Simple Warmth That Delights the Body

What’s the first thing you put into your body after waking up?Coffee? Cold water? Or perhaps breakfast?

One simple habit is gaining renewed attention: starting the day with a cup of hot water.Just boiled water, slightly cooled — and yet, that alone is enough to gently awaken your whole system.This is far from a passing trend. In Eastern medicine, this practice has long been valued as a way to “wake up the organs” from within.

Hot Water: A Gentle Alarm for the Organs

When we first wake up, our body temperature is still low, and our digestive organs aren’t fully active.If we introduce cold water or anything too stimulating at this stage, it can come as quite a shock to the stomach.

Hot water, by contrast, acts as a soft and supportive switch — warming the body without strain.It improves circulation, boosts metabolism, and helps regulate bowel movements.

For women or those prone to feeling cold, hot water in the morning serves as a simple and effective form of internal warming.

Afternoons and Evenings: The Time to Re-Warm and Reset

After a morning of work, stress, and exposure to the outside world, both body and mind tend to cool down.We then often jump into lunch or dinner, consuming heavy meals in a rush.

Here, a sip of miso soup can become a cue to slow down.Starting a meal with a warm broth encourages the parasympathetic nervous system to activate, bringing deeper breathing and a naturally calmer eating rhythm.

In the evening, miso soup also acts as a gentle switch from “on” to “off”.Instead of eating while still carrying the day’s tension, allowing your body to reset with something warm makes your digestion more receptive and easier on your system.

Why Starting with Miso Soup Makes Scientific Sense

That very first bite or sip signals to the stomach that it's time to wake up.

For our delicate digestive systems — especially when prone to cold — consuming icy drinks or cold bread first can be jarring.

Warm liquids like miso soup ease the stomach into action, gently stimulating blood flow without irritation.

This also promotes the right amount of gastric juice secretion, helping your body to digest the rest of your meal more smoothly.

A Double Benefit: Fermented Power Meets Warmth

Miso is packed with beneficial bacteria from fermentation, including lactic acid bacteria and koji mould.

And while heat may reduce some of these, not all are destroyed — and many still offer benefits to gut health.

The intestines, in particular, are highly sensitive to cold.

A chilled gut can lead to sluggish digestion, constipation or even diarrhoea.

Combining warmth with the power of fermentation, miso soup is a kind choice for both stomach and gut — offering not only comfort, but also functional support from within.