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Does Water Temperature Matter? Cold vs. Room-Temperature
When it comes to quenching your thirst, it’s no secret that water is always the best drink. Unless you’ve spent a day on the beach in which case, there’s a solid argument behind a Pina Colada… Not only does water provide essential hydration, but it also helps keep your body functioning properly and regulates your metabolism for weight loss and maintenance.
Cold, room-temperature or warm water? What’s your preference? Image source: Pexels.
If you didn’t already know, the recommended daily water intake for Australian men is 2.5 L, and for women, it’s 2 L. To keep your body adequately hydrated, you should drink a glass of water each morning, before your breakfast (for an added benefit), and before going to bed (to prevent dehydration).
We have always wondered about the question, which is better for your health? A glass of cold water or room-temperature water? On hot summer days, our go-to is always an ice-cold glass of water, but on those cooler winter days, we don’t mind a cup of room-temperature water. But, we want to know, does it really matter?
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that the water temperature that is often classified by reaching a temperature of 0 to 3 degrees celsius is considered ‘cold water’, while water at room temperature has a temperature that is merely typical air temperature, approximately 20 degrees to 25 degrees celsius.
‘There is little scientific research on the benefits of drinking warm water, although it's advocated in many cultures,’ according to Amy Shah, a Columbia and Harvard-trained doctor. ‘The only thing that is plausible scientifically is that by drinking cold water, you are constricting your blood vessels and may not have good absorption, whereas when you drink warm water, your blood vessels are more dilated.’
That said, as noted, traditional Indian practices such as ‘Ayurveda’ suggest it's more beneficial to drink water at warmer temperatures. In particular, ‘the first thing in the morning is the most important time to drink something warm,’ Ayurveda expert and author Sahara Rose states.
According to Western medicine, when it comes to digestion, the temperature of your water doesn't entirely matter for most people. However, for people with an extremely rare condition called ‘achalasia’, it does matter. ‘Achalasia is a condition where the oesophagus can't easily move food and liquids to the stomach because the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES), which connects the oesophagus to the stomach, doesn't open,’ explains registered dietitian Frances Largeman-Roth.
However, if you’re prone to migraines, take note! Because you might want to be mindful of the temperature of the water you’re drinking. One study published in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility linked the consumption of cold water as a trigger for headaches, and women who experienced one or more migraines in the last year were twice as likely to have a migraine onset by cold water. However, this is just one study from 2001, and this association hasn't been studied much since. What may be more important to note is the evidence that dehydration is closely related to the frequency and severity of migraines and headaches, rather than the temperature of the water.
At the end of the day, as long as you’re making an effort to stay hydrated and get your 2-2.5L of water a day, that’s what matters most. If you are drawn to practices like Ayurveda, consider giving room temperature water a go and see how your body responds. So long as you are drinking water, it seems you can’t really go wrong.
So what do you think? Are you a cold water drinker? Or a room temperature water drinker? Do you think it makes a difference to your body? We’d love to know!
Almost like a VERY WEAK tea
