Benefits of drinking cold water: Is chilled water good for health?

Drinking water at any temperature – cold, hot, or lukewarm – can help your overall health, but drinking hot water is considered more beneficial. However, some people prefer to drink cold water to cool their throat and quench their thirst. Hot water is considered good for weight loss, but are there any special benefits to drinking cold water? Let’s find out!

Benefits of drinking cold water

Nupur Patil, a nutritionist based in Mumbai and the United Arab Emirates, spoke to Healthshot about the benefits of drinking cold water. She said, “Drinking cold water is a common habit for many people and can help you feel refreshed, especially on hot summer days or after strenuous exercise.”

Here are 7 benefits of drinking cold water:

1. Stay hydrated

Drinking cold, warm, or room temperature water can also help you stay hydrated. However, says Patil, “cold water is more refreshing and can increase overall fluid intake compared to warm water.” Cold water also helps reduce sweating problems and prevents the risk of dehydration. Make sure you stay well hydrated to support your overall health and avoid digestion and body temperature fluctuations.

2. Metabolism promotion

Surprisingly, cold water significantly speeds up your metabolism. As reported in the journal Active, a recent study by German researchers revealed that consuming 6 cups of cold water each day increases your resting metabolism, leading to the burning of about 50 calories per day. became. This is approximately the same amount of calories you would burn if you walked. 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 considered to be very effective in detoxifying the body by flushing out toxins that can have negative effects on health and preventing their accumulation. However, to realize these detox benefits, it is important to maintain proper hydration. Otherwise, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and fatigue may occur.

4. Post-exercise recovery

After strenuous exercise, your body may inflame your muscles and increase your body temperature. “Cold water cools the body and lowers core body temperature, reducing overheating and aiding muscle recovery post-workout (or even pre-workout),” says Patil. You can also soak in an ice-cold bathtub for a while after your workout to speed up your body’s recovery and reduce pain.

5. Pain relief

Cold water has the potential to relieve certain types of pain. According to Patil, “It’s effective in relieving headaches and migraines by constricting blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the head and relieving pain.” However, if you have a sore throat or menstrual cramps, If you suffer from achalasia, a condition that obstructs the passage of food through the esophagus, you should be careful with cold water, as it can make the discomfort worse.

6. Promotes glowing skin.

We all know the benefits cold water therapy has for the skin. Soaking your face in ice water calms inflammation, tightens pores, improves overall skin tone, and reduces redness, puffiness, and puffiness. Therefore, cold water can promote skin health in many ways. In fact, drinking cold water can reduce the appearance of your pores and give you a natural glow.

Also read: Celebrity-favorite secret to glowing skin: Try the ice water face dip!

7. Improves alertness

Besides consuming caffeine, drinking cold water is also known to help you stay alert and improve your concentration. Patil says, “Cold water provides a quick energy boost and increases alertness, so it’s great for when you need to stay awake and focused.”

Cold water has many health benefits, but cold water can interfere with digestion, so it’s important to balance it with room temperature water, especially during meals.

Risk factors of drinking cold water

The three main risks or side effects of drinking cold water are:

1. Digestive system problems: Extremely cold water can cause digestive discomfort in some people. This happens because cold water prevents the absorption of nutrients, slows down digestion, and makes it harder to break down food.

2. Sore throat: Ingesting cold water can cause a sore throat and nasal congestion. You are more susceptible to many respiratory infections.

3. Changes in heart rate: Cold water can also cause your heart rate to slow down. Therefore, be sure to drink room temperature water.

So ladies, it’s okay to drink cold water, but avoid drinking extremely cold water or only cold water.