There’s a reason you’re hooked on coffee, and no, it’s not just because it tastes delicious and lets you stay up late doom-scrolling, because you know your ‘little pick-me-up’ will rescue you in the morning.
Science suggests that holding a warm drink is actually extremely comforting and can have positive effects on your mood and even relationships.
Research shows that hot drinks might subconsciously evoke memories of your mum, that make you feel safe and comfortable. That’s because there’s a psychological connection between physical warmth and emotional warmth, likely established in the womb or during early infancy, as we begin to associate warmth with protection, security, and nourishment. This association might stem from the way warm sensations, such as holding a heated cup, promote the release of oxytocin, commonly known as the “cuddle hormone”.
Oxytocin is associated with feelings of comfort, relaxation, and emotional attachment.
Another study shows that touch is among the first senses to develop in the womb, and by the third trimester, a baby can differentiate between hot and cold.
Photo by Fahmi Fakhrudin on Unsplash
