Water gives us life and we all know how good it feels to quench our thirst with a nice tall glass of cool water. But is cool water always the best option? Or maybe there are occasions where we should opt for warm water?
Some experts speculate on what the best water temperature is to achieve optimal hydration. After all, our internal body temperature is 37.0 °C (98.6 °F) which is vastly different from that of a glass of cool water.
Ancient medicine systems such as Ayurveda, which originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) both highlight the importance of temperature and its effects on the body. So it seems that there are certain occasions where warm water is more appropriate than cold!
Whether cold or warm water – the most important thing is to stay hydrated and listen to your body. Our bodies have their own innate intelligence and often tell us what we need to know.
When you’re working out or the weather is hot outside, you’ll likely crave ice water. But when you’re sick with a cold you will be more inclined to want hot water. It’s still good to know the science behind the best times for cold vs. warm water!
Best Times to Drink Cold Water
Exercise
During exercise the core body temperature becomes elevated. Sweating is one mechanism that our bodies use to cool down, but we lose a lot of water and electrolytes which need to be replenished. Sipping on cold water during a workout both rehydrates the body of lost water and helps to cool down the core body temperature.
A study done in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition compared room temperature water and cold water during workouts. Researchers found participants who consumed cold water were able to keep their core temperature down 50% longer than the group consuming room temperature water (1).
Fever
Drinking cold water when you have a fever is one method of cooling the body down. It’s important to keep super hydrated when you have a fever because you’re body is working hard to get rid of whatever foreign invaders may be causing you harm.
When you’re overheated, drinking cold water can be a huge relief. Try squeezing some fresh lemon and adding a pinch of sea salt to help replenish lost electrolytes.
Weight Loss
Drinking cold water has been shown to boost metabolism and help burn an additional 70 calories per day (2, 3).
Though it’s no miracle obesity cure, it does add up over time. When you consider that a person of average weight (155 lbs) burns 70 calories going for a 15 minute walk, ice water starts to sound like a pretty simple and effective way to burn extra calories when you’re trying to lose weight.
Further reading: read my article about 12 simple tweaks for weight loss and great health.
Best Times to Drink Warm or Hot Water
Digestion
Ever wonder why most people consume a hot beverage upon rising? Yes caffeine has something to do with it, but that’s not the only reason. Ayurvedic medicine states that drinking warm water in the morning helps to stimulate digestion.
Drinking cold water with a meal could have adverse effects on the digestive process. It requires more energy from the body to warm up cool liquids and foods, thus taking a longer time to digest and assimilate.(4)
to know for those of us suffering from digestive distress!
Further reading: read more about the benefits of drinking warm lemon water in the morning.
Detox
When it comes to cleansing the body of impurities, consuming adequate amounts of water is of paramount importance. It is recommended to drink room temperature water with a squeeze of lemon. (5)
This requires the least amount of energy for your body to assimilate.
During a detox you may want to add some cleansing additions to your water.
Try adding some cucumber slices and fresh mint or slices of apple and a cinnamon stick
Find here how to easily make your own flavored water for detox and weight loss. Not only will you find keeping hydrated more enjoyable, you’ll also be receiving the cleansing benefits these foods have to offer.
Further reading: To learn more about the concept of detox and how to use detox to cleanse and energize your body, you can find a lot of useful information in my e-book The Detox Guide. This guide provides the best information and safe ways to detox, including recipe ideas.
Pain Relief
Warm or hot water is better to consume if you are dealing with a headache or inflammation. Because warm water helps stimulate blood flow to the tissues it’s an excellent remedy for treating menstrual cramps (6).
Further reading: read my article about the top 22 painkillers in your kitchen
Constipation
Drinking warm water when you’re constipated can help to move things along. The main cause of constipation is dehydration, so it’s essential to consume extra amounts of liquids.
Warm water helps to stimulate blood flow and has a more soothing effect in the intestines than cold water.
Further reading: effective natural remedies for constipation.
What the Ancient Medicine Says About Water Temperature
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors have advised against drinking cold water for thousands of years. The logic behind this premise is that cold water has the overall effect of contracting, slowing and shrinking.
Warm water helps to keep everything fluid, protects the internal organs and increases healthy blood flow and circulation.
Ayurveda has a similar stand point and doesn’t recommend cold water for the same reasons. Keep in mind these are very old systems of medicine.
When these systems were put in place, people weren’t typically worried about losing weight. They were more concerned about how to preserve energy.
However, in most cases these ancient medicine systems are time tested and have withstood the medical trends that we see come and go. In regards to healthy digestion and maintaining high energy levels it is probably better to drink room temperature or warm water.
The Rest of the Time
Aside from the circumstances listed above, the consensus from a broad spectrum of health professionals is to stick with room temperature water.
Always take into the consideration what the temperature is outside.
On a hot day, drink cold water, on a cold winter morning you will probably want to opt for hot or warm water. Drinking warm water in the morning is a great way to stimulate digestion and get the blood flowing to increase energy, and it’s also detoxifying.
Adding citrus or herbs to your water can make it more enjoyable if you don’t like the taste. Many people stick to cold water because it tastes better, but room temperature water can be just as enjoyable. Remember to listen to your body, often it is the best health authority.
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