03.07.2021 – 13:23
Staying hydrated has proven to have mental and physical health benefits.
The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine recommend that men 19 and older consume 3.7 liters of water per day (15.5 glasses) and women 19 and older consume 2.7 liters per day (11.5 glasses). But can drinking cold water have a negative impact on health?
Some people believe that drinking cold water is a bad habit that can harm long-term health. This belief is based on the idea that drinking cold water shrinks the stomach, making digestion more difficult after a meal.
Some people also believe that the body needs to work harder to maintain its internal temperature of 37 ° C if you are drinking water that is close to the ice temperature, or less than 4 ° C.
But is there any truth to these ideas? Keep reading to discover the potential dangers and benefits of drinking cold water.
The Risks
Drinking cold water affects the body in ways you could not or would not expect. An old and small study of 1978, involving 15 people, found that drinking cold water made the nasal mucosa thicker and harder to pass through the respiratory tract.
By comparison, the researchers found that chicken soup and hot water helped people breathe easier. If you are trying to treat a cold or flu, drinking cold water can make congestion feel worse.
There are some health conditions that drinking cold water can worsen. Research from 2001 linked drinking cold water to causing migraines in people who already experience migraines.
Pain related to ahalasia, a condition that limits the body’s ability to pass food through the esophagus, can also get worse when you drink cold water with a meal, according to a 2012 study.
In traditional Chinese medicine, drinking cold water with hot food is believed to create an imbalance. Typically, meals in Chinese culture are served with warm water or hot tea, instead. This belief is reflected in several other cultures in the world.
Some people hold a similar belief that drinking cold water on a hot day will not help you calm down. There is not enough research to conclude that the belief is true or false.
benefit
Drinking cold water has benefits.
According to a 2012 study, drinking cold water during exercise can help the body not overheat and make the exercise session more successful. This is probably because drinking cold water makes it easier for the body to maintain a lower core temperature.
Can drinking cold water help in weight loss?
Drinking plain water, regardless of temperature, has been associated with lower calorie intake throughout the day.
Drinking water as an alternative to sugary drinks is good for digestion and maintaining a moderate weight, even if the water you drink is cold.
Drinking cold water can help you burn some extra calories while digesting it because the body needs to work harder to maintain its essential temperature. But drinking cold water is unlikely to be a powerful tool for starting weight loss.
Is hot water better than cold water?
Drinking warm water can:
aid digestion
helps blood circulation
help the body remove toxins faster
While this is not a “risk”, in itself, it is something to keep in mind when deciding how you want to get water in the body.
Drinking warm or hot water has been found to make you less thirsty. This can be dangerous on days when the body is trying to stay fresh by losing water through sweat. If you decide to drink warm water, be careful that you do not feel thirsty often enough.