Doctors examined the warming and uplifting effects of mulled wine, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Mulled wine is regarded as a traditional beverage for the colder months and a symbol of Christmas festivities. It is typically made from heated wine, spices, sugar or honey, citrus fruits, and other ingredients, with non-alcoholic versions also available. In anticipation of the upcoming holidays, researchers from Denmark decided to experimentally test the warming effects of mulled wine, both with and without alcohol, and to compare how each version contributes to creating a festive atmosphere.

2024-12-17 10:01:09https://naked-science.ru/article/medicine/mediki-proverili-glintvej

The article on a rather lighthearted topic was published in the Christmas edition of the Danish medical journal Ugeskrift for Læger. The publication of such humorous studies at the end of the year has become a sort of pre-holiday tradition among Western scientists.

The experiment took place in a hospital in the Danish town of Hillerød, located on the northern part of Zealand island. It was organized by clinic staff, with 15 volunteers participating, including several doctors, nurses, and other personnel.

During the testing, the participants consumed a mulled wine prepared by the chief physician, which included 39-degree rum (83 milliliters per mug), on two different days, or its non-alcoholic version. Before the experiment began, the subjects had their facial temperature measured using a specialized thermographic camera (model FLIR SC645). After drinking the beverage, measurements were repeated every 10 minutes for an hour. Additionally, the blood alcohol content of the volunteers was assessed using a breathalyzer.

One of the conditions for conducting the trials was that participants had to wear Santa Claus hats, which the researchers explained was necessary to "standardize heat loss through the scalp in bald individuals and those with thick hair."

During the experiment, the same playlist of Christmas tunes was played to create the appropriate atmosphere. Moreover, participants were free to enjoy traditional Danish Christmas pastries, such as vanilla sand cookies and chocolate cakes. Their feelings during the experiment were recorded in an online survey created in Google Forms and accessible via mobile phones.

Thermography data indicated that those who drank the alcoholic mulled wine experienced a greater increase in facial temperature, averaging 33.6 °C, whereas the non-alcoholic version resulted in an average of 32.9 °C. The researchers found no significant differences in the subjective sensations of warmth in the body after consuming either version of the drink.

Furthermore, the scientists stated that participants rated both versions of the mulled wine as tasty, and the Christmas spirit was observed regardless of the presence of alcohol. According to the authors of this new study, this aligns with findings from other research indicating that psychological factors play a larger role in creating a festive atmosphere than alcohol consumption.

"Our results confirm that the sensation of warmth after consuming alcohol is likely primarily due to physiological mechanisms, while the Christmas spirit is more significantly triggered by psychological factors rather than the effects of intoxication," concluded the researchers.