Is drinking cold water good or bad for your health?

While drinking water at any temperature cold, hot or warm supports your overall health, drinking hot water is believed to be more beneficial. However, some people like to drink cold water to cool down and quench their thirst. Although hot water is considered better for weight loss, are there any special benefits to drinking cold water? Come find out with us!

Benefits of drinking cold water

Nupuur Patil, a dietitian and nutritionist based in Mumbai and UAE, spoke to Health Shots about the benefits of drinking cold water. She said, Drinking cold water is a common habit of many people, especially on hot summer days or after strenuous exercise, because it helps refresh the spirit.

Here are 7 benefits of drinking cold water:

1. Keep yourself hydrated

Regardless of whether you are drinking cold water, warm water or room temperature water, it helps you stay hydrated. However, Patil says, “Cold water is more refreshing and can increase your overall hydration compared to warm water.” Cold water can also be helpful in reducing sweating problems and preventing the risk of dehydration. Make sure you are well hydrated to support overall health and avoid fluctuations in digestion and body temperature.

2. Enhance metabolism

Surprisingly, cold water can significantly boost your metabolism. As reported in Active magazine, a recent study by German researchers revealed that consuming six glasses of cold water a day can increase your resting metabolism, leading to burning. burn about 50 calories a day, about the same as you would burn if you walked. in 15 minutes. This enhanced metabolism contributes to effective and healthy weight loss.

Also read: Benefits of drinking warm water: Is it better than cold water?

3. Detoxify the body

Cold water is said to be highly effective in detoxifying the body by removing toxins and preventing their accumulation, which can have adverse effects on your health. However, to experience these detoxifying benefits, it is important to maintain proper hydration. Otherwise, you may experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and fatigue.

4. Post-workout recovery

After a strenuous workout, your body may experience muscle inflammation and increased body temperature. Patil says, “Cold water helps cool down and reduce body temperature, alleviate overheating, and aid in muscle recovery after a workout (or even before a workout).” You can also spend some time in an ice bath after working out to help your body recover faster and reduce soreness.

5. Pain relief

Cold water has the ability to provide relief for specific types of pain. According to Patil, It may be effective in relieving headaches and migraines by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the head, thereby reducing pain. However, you should be careful, as cold water can worsen discomfort if you have a sore throat, menstrual cramps or have achalasia, a condition that interferes with the passage of food through the esophagus. .

6. Promotes glowing skin

We are all aware of the benefits of cold water therapy for the skin. Immersing your face in ice water helps soothe irritation, tighten pores, improve overall skin tone, and reduce redness, swelling, and puffiness. Therefore, cold water can enhance skin health in many ways. In fact, drinking cold water can also help shrink pores, giving you naturally glowing skin.

Also read: Celebrity-favorite secret to glowing skin: Try dipping your face in ice water!

7. Improve alertness

In addition to drinking caffeine, drinking cold water is also known to help you pay attention and concentrate more. Patil says, “Cold water can give a quick energy boost and improve alertness, making it a great choice when you need to stay alert and focused.”

Although cold water offers many health benefits, it is essential to balance it with room temperature water, especially during meals, as cold water can hinder digestion.

Risk factors of drinking cold water

Here are the 3 main risks or side effects of drinking cold water:

1. Digestive problems: Extremely cold water can sometimes cause digestive upset in some people. The reason is that cold water hinders the absorption of nutrients and slows down the digestive process, making food difficult to digest.

2. Sore throat: Drinking cold water can cause a sore throat and stuffy nose. It makes you susceptible to many respiratory infections.

3. Heart rate changes: Cold water also causes a decrease in heart rate. So make sure you drink room temperature water.

So you can drink cold water but avoid water that is too cold and only drink cold water!