Scientists have found the reason why the human body maintains a constant body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. 37 degrees corresponds to the optimal balance: the body is warm enough to prevent infections, but cool enough that the metabolism does not have to work at full speed. If the body were too hot, we would have to eat continuously to maintain our metabolism.

 

Since time immemorial, scientists have wondered why mammals have such warm bodies compared to other animals. Bacteria that can thrive in the body and infect the body are weakened by 6% with each degree rise in temperature. So we know that we need a higher body temperature to fight off infections, the question is how warm can it be?

Using mathematical calculations, scientists analysed the benefits of increased body temperature to fight off infections against the calorie consumption needed to maintain body temperature between 30 and 40 degrees. The optimal body temperature with the most effective defence against infection with minimal calorie consumption was 36.7 degrees.