It's not just cozy. There is a physiological reason why warm beverages help you fall asleep.
The Thermoregulation Paradox
To fall asleep, your core body temperature needs to drop by about 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit. It seems counterintuitive, then, that drinking something warm would help. Wouldn't that heat you up?
Vasodilation is Key
When you drink a warm beverage, it warms up your core slightly. In response, your body's thermoregulatory system kicks in to cool you down. It does this through vasodilation—widening the blood vessels in your hands and feet. This sends warm blood away from the core to the extremities, where heat can be released through the skin.
The Cooling Effect
This process of rapid heat loss actually lowers your core body temperature faster than if you had drunk nothing. This drop in core temperature is a primary biological signal for sleep onset. So, the ritual of a warm cup of Tonight's Tonic isn't just psychologically comforting; it is a bio-hack that triggers the body's natural cooling mechanism for sleep.
