Your body needs water to function and avoid the health hazards of dehydration. It is estimated that adults should consume between two and three liters of water every day. However, there is disagreement over the best way to consume water, especially concerning temperature. For example, some people swear that drinking cold water is bad for you and that you should only drink room-temperature water.
The truth is a bit more complicated. As it turns out, neither room-temperature water nor cold water is really “bad” for you. However, each can affect your body in different ways. Therefore, the question isn’t whether one is better or worse for you but in which situations you should choose one over the other.
Situations When It’s Better To Drink Cold Water
Cold water affects your body in specific ways. Therefore, it can offer you more benefits if you drink it under certain circumstances:
1. While you are working out.
As you work out, your body temperature increases, causing you to lose energy more quickly and become fatigued. Drinking cold water during your workout helps you maintain a lower core temperature. As a result, you become less tired, which enables you to work out longer.
2. When you are sweating in the heat.
When exposed to hot temperatures, your body cools itself down by sweating. You lose a lot of fluids in the process and need to drink water to replace them. Warm or room-temperature water makes you feel less thirsty, meaning you may not drink as much as you need to replace the fluids you lose through sweat. Drinking cold water may encourage you to drink more and avoid dehydration.
3. When you want to increase alertness.
Try a glass of cold water instead of drinking caffeine when you need a jolt of energy to keep you awake. The cold water helps your body produce adrenaline, a hormone that makes you more alert, and doesn’t have the side effects caffeine can cause.
Situations When It’s Better To Drink Room Temperature Water
Water at room temperature affects your body differently than cold water. Therefore, there are certain situations in which drinking warmer water can benefit you more than cold water.
1. When you have sinus congestion.
If you have a cold, flu, or nasal allergies that cause your sinuses to clog up, drinking warm or hot water may help ease your symptoms and make breathing easier. By contrast, drinking cold water may make you feel worse by thickening nasal mucus.
2. When you want to promote digestion.
If you eat a meal of heavy foods, your stomach has more difficulty processing them. However, room temperature or slightly warmer water helps dissolve these foods, making them easier to digest.
3. When you want to boost your metabolism and be less thirsty.
Drinking warm or cold water can boost your metabolism. However, if you want to quench your thirst simultaneously, you should drink warmer water as long as you are not in danger of losing fluids through excessive sweating. Room-temperature water is more effective at preventing you from feeling thirsty.
Warm and cold water affects your body differently, but neither of them causes harm. Therefore, whether you drink your water cold or at room temperature is a matter of personal preference. Some people do not like how water tastes when it is at room temperature, so cooling makes it more palatable. Drinking enough water throughout the day is more important than the temperature.
We hope this information on hydration and the accompanying tips help you stay active and healthy this summer! If you’re experiencing pain keeping you from being active, we can help. Please schedule an appointment with us to get started.
