February 04, 2005

A chance to test the theory

When I was younger, I either read or was told that if you're cold you should have something cold and if you're hot you should have something hot. So whenever I see somebody having hot tea because they are cold, I explain this theory.

The theory is actually that if you're freezing and you drink something hot, it will only raise your body temperature and make the differential between that temperature and the outside temperature wider and so you'll feel even colder.

I'm in Mandeville on the south coast of Jamaica. It's west of Kingston. West of Kingston is St Catherine, west of St Catherine is Clarendon and west of Clarendon is Manchester where Mandeville is the capital. Mandeville on a normal basis is cold (relatively speaking of course!).

Well, we've been feeling the effects of a cold front all over the island. Naturally, in Mandeville it is even colder. So last night I had some ice cream while I was freezing my butt off while watching TV. I didn't realize any difference, so then I went and had a cup of hot tea afterwards! A chance to test my theory but the results were inconclusive. I guess I have to repeat the experiment.

Posted by yamfoot at February 4, 2005 10:16 PM
Comments

I've heard theory about showers--warm showers for warm weather, cold showers for cold weather, since de external temperature prompts your body temperature to move in de opposite direction. Ah fink it might work, since de water is external to your body--unlike that tea which is internal to your body, an' which might make your temperature move toward de temperature ov de tea itself.

Posted by: Mel Da Piggy at February 5, 2005 09:38 AM

Have heard these theories myself...but who in their right mind has cold showers in winter?

Posted by: Dr. D. at February 5, 2005 10:08 AM