Drinking cold water is a very common habit among people, not only in summer. In restaurants and pizzerias for example, if the request for “room temperature water” is not specified, a bottle of cold water usually arrives on the table .
The question is: why?
Why accompany your meal with cold water from the fridge?
But above all, what are the effects of a glass of cold water on our body?
Personally, especially in the summer, I prefer fresh or cold water from the fridge, even though sometimes my body tells me it doesn’t like it. If I give it cold water, regardless of the season, my body rebels.
So much so that I never drink ice water . And you? What water do you drink?
Drinking cold water is bad for you
In general, it is preferable to drink water at room temperature .
On the contrary, ice water should absolutely be avoided.
Here, in short, are some good reasons not to drink water that is too cold and to prefer water at room temperature or warm. Cold water:
- It offers instant but not long-lasting relief, intensifying the sensation of thirst
- It can slow down digestion. I like the image that comes to us from Ayurvedic medicine, according to which cold water puts out the digestive fire
- If drunk during a meal or immediately after eating, it can cause congestion
- promotes headaches and neuralgia
- amplifies tooth sensitivity
- increases sweating
- increases thirst stimulus
- it doesn’t make you lose weight.
I included this last point because some argue that cold water can speed up metabolism through an effect known as thermogenesis. This effect represents the energy expenditure induced by the ingestion of water. However, some studies have shown that thermogenesis also occurs with water at room temperature.
Drinking water at room temperature: the benefits
Drinking water at room temperature, or warm, or hot (just water or even a herbal tea), offers the following benefits:
- at mealtime, stimulates digestion. For this purpose Ayurveda recommends drinking warm water in the morning;
- respects the thermal balance of our body without causing thermal changes
- promotes good hydration
- It is good for the skin, making it more elastic
- Warm or hot water combats headaches and inflammation because it stimulates blood flow to the tissues. It is also an excellent remedy for menstrual cramps.
- acts positively in the presence of constipation
- helps eliminate toxins.
5 tips for drinking water and feeling good
Drinking water is good for you, no one argues about that. Here are 5 tips to do it in the best way, starting from the assumption of avoiding drinking cold water from the fridge or ice water:
- Start your day with a glass of warm water, or with lemon water and honey
- Drink several times during the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty
- Drink little at meals
- Don’t drink water that’s too cold, prefer water at room temperature
- Drink pure water with low fixed residue, preferring water in glass bottles or purified tap water
How much to drink
Having established the importance of drinking water, literature and the web are full of advice on the ideal quantity. Consider any quantity as an indication, because each of us has our own quantity of water depending on various factors such as
- type of diet (rich or not in fruit and vegetables),
- weight,
- type of activity carried out,
- sporting activity practiced,
- presence of any pathologies and/or pharmacological treatments.
Your body knows what the right amount is and will tell you. Listen to its signals and adjust accordingly.
