associated with increased anxiety, more sleep disturbances, and greater feelings of abdominal fullness. In contrast, white participants who drank more hot beverages in winter reported lower levels of depression, improved sleep quality, and fewer digestive symptoms.

This is the first study in the U.S. to directly link cold and hot dietary consumption to multiple health outcomes, with important implications for addressing rising rates of anxiety, insomnia and digestive issues.

“Something as simple as the temperature of what we eat and drink can have real impacts on health,” said Tianying Wu, SDSU associate professor of epidemiology, and the study’s lead author. “Because cold and hot consumption is such a routine part of daily life in the U.S., at home and in restaurants, the findings have broad relevance to everyday health choices.”

The research was based on data from SDSU’s Healthy Aging Survey, which investigates novel risk factors and health disparities among U.S. populations. 

The study also found that the effects were most pronounced in participants who frequently reported “cold hands,” a possible indicator of reduced circulation. Subgroup analysis showed that Chinese participants, who consumed the least cold foods and drinks, experienced fewer adverse outcomes, while Asian Indians showed stronger associations between cold consumption and adverse health effects.

While Western nutrition guidance rarely considers the temperature of food and drinks, the results, according to the researchers, echo long-held practices in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, which warn against excessive cold consumption.

“This research provides a snapshot of how hot and cold consumption may relate to health outcomes,” said Wu. “The next step is to conduct more rigorous prospective and intervention studies, since the effects can be dynamic — for example, older adults or individuals with poor circulation may be especially vulnerable to cold exposure.”