Water is essential for healthy, daily functioning. Our bodies are mostly water, and even the slightest stray from drinking enough can lead to dehydration.
While we've all heard that we should drink about six to eight glasses of water daily, we haven't necessarily been told at what temperature we should drink it. Could drinking water at certain temperatures be hazardous to our health?
As it turns out, what temperature we drink water at is mostly situational. Drinking cold water or water that's room temperature can affect the body in various ways.
What are the general benefits of drinking water?
Water all bodily systems working properly. It ensures:
- Proper digestion
- Organ system health
- Elimination of bacteria from the body
- Padding of the joints
- Oxygen and nutrient transport
- Regulation of body temperature
- Maintaining a steady heartbeat
- Blood pressure normalization and more
How cold or warm water is when we drink it can support our bodies under different circumstances.
What are the health benefits of drinking cold water?
Drinking cold water replenishes the body when it's overheated as well as under other circumstances. Here's a closer look at what those circumstances are.
Sweating in high temperatures. Your body cools down when exposed to hot temperatures by sweating. While sweating, your body loses a lot of fluids that need to be replaced. Drinking cold water can encourage your body to avoid dehydration by drinking more of it.
Studies have found that sweating is typically influenced by water temperature. Cold water produces a major difference in body response and is the best temperature for rehydration.
Remaining or increasing alertness. When you're low on energy, cold water can provide similar effects as those of caffeine by helping to naturally produce adrenaline in the body. Adrenaline keeps you alert and when it's produced by drinking cold water, it doesn't have the same side effects as caffeine.
During exercise. While working out, you can quickly become tired. This is due to an increase in body temperature and heart rate. Drinking cold water helps you keep your energy levels up by ensuring your core temperature's low, which enables you to work out longer.
What are the health benefits of drinking water that's room temperature?
Just like cold water, room temperature or warm water has its benefits, too. We often find that there are even more health advantages to drinking room temperature water.
Metabolism boost. Drinking room temperature water every morning can help boost your metabolism. It quenches your first thirst upon waking and is effective at keeping you from constantly feeling thirsty. It can also aid in weight loss if it's combined with honey.
Bowel emptying and constipation. Drinking room temperature water in the morning helps to stimulate the digestive system. It encourages gut movement and bowel emptying by breaking up fats in the foods you've consumed. Not drinking enough water often leads to constipation. Having a glass of warm water before bed or in the morning can ease that by improving bowel movements.
Nasal and sinus congestion relief. Drinking room temperature water is a good way to treat sinus and nasal problems. It breaks up mucous and removes it from the respiratory tract. This helps with breathing and throat irritation.
If you have allergies, cold, or flu, warm water can help with that “clogged up” feeling. At warmer temperatures, water thins and moves mucous to get rid of congestion symptoms.
Sleep cycle improvement. Drinking warm water at bedtime and properly hydrating can enhance sleep quality and cognition.
Women experiencing menstrual cramps also benefit from drinking room temperature water, especially before bed. Doing so can have a soothing effect on the muscles of the abdomen, ease the pain of cramps, and lead to a more restful night.
The effects of drinking both room temperature and cold water vary by person, specifically by health, age, and the amount being consumed.
QUESTION
Which is one of the few drinks to be considered a superfood? See AnswerEuropean Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research: "SAY YES TO WARM FOR REMOVE HARM: AMAZING WONDERS OF TWO STAGES OF WATER!"
Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy: "Cold Water vs. Room Temperature Water: What's Better For You?"
Harvard Health Publishing: "How much water should you drink?"
Harvard School of Public Health: "The importance of hydration."
International journal of clinical and experimental medicine: "The effect of water temperature and voluntary drinking on the post rehydration sweating."
International Journal of Scientific Research: Honey in warm water: An ideal prescription for weight loss.
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: "The effect of a cold beverage during an exercise session combining both strength and energy systems development training on core temperature and markers of performance."
Womens Health Magazine: "10 Natural Cramp Cures That Actually Work."
Top Drink Cold Water or Room Temperature Water Related Articles
Can Drinking Water Lower Your Blood Pressure?
Keeping well hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water daily (even more if working in hot and humid conditions) is beneficial for the blood pressure. High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is a condition caused by the persistent high pressure of blood against the walls of arteries. It is also called systolic pressure (constantly greater than 139 mmHg) or diastolic pressure (constantly more than 89 mmHg).Can You Lose Belly Fat by Drinking Water?
Drinking water is an important part of staying healthy. Staying hydrated is critical if you’re trying to lose weight because it helps your body function effectively and will help you feel better overall.
Diet and Nutrition: Ways to Sneak Water Into Your Day
Do you get enough water? Here are few tips from WebMD to make getting the water you need easier.
Does Tea Hydrate Better Than Water?
In the water-versus-tea battle, water still wins. Because water doesn't contain caffeine, sugar, or other additives, it's the purest form of hydration.
eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil is used for medicinal purposes, including the common cold, asthma, bronchial infections, skin rashes, insect bites, minor muscle aches or joint pain, and minor skin injuries. Never ingest undiluted eucalyptus oil, even small quantities; it is highly toxic and potentially fatal. Common side effects of eucalyptus include local allergic reactions (redness, burning, irritation), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, drowsiness, shortness of breath (dyspnea), bluish skin (cyanosis), muscle weakness, impaired balance, seizures, and others.
How Does the Flu Affect the Immunocompromised?
Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It is generally a mild illness that can be treated at home with over-the-counter medications and rest. However, for people with compromised immune systems, the flu can be much more serious. This includes the increased risk of complications, prolonged illness, weakened immune system, and increased risk of death.
How Much Water Should You Drink Based on Your Weight?
Generally, you should aim to drink about 64 ounces of water per day. Check out the center below for more medical references on nutrition, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
Hydration Quiz
Do you know how much water you should be drinking on a daily basis? It may not be what you think. Take this quiz to learn how to stay hydrated.
Is Drinking Cold Water Bad?
About 60 percent of the body is made up of water. It forms a major part of the blood. The cells and the body cannot function right if the water levels go down. Drinking cold water often causes “cold stress” in the body.
Is Drinking Water at Night Before Bed Bad for You?
You need to drink water and you need sleep, but when and how much are equally disputed. Drinking too much water before bed can override this programming, causing potential problems with your sleep. But there are plenty of benefits to drinking water before bed, too, so let's look at both sides.lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid used to treat cold sores (herpes simplex labialis), increase alkalinity in the body (metabolic alkalosis), improve bone density, and boost athletic performance. Lysine increases calcium absorption. Excessive doses may cause gallstones and kidney disorders. Common side effects of lysine include abdominal pain, diarrhea, kidney inflammation (interstitial nephritis), and chronic kidney (renal) failure. It is safer to get adequate lysine through dietary intake and avoid lysine supplementation during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.
Nutritional Health: 10 Ways You’re Drinking Water Wrong
Your body is mostly made of water and needs it to work the right way. Avoid these myths and pitfalls.
7 Ways Water Benefits the Body
Drinking water benefits digestion, metabolism, toxin elimination, and other functions. Water promotes weight loss and helps prevent dehydration. Health benefits of hydration include improvements in mood, skin health, and ability to work out.pau d’arco
Pau d’arco is used in herbal medicine to treat many conditions including respiratory problems, gastrointestinal problems, colds, cough, flu, fungal infections, fever, arthritis and rheumatism, skin conditions, leukemia, and other cancers. Common side effects of pau d’arco include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and internal bleeding. Avoid use of pau d’arco during pregnancy or if breastfeeding.pectin oropharyngeal
Pectin oropharyngeal is a medication used for short-term relief of occasional minor oral irritations and sore throat. Pectin oropharyngeal is available over the counter (OTC) in the form of lozenges. Do not administer pectin oropharyngeal to a child younger than 3 years of age. Pectin oropharyngeal has no reported side effects. Pectin oropharyngeal has no listed severe, serious, moderate, or mild interactions with other drugs. Consult your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.propolis
Propolis is a natural adhesive and resin-like substance produced and used by bees that is commercially available in the form of capsules, mouthwash solutions, throat lozenges, powder and topical formulations such as ointments, creams, and lotions. Propolis has many uses, which include common cold and respiratory infections, inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions such as colitis and diverticulitis, cancer, herpes simplex infections, improvement of insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, reducing alcohol-induced liver injury, treatment of wounds, burns, acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis; and others.pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a medication available over the counter (OTC) used for temporary relief from sinus congestion and nasal congestion caused by cold, hay fever, upper respiratory infections, and allergies. Common side effects of pseudoephedrine include chest tightness, circulatory shock with low blood pressure (hypotension), irregular heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia), palpitations, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), high blood pressure (hypertension), transient central nervous system stimulation, chills, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, vertigo, and others. Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding.What Are 5 Benefits of Drinking Water?
The 5 benefits of drinking water are to maintain normal blood pressure, electrolyte balance, body temperature, prevent constipation, and improve your brain.
What Is the Healthiest Water to Drink?
Mineral water and alkaline water may be some of the healthiest types of water because they provide your body with essential nutrients