While drinking water habitually has its benefits, there is no medical evidence to suggest that its temperature makes a difference.
More Kenyans are joining the morning ritual of drinking hot water in the morning, taken on an empty stomach before food. Reason? Many claim the practice helps with metabolism, digestion, detoxification, and even weight loss.
On social media, the ritual is trending under hash tags like ‘becoming Chinese’ or ‘chinamaxxing’, as people experiment with habits associated with Eastern medicine and Chinese culture.
Samuel Muthama is among those doing it. He says it has become part of a routine that determines how his day will unfold. When he opens his eyes each morning, he takes one to three minutes to invite movement into his body, then he gets up, brushes his teeth, drinks a glass of warm water, and proceeds with his daily exercise routine. This is a non-negotiable part of his mornings, a habit he picked up about a year ago while researching fitness and overall wellbeing.
“We sleep for roughly five to eight hours, and during that time, our bodies lose water, so when we wake up and drink water, it’s like putting fresh oil in the engine. It quenches thirst and relaxes the body, especially because the muscles tend to tense up whenever we are dehydrated. It helps everything, including digestion, function better.”
Depending on time constraints, the 33-year-old alternates between warm and room temperature water, often adding lemon. But it's not just about hydration for him. It’s also about signalling the body that the day has begun.
“Beginning my day with this routine feels purposeful and relaxing, which allows me to approach the day in a more positive and energetic way.”
Over time, the practice has extended into other areas of his life, even shaping how he eats and cares for his body.
Water-fasting involves restricting intake to water alone from 24 hours to several days.
“You start to notice what works for you,” he says. “When I eat a heavy or unhealthy breakfast, I feel like I’m dragging myself through the day, undoing the great start I had. But when I eat healthy, I feel lighter and able to maintain the momentum,” says the yoga instructor.
Adds cayenne pepper, lemon
For Caren Irungu, the warm water-in-the-morning ritual is just as essential for her everyday well-being.
“On days that I skip it, my body feels tired and sluggish. I lack the inspiration to do anything,” she says.
But unlike Samuel, who keeps his routine relatively simple, Caren experiments more with her morning glass of warm water.
“It’s rare for me to take plain water,” she says. “I add a pinch of cayenne pepper, lemon, herbs like rosemary and chamomile, or a teaspoonful of soaked black salt water, depending on what I feel my body needs.”
Her interest in the practice was sparked in 2022, when she began developing her wellness brand, The Daily Ritual.
“In my research, I discovered that in many Asian cultures, people are encouraged to take not just warm water, but warm food in general,” she says. “Warm water offers digestive comfort by preparing, rather than shocking the system, and it can also support metabolism.”
The effects, she says, became clearer with consistency.
“I noticed it also helps with bowel movements. When you consistently drink water, you naturally get the urge to go to the toilet, which is important because some people only go two to three times in a week,” she says. “And then of course, when you’re properly hydrated, your skin looks better.”
Seeing the practice as a gateway, Caren says the simple ritual has led to other wellness habits.
“It’s one of the small things that lead to bigger changes,” she says. “Once you start being intentional with something as simple as water, you begin to look at other parts of your life like your movement, your food, your rest.”
And for her, these small, consistent actions matter more than dramatic lifestyle changes.
“People think wellness has to be something big, but it’s really about small routines that you can sustain,” she says. “That’s how you take care of yourself in the long run.”
Expert’s take
According to Dr Huzefa Iqbal, a senior medical practitioner at Halcyon Multispeciality Hospital, while drinking water habitually has its benefits, there is no medical evidence to suggest that its temperature makes a difference.
“They say water is life, and that’s true in many ways because every part of the body, the cells, blood, muscles, and organs, all need water to function. Primarily, it acts as a transport medium, helping to carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body,” he says. “But scientifically, there is no clear evidence supporting a difference. Whether the water is warm or cold, once it enters the body, it is absorbed the same way.”
People exposed to saltier drinking water tend to have significantly higher blood pressure and a greater risk of hypertension.
Still, he acknowledges that while none of these claims is medically proven, some patients report improved bowel movements after drinking warm water, while others simply find it more comfortable for their systems.
When it comes to claims around boosting metabolism, detoxification, and weight loss, the doctor stresses the importance of the right context.
Drinking water is the most common source of fluorosis.
“Water plays a significant role in the normal body processes, but on its own, it’s not a solution,” he says. “You still need to eat right and exercise. If all you’re doing is drinking water, then it won’t have much benefit.”
Not hot water
He also cautions against drinking very hot water, noting that it can cause harm.
“The body’s temperature is around 36 degrees, so anything significantly hotter than that can damage tissues in the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. It’s best to stick to lukewarm water rather than very hot or boiling water.”
On additions such as lemon, salt, and herbs, he says their meaningfulness is largely subjective. “Sometimes it’s about improving the taste, which can make people drink more water, and in other cases, there may be small nutritional benefits. But if your diet is already balanced, they are not strictly necessary,” he says. “There is also the psychological effect where people feel they are getting more value with infused water.”
Ultimately, he emphasises, the most important thing is hydration.
“The body loses water throughout the day, whether you are awake or asleep, so it is important to maintain an adequate fluid intake, regardless of the temperature.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
