Is it better to drink warm water or cold water

You can’t beat a refreshing glass of chilled pure water. It works wonders. But that’s not to say it always has to be cold. And anyway - how cold is cold? And what about drinking warm water? There are a number of different theories about the benefits of drinking water at different temperatures. So we’ve rounded them up here for you.

The benefits of drinking chilled water

Research has shown that drinking water chilled to 6℃ is the best way to experience a burst of energising refreshment after getting a bit overheated. Whereas drinking water chilled to 16℃ is the best way to quickly rehydrate, particularly after exercise.

This is because our bodies naturally encourage more water consumption when drunk at this temperature, so it feels easier to drink more. It also reduces the amount we sweat, therefore enabling us to rehydrate more efficiently.

It’s also thought that drinking cold water helps encourage weight loss. This is because we’re forcing our bodies to work a bit harder to warm the water when it’s inside of us. So drinking a bit of pure, chilled water might burn up to eight calories.

Above all, most people seem to prefer the taste of chilled water. So whatever encourages us to drink enough is a good enough reason!

Is it better to drink warm water or cold water

The benefits of drinking room temperature water

If we take the average room temperature to be 20℃, then drinking water with this slight warmth to it is said to be the best for our taste buds to get the flavour. Which is great if you have nicely purified water. Not so great if your tap water is hard or tastes a bit yucky.

The benefits of drinking warm water

The practices of yoga and Ayurveda say that we should drink water that’s within four to eight degrees of our body temperature. This is said to help us achieve spiritual balance. The theory is that eating or drinking anything a lot colder or hotter than our natural temperature of around 37℃ will cause us to lose our inner balance.

Chinese and Japanese cultures also believe in drinking warm water. While Chinese culture agrees with Indian culture about balance, Japanese culture believes warm water aids healthy digestion. 

Some studies show that it can benefit those with digestion problems, especially if drunk after a meal. Warm water can stimulate your blood flow to the intestines as well as help break down fats in the stomach.

Research has shown that drinking water at around 40℃ is the most effective at quenching thirst. In tests, people felt less thirsty after drinking warm water. But remember that hydration is all about our physical need for water, whereas thirst is a feeling. 

You can easily get dehydrated in warmer weather or when exercising, so you should drink more at these times even if you don’t feel particularly thirsty. The colour of your pee is the best way to determine if you’re sufficiently hydrated. It should be anything from a light yellow colour to clear.

Is it better to drink warm water or cold water

The benefits of drinking hot water

Research shows that water drunk at anywhere between 50 and 70℃ can help you feel more relaxed. Besides helping you to feel soothed, drinking hot water can also help if you have a cold, cough or sore throat. It may help relieve symptoms of a mucus build up. 

It could also improve your blood circulation and nervous system activity, which in turn could help with stress and anxiety (although there is little proof of this as yet).

How to drink water at a specific temperature

While all these different benefits sound great, armed with just a kettle and a fridge, it’d be quite hard to get your water to your required temperature. Luckily we have a solution for that. Our home water system lets you set up to 50 different temperatures. 

This means you can instantly dispense a refreshing glass of purified water in the morning at 6℃, you can sip on water at 20℃ during the day, take a glass at 16℃ after you’ve exercised, have a nice glass at 40℃ with dinner, and then wind up at night time with a relaxing drink at 60℃. 

And everyone else in your house can set their own temperatures as well. Great tasting, filtered water made easy - at any temperature.

Water helps to balance body temperature, assist the digestive system and detoxify. But should the suggested 8 to 10 glasses of water a day be warm or cold? Also, are there certain seasons or times of the day when cold water is better for us?

We will be diving into the vital ‘drink warm or cold water’ discussion via this blog, but not before giving you all the necessary inputs.

So, get ready to make some informed choices!

Benefits of Drinking Water

Before proceeding, let us just go over the advantages of drinking water – room temperature, warm or cold.

Our bodies are primarily made up of water. Vital organs such as the heart and brain are 73% water while our lungs are 83% water. So, if you wish for your organs to be running smoothly, you need to consume fresh water to rejuvenate your internal systems. Water also keeps the body lubricated, joints cushioned sodium levels balanced.

In fact, our digestive, respiratory and cardiac functions, among others, rely heavily on water consumption. 

If you find it difficult to drink the required amount of water per day, try these tricks.

So, Warm or Cold Water?

The debate between warm or cold water is pretty one-sided. Most doctors, nutritionists, and healers in Singapore and around the world have announced that warm water has more benefits than cold water. If not warm, at the least room temperature water is preferred over ice water or water straight out of the fridge.

What Happens When We Drink Cold Water

When cold water enters your system, the body tries to regulate the internal temperature. Chilled water or cold beverages tend to contact blood vessels. And this often leads to other undesirable effects too such as…

  • The cool vapour may enter the nose area and thickens nasal mucous, making it difficult to pass through the windpipe.
  • If you are prone to headaches or migraines, cold water can worsen this condition.
  • Cold water hinders absorption of nutrients during the digestion process
  • With hot or spicy food it is considered incorrect as it causes imbalance in the body.

However, in certain situations cool water can keep the increasing body heat in check.

What Happens When We Drink Warm Water

Consumption of warm water breaks down food in the digestive system and helps to absorb nutrients. So, it offers some obvious benefits…

  • For individuals, with digestive problems, drinking warm water throughout the day can ease constipation and loosen bowel movement
  • Drinking warm water is known to boost metabolism and trigger weight loss
  • Warm water is an ideal internal cleanser as it flushes out toxins from the body
  • When warm water enters our system, it improves blood circulation through the arteries and veins
  • Drinking a glass of warm water in the morning and one glass before sleeping helps to treat sinus issues and to sleep better at night

According to Chinese tradition, every meal should be accompanied with a hot or warm drink.

Is it better to drink warm water or cold water

 

The Verdict

In short, when the body’s functioning is smooth and healthy, this naturally elevates your mood and keeps you feeling positive! And warm water keeps the body functioning like a well-oiled machine and curbs may health issues at the core.

Hence, warm water should be your obvious choice most of the time. However, cool water can be consumed at times such as during heavy sessions in the gym, especially to regulate your body heat. 

Convenient Water Dispensers for Both Hot and Cold Water

So, whether you need warm or cold water, it should be fresh, convenient and limitless. AOX’s Antioxidant Alkaline Water Dispensers are ideal for home or office. They provide clean and nutritious hot and cold water, at any time. Experience the ultimate convenience at your fingertips!

What is the disadvantage of drinking warm water?

What are the risks? Drinking water that's too hot can damage the tissue in your esophagus, burn your taste buds, and scald your tongue. Be very careful when drinking hot water. Drinking cool, not hot, water is best for rehydration .

Which temperature of water is the best to drink?

The best temperature for drinking water is room temperature (20°C / 68°F) for maximum flavour, or chilled cold (6°C / 43°F) for maximum refreshment. However, there are different types of water, a myriad of reasons we drink it, and varying personal preferences.

Why is it better to take warm water instead of cold water?

Warm water enlarges your blood vessels slightly. This promotes better blood circulation. More oxygen reaches all parts of your body and all organs function better. Since warm water improves blood circulation, it can relieve pain, especially muscle and joint pain.

What will happen if I drink warm water everyday?

Drinking warm water every day on a regular basis will help the body to break down fat deposits, relax muscles, and increase blood flow. An increase in blood circulation can rejuvenate skin cells and keep them nourished.