Consuming enough water every day is essential to support all body functions, including digestion and metabolism, eliminating waste, maintaining an appropriate body temperature, and maintaining healthy organs and tissues.
Weather or cold?
In accordance withIndian traditions of Ayurvedic medicineCold water can cause an imbalance in the body and slow down the digestive process. The body has a core temperature of around 37 ° C and Ayurvedic practitioners think that the body needs to expend additional energy to restore this temperature after drinking cold water. In Ayurvedic tradition, cold water can put out “fire” orAgni, which feeds all the body’s systems and is essential for health.
In western medicine,there is little scientific evidence to suggest that cold water is bad for the body or digestion.Drinking plenty of water can help the body flush out toxins, aid digestion, and prevent constipation.
A small study from 2013 published in the journal International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicineinvestigated the effects of drinking water at different temperatures on six dehydrated people, after gentle exercise, in a hot, humid room.
The researchers found that the change in water temperature affected the participants’ sweat response and the amount of water they drank.The optimal water temperature in the study was 16 ° C,-which is the temperature of cold tap water-, because the participants drank more water and sweated less. The researchers concluded that drinking 16 ° C water might be the best temperature for rehydration in dehydrated athletes.
Risks of drinking cold water
Some research suggests that people with health problems that affect the esophagus or esophagus, such as achalasia, should avoid drinking cold water. Achalasia is a rare condition that can cause difficulty swallowing food and beverage.
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility found that drinking cold water made symptoms worse in people with achalasia. However, when the participants drank hot water, it helped calm and relax their esophagus, making food and drink easier to swallow.
Does cold water give you a headache?
A fairly old 2001 study published in the journal Cephalalgia, which included 669 women, suggested that drinking cold water can cause headaches in some people. The researchers reported that 7.6% of the participants experienced a headache after drinking 150 milliliters of ice water through a straw. They also found that participants with active migraine were twice as likely to have a headache after drinking cold water than those who had never had a migraine.
Some people claim that consuming cold foods and drinks can cause a sore throat or cold. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim and the limited sample and age of the study mean that there are insufficient arguments to support it.
Benefits of drinking cold water
Some studies suggest that drinking cold water during exercise can improve a person’s performance and endurance.
For example, a 2012 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition with 45 physically fit men found that drinking cold water during exercise significantly reduced the rise in body temperature compared to room temperature water .
Some people claim that drinking cold water can help promote weight loss. Although some studies suggest that drinking water, in general, can help the body burn a few more calories, but there seems to be little difference between drinking cold water and water at room temperature.
Cold water vs. Hot water
People may find it nice to drink warm or hot water, especially in colder months, while cold water can be more refreshing in hot weather in summer. Drinking warm water can temporarily improve circulation by causing arteries and veins to expand.
Studies suggest that water temperature can affect sweating and rehydration levels. For example, a 1989 United States Army study found that drinking warm water (40 ° C) instead of cold water (15 ° C) could cause soldiers to drink less, which can lead to dehydration.
A 2013 study suggested that the optimal water temperature for rehydration after exercise may be 16 ° C, which is roughly the same temperature as cold tap water. The researchers reported that participants who drank water at this temperature voluntarily drank more water and sweated less than when they drank water at other temperatures.
In a 2011 study, researchers concluded that drinking cold water at a temperature of 5 ° C “did not improve voluntary drinking and hydration status” in six Taekwondo athletes.
However, drinking water at any temperature is essential to stay hydrated, especially during exercise or in hot environments.
Then?
There is little scientific evidence to suggest that drinking cold water is harmful. In fact, drinking cold water can improve exercise performance and be better for rehydration when exercising, especially in warmer environments. However, drinking cold water can make symptoms worse in people with achalasia, as we have seen. Drinking excessively cold water can also cause headaches in some people, especially those with migraine headaches.
The WHO advises that women should consume around 2.7 liters of water a day to meet their hydration needs and men around 3.7 liters. This intake can come from both food and drink.
