Staying hydrated is very important, especially in the summer season. The hot sun in summer almost always leaves us parched and craving cold water. It is important to have enough water for almost all bodily functions, right from digestion to keeping tissues and organs healthy. It is generally recommended for men to drink 3.7 litres of water per day and 2.7 litres of water for women. But is cold water really beneficial for the health?
Well, to directly answer that, no. There is no evidence that cold water is good or bad for health. There are a few disadvantages and advantages of having cold water. There are different beliefs in different cultures around the world, but not enough scientific evidence to support them. Let's see if the cons outweigh the pros.
Pros of Drinking Cold Water
- Drinking cold water might improve an athlete's performance as it helps maintain their body temperature.
- Drinking cold water might help in weight loss. When a person consumes cold water, their body needs to work extra hard to maintain their core temperature. This helps in burning more calories.
- It brings relief to the body when the outside temperature is really high.
- Consuming cold water might reduce sweating and hence help prevent dehydration.
- Drinking cold water might get rid of any foreign substances that have invaded the body, causing fever.
- Drinking cold water might boost metabolism.
Cons of Drinking Cold Water
- It might cause digestion problems as it can affect the metabolism rate.
- Drinking cold water lowers the heart rate.
- Cold water might cause sore throat and nose congestion.
- Cold water tends to make the nasal mucous thicker and for it to pass through the respiratory tract.
- Cold water might aggravate headaches when one is suffering from migraine.
- The symptoms of achalasia might get worse by consuming cold water. Achalasia is a condition where the body's ability to consume food through the oesophagus is restricted.
- It is believed in several cultures around the world that consuming cold water with hot food creates an imbalance.
- Food tends to harden and solidify when consumed with cold water. This leads to constipation.
- Drinking cold water immediately after a meal will interfere with the body's ability to break down fat.
- Drinking cold water right after running or any kind of workout might lead to chronic stomach pain.
Conclusion
Drinking cold water is generally regarded as bad for health as it might take time for the food to digest after drinking cold water. Some also believe that the body might have to work extra hard to maintain the body temperature. Drinking cold water might cause headaches for people suffering from migraines. However, drinking cold water after a workout might be the most effective way for athletes to rehydrate.
