Hydration comes from intaking water; consuming no fewer than eight glasses daily is necessary. Especially in the summer heat, you surely want to unwind with cold water when you get home from work or somewhere else. Yet, do you know that your water temperature can also affect your body? Keep reading to learn how drinking cold water is beneficial and risky.
The benefits of drinking cold water
Below are some of the benefits if you drink cold water.
1. Helps with weight loss
If you’re trying to lose weight, drinking cold water may help because it raises your metabolic rate slightly. For instance, if you consume a glass of cool water or take a cold shower, your body will have to work a little bit more to keep its core temperature, and as a result, you will burn a few extra calories.
Most importantly, water consumption, regardless of temperature, is critical to achieving and sustaining a healthy body weight. In addition, consuming sufficient water is essential for regulating hunger, feeling full longer, speeding up the metabolism, and flushing out toxins.
2. Enhanced alertness
Instead of reaching for a cup of coffee when you need a take, grab a glass of iced water and sip it slowly. When you drink cold water, your body releases adrenaline, which increases your alertness without the jitters that caffeine can create.
3. Improved glucose metabolism
Exposure to frigid temperatures facilitates the activation of brown adipose tissue (brown fat) and metabolic function. Brown fat, sometimes known as “good fat,” is primarily involved in energy expenditure to produce heat. Drinking cold water might help glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, although further evidence is needed to confirm this theory.
The risk of drinking cold water
Below are some of the risks if you are drinking cold water.
Disturbs digestion
Water that has been refrigerated can have significant effects on your digestive system. Cold water can cause contraction of the blood vessels and also slow down the digestive process.
Drinking cold water can mess with your body’s ability to absorb nutrients through digestion. This happens because when you drink water that is cold, your body has to exert more effort to keep a stable temperature for both itself and the water, taking its attention away from digestion.
When you consume something cold, your body has to work harder to maintain a stable internal temperature. In addition, as digestion and absorption of nutrients are restricted, exerting more energy is essential.
Stresses out your body
Cold water ought to be avoided immediately following an intensive exercise session. A standard error after a workout is to drink cold water, particularly during the summertime. But fitness experts recommend sipping warm water after your workout to help your muscles recover. When you exercise, your body temperature increases significantly.
Also, cold water is bad for digestion because of the temperature mismatch. However, drinking cold water is challenging for your body just after exercising. It might stress your body, leading to prolonged stomach pain if you drink it immediately after a workout.
Triggers headaches
Brain freeze, caused by eating ice cream or crushed ice, is also triggered by drinking cold water. Several delicate nerves in the spinal column feel the chill and rapidly send signals to the brain, which results in headaches.
Cold or warm water: What is better?
Hydration is crucial to good health, and water is the best way. That’s why experts advise you to drink at least two and preferably three liters of water daily. However, there’s a debate about what temperature your water should be. Many experts recommend drinking water that is cold, while some advocate drinking water that is warm. So you could be confused about what is the ideal temperature.
If you regularly consume warm water, you’ll discover that your body’s fat stores are reduced, your muscles are relaxed, and your blood flow is improved. In addition, renewed and well-nourished skin cells result from enhanced blood flow.
While cold water removes toxins from the body, drinking more could help prevent toxins from building up and negatively impacting your immune system. Consequently, the issue is not whether one is better or worse, but when you should choose one over the other.
Both cold and warm water have various effects on the body, but neither is harmful. As you can consume water at either a cold or warm temperature, deciding to do so is entirely personal.
Cold water that hydrates and purifies the body
Your body benefits in many ways if you hit the recommended water intake daily. Water is essential in several bodily processes, including temperature control, joint lubrication, infection prevention, cellular nutrient delivery, and organ maintenance and performance. In addition, sleep quality, mind, and mood will benefit from staying hydrated with cold water.
Plus, hydration is essential for the body’s natural purification of lactic acid and other pollutants. Getting clean, safe cold water in your system can help your kidneys work as they should, which is crucial for maintaining optimal health and regular system cleansing.
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