Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Lynda on 23/11/2008 08:58:50

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: Lynda on 23/11/2008 08:58:50

Yesterday, we had a Christmas Fair in church.   

A lady brought in some soup which she had made at home (our church hall is out of action due to a recent arson attack) .    It was really warming but it puzzled me - why is soup made half a mile away and brought in a large pan in someone's car more warming than a freshly made cup of tea?   

Even if we have soup at home in the same size mug we have our tea it warms us up more efficiently than tea!

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: blakestyger on 23/11/2008 10:31:35

I guess soup contains more calories than tea or coffee so it warms you as it it's digested.

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: lyner on 23/11/2008 13:21:52

And chicken soup has magical properties.

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: rosalind dna on 23/11/2008 14:32:33

I guess it is because soup is a warming food instead of a drink that
deals with thirst.

Considering what kind of soup you prefer for me, it is either homemade
chicken soup or mushroom soup.

Also it might be to do with to do with whether we've been taking exercise
or sitting still for ages, which also warms up our blood.

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: Lynda on 23/11/2008 18:17:39

Quote from: rosalind dna on 23/11/2008 14:32:33

I guess it is because soup is a warming food instead of a drink that
deals with thirst.

Considering what kind of soup you prefer for me, it is either homemade
chicken soup or mushroom soup.

Also it might be to do with to do with whether we've been taking exercise
or sitting still for ages, which also warms up our blood.

Thanks, Rosalind, for your theory.   

We had actually been in church for around two hours before the soup arrived at lunchtime.  We definitely felt warmer after having the soup!!

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: paul.fr on 23/11/2008 20:16:53

Could it be because, with tea, you tend to drink this rather fast, and soup (the eating of) is a much slower gentler affair. So with tea, you get a fast, short lived feeling of warmth, but with soup that feeling of warmth is longer?

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: LeeE on 23/11/2008 23:22:34

I think that the soup is a better insulator than the tea.

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: lightarrow on 24/11/2008 11:24:33

Quote from: Lynda on 23/11/2008 08:58:50

Yesterday, we had a Christmas Fair in church.   

A lady brought in some soup which she had made at home (our church hall is out of action due to a recent arson attack) .    It was really warming but it puzzled me - why is soup made half a mile away and brought in a large pan in someone's car more warming than a freshly made cup of tea?   

Even if we have soup at home in the same size mug we have our tea it warms us up more efficiently than tea!

In UK do you drink soup with or without spoon? Anyway, it could also be that we digest soup faster than tea and so it reaches faster the belly's interiors (hope to have written correctly).

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: rosalind dna on 24/11/2008 11:30:56

Lynda, as the others have mentioned that it might be the speed that
you drank the soup in the church but also depending on whether it contained meat/protein or only vegetables:

Leek and potatoes or chicken that's what you find suits you best.

Title: Why is soup better at warming us than tea or coffee?
Post by: RD on 24/11/2008 11:47:36

Tea & Coffee contain caffeine, a breakdown product of caffeine is theobromine which is a vasodilator:
 dilating blood vessels in the skin will increase heat loss making a person in the cold feel colder.

(No caffeine in soup, unless it is made with "Red Bull"   [:)] )