Is Cold Water Really Bad for You?

Food Health Wellness

How many people do you know who have to start their day with a hot cup of coffee or tea? In most cases, they are addicted to the caffeine and need their fix in order to start the day, but for some, like my wife, she longs for her cup of hot tea to warm her insides up.

I never liked tea and caffeine has no effect on me. I used to drink coffee only because I liked the taste of coffee, but about 30 years ago, I developed an irritable bowel and the thin layer of oil found in coffee sets off my IBS, so I gave up coffee. However, ever since I can remember, I have always longed to start my day with a glass of ice-cold water. Even when I was out hunting in 10ºF weather, I wanted my glass of ice water.

I’m nearly 68 and I still drink my ice water all day long, but a recent report is trying to tell me that my ice water is bad for me. Here is what they say:

Cold water can interfere with a number of healthy bodily processes and actually be detrimental to your well-being in the following ways:

  • Cold water robs you of nutrients: The body’s natural temperature is 37 degrees Celcius. When you drink something that is very cold, your body has to spend an exorbitant amount of energy to regulate your core temperature. This takes away from energy that is needed to digest food and absorb nutrients.
  • It may cause a sore throat: Extremely cold water may cause respiratory mucosa to build up, resulting in an increased chance of infection causing a sore throat.
  • It can increase your risk of headache: According to a 2001 study, women who had experienced a migraine in the last year were twice as likely to trigger a headache by drinking cold water.
  • Heads up, cold water may contain dirty ice: We recently reported that ice is often dirty, coated with bacteria and fungus. This often is true of your ice at home.

After trying their best to dash my love for ice water, the report then touts the benefits of drinking warm water:

Warm water provides pain relief

Drinking warm or hot water has a soothing effect on the muscles of the abdomen. It can provide relief from menstrual and abdominal cramping, as well as muscle spasms.

Boosts your weight loss

By drinking a cup of hot water first thing in the morning, you can jump-start your metabolism. Warm water increases body temperature and increases the rate at which your metabolism burns calories.

Prevents premature aging

Drinking warm water helps to flush compounds from the body that can accelerate aging. It also improves skin elasticity by aiding in cellular repair.

Clears nasal and throat congestion

Hot water is a wonderful natural treatment for colds. It can naturally dissolve phlegm and clear your airways. It not only clears out nasal congestion, but it also soothes sore throat symptoms as well.

Prevents constipation

Hot water can help you to maintain bowel movement regularityDehydration is a frequent cause of recurring constipation problems. Not to mention that the movement of the bowel slows down as it fills up. The hot water can finish breaking down food remnants and flush them through the intestines.

Aids your digestive process

It is believed that drinking cold water during a meal might promote the hardening of oils in the food and lead to a fat deposit in the intestine. As mentioned previously, warm water boosts metabolism and aids the digestive process.

Detoxifies your body

The act of drinking hot water naturally raises the temperature of the body. As the body temperature rises it activates the process of sweating, which flushes toxins out of the body through the pores of the skin. The extra hydration also helps the function of the kidneys to flush waste material out of the body, along with toxins.

Improves your outlook

According to Dr. Michael Wald, the director of Nutritional Services at Integrated Medicine and Nutrition in Mount Kisco, New York, consuming hot water activates receptors found in the stomach, esophagus, intestines, and mouth. This stimulates pleasure regions of the brain.

Maintains balance in the body

Practitioners of Chinese Medicine believe that drinking warm water that is similar to the temperature of the body maintains balance. They believe that extremes of either hot or cold throw off the body’s yin and yang. Imbalances are believed to be responsible for symptoms like chills, depression, thirst, “foggy” thinking, sleepiness, bloating and more.

Enhances blood circulation

Drinking warm water breaks down fat deposits that are present in the body and bloodstream. The warmth increases the flow of blood circulation and promotes the removal of toxins. The increased circulation induces muscle relaxation, which can reduce pain.

Am I going to give up my icy cold water? It’s worth serious consideration, isn’t it?

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