Why body temperature is 36 degrees?

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The reason is that those between 36 and 37 degrees protect us from infections. Different studies have shown that around 36.7 ° C is the most efficient temperature: body heat prevents us from being infected by viruses, bacteria and fungi with the lowest possible energy consumption.

It is an adaptive mechanism. Millions of years ago there were no animals called "warm blooded." All living things had a body temperature that changed depending on the environment, they are called poikilotherms. But natural evolution selected some beings capable of regulating their own temperature regardless of what was in the environment and keeping it practically constant. It didn't matter whether it was summer or winter and that the ambient temperature varied greatly, their organisms remained at a constant temperature. These living beings are called homeotherms, also known as "warm blooded." Among vertebrates, birds and mammals - like humans - are homeotherms and reptiles, amphibians and fish are poikilotherms.

In the nineteenth century, body temperature was studied in many people to find the average and found to be 36.5 ° C. Although more recent studies have set that average at 36.7 ° C. It has also been discovered that the fork between 36.5 ° C and 36.7 ° C is the most efficient temperature for humans since the body does not need to spend excessive energy in producing that heat and, on the other hand, it is the one it is possible that fungi do not attack our body. It is true that if the temperature rises, the attack of fungi and other microorganisms would decrease even more, but at the same time, this increase in body heat would be excessive for the body because it would spend too much on producing heat.

The heat is produced thanks to the foods that provide us with the energy that allows the thermoregulatory mechanisms of our body to function

Keep in mind that heat is produced thanks to the food that provides us with the energy that allows the thermoregulatory mechanisms of our body to function. To have a higher temperature, we would need to eat more, we would probably need to be continuously feeding ourselves, which would not be viable. In order not to have to be eating all day and maintain a low risk of infections, the evolution of the human being has maintained its ideal temperature (from the energy and microbiological point of view) at an average of 36.7 ° C.

But the increase in temperature does not only act as a protective mechanism against infections. It is shown that the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that is involved in the regulation of temperature, before certain stimuli begins to release a substance called interleukin 1, which causes an increase in temperature. It's like a warning to alert us that something is happening. And it is that when our body temperature rises we are bad, we can have sweats and that gives clues to know that something is happening to the body. Also in the opposite case, if the temperature drops, the circulation begins to malfunction, the blood vessels begin to close (a vasoconstriction occurs), you can put cold fingers, even blue in some people, and you start to shiver as defense mechanism to produce heat, among other effects.

Although humans are homeothermal beings, it should be noted that the temperature is not completely constant

Although humans are homeothermal beings, it should be noted that the temperature is not completely constant. It changes depending on sex, the time of day, age, the performance of physical exercise, the menstrual cycle of women or even when we eat. There are people who, after eating, depending on how their metabolism is regulated, may feel bloated and be very hot or feel more cold. In conclusion, if there is no disease that alters it, the average temperature of the human body will always move in an approximate range of 36.4 ° C to 37 ° C.