Why do people debate between cold and room temperature water? Water is essential for life, but have you ever thought about the temperature of the water you drink?
Some people swear by room temperature water, while others can't drink water unless it's ice cold.
But is there a real difference in how these temperatures affect your body?
Is room temp water better for you than cold water? Let’s explore the benefits of both and determine which is best for your health.
Why Is Room Temperature Water Better for You?
Drinking room temperature water offers several health benefits, making it a better choice in many situations.
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Better Hydration – Room temperature water is more easily absorbed by the body, allowing for faster and more efficient hydration. We already likely know how important water is to our health and that we should be drinking more.
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Aids Digestion – Cold water can cause the stomach’s blood vessels to constrict, slowing digestion. Warm water helps stimulate digestive enzymes, making it easier to break down food.
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Supports Weight Loss – Warm or room temperature water helps break down fats more efficiently, making it a good choice for those focusing on weight management.
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Promotes Detoxification – Drinking warm water encourages sweating, which helps remove toxins from the body. Pairing warm water with a plant-based detox can further enhance these effects.
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Gentler on Teeth and Throat – Cold water can cause sensitivity in the teeth and throat irritation, while room temperature water is soothing and less shocking to the body.
RELATED: Quality Water: Quality Life
Is Cold Water Less Hydrating Than Room Temperature Water?
One common belief is that cold water doesn’t hydrate as well as room temperature water. While both temperatures hydrate the body, cold water can sometimes lead to slower absorption due to blood vessel constriction in the stomach. Room temperature water, on the other hand, is absorbed more quickly and efficiently.
Room Temperature Water vs. Cold Water: Which Is Healthier?
Both cold water and room temperature water have their own unique health benefits. Here’s a quick comparison:
|
Benefit |
Room Temperature Water |
Cold Water |
|
Hydration |
Faster absorption |
Refreshing but slower absorption |
|
Digestion |
Aids digestion |
May slow digestion |
|
Weight Loss |
Helps break down fats |
Can boost calorie burning |
|
Detox |
Supports detoxification |
Less effective |
|
Cooling Effect |
Less drastic temperature change |
Helps cool the body |
Is Ice Water Bad for You? Potential Cons of Drinking Cold Water
Ancient forms of wellness and healing, such as Ayurvedic medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine, which have been around for over 3,000 years, note the importance of temperature and how it affects the body, either promoting or preventing disease.
To preface this, it’s important to understand that making sure to drink enough clean water is priority number one, no matter what the temperature is.
But beyond getting enough water, considering the temperature can do good things for your overall wellness. Most people aren’t aware that, especially at certain times, drinking cold water isn’t the best option, and here’s why:
1. Staying Hydrated Is Difficult with Cold Water
According to some experts, cold water is not as good as room temperature water at hydrating the body.
Warm (a.k.a. room temperature) water is more readily available to the body for hydration, which is especially important during times of dehydration.
2. Water at Room Temperature Is Better for the Stomach and Intestines
Cold water causes the blood vessels around the stomach to constrict, which can slow down absorption.
The overall effect of cold water in the body is contraction, slowing, and shrinkage. Warm water, on the other hand, helps keep everything moving, fluid, and protected.
It does all this while promoting healthy blood flow and circulation. Furthermore, warm (or room temperature) water has a greater ability to relax the body.
3. It’s Challenging to Lose Weight with Cold Water
When cold liquid passes through the body, it can cause fat from the food you’ve eaten to solidify, causing it to become more sludge-like and difficult to digest well. It can also make it hard for the body to eliminate any unwanted fat.
Warm or room temperature water, on the other hand, does not solidify fat, allowing it to remain fluid, easy to digest, and pass through the body, reducing the risk for clogged arteries.
4. Room Temperature Water Helps Manage Core Temperature
What is core temperature? The ideal body temperature of the internal organs.
Interestingly, if you’re dealing with someone who has a fever or who just had a heat stroke, covering them in cold water is not ideal but, rather, room temperature water. The reason for this is cold water can bring on chills, which could end up raising the body temperature instead.
Cool water can help bring down fevers as long as it’s not cold enough to cause shivers or chills. Room temperature water is generally the safest option.
RELATED: Quality Water: Quality Life
When to Drink Room Temperature Water
The best times to make sure to drink room temperature water include:
1. When Digesting
During or following a meal, it’s best to drink room temperature water to prevent fats from solidifying and to stimulate the digestive system.
According to some experts, drinking cold water can slow down the digestive process. It can cause digestive issues, especially in sensitive individuals.
Think about what happens when you put your arm or leg in cold water: you stiffen up a bit. If you want to maintain or achieve a healthy gut, warm water is the best choice as it’s much easier on your stomach.
2. When Trying to Detox
Warm water takes the least amount of energy for your body to use, allowing it to focus on cleansing, digesting, and achieving internal homeostasis.
What is homeostasis? It is the body’s ability to maintain internal stability to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function.
3. When Healing Inflammation or Trying to Decrease Pain
Warm water helps stimulate blood flow to the body’s tissues, helping to decrease inflammation. It can help with a number of ailments, including headaches, pain, injuries, or cramps.
4. When Constipated
Because cold water can affect the digestive system, if you need to get your bowels moving, warm water is definitely the way to go. It helps stimulate blood flow and can help better soothe the intestines.
5. In the Morning
Drinking warm water in the morning helps wake up the digestive system and optimally helps hydrate the body after sleep.
The bottom line is to make sure to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and also take into consideration the temperature of your water, aiming to at least start drinking more room temperature water!
Is Drinking Room Temperature Water Better for Your Health?
Yes, in most cases, room temperature water is better for overall health. It keeps the body hydrated more efficiently, supports digestion, and helps regulate body temperature. However, cold water has its place, especially in post-workout recovery and in hot climates.
Does Cold Water Hydrate You Less Than Room Temperature Water?
While cold water does hydrate, it takes longer for the body to process it due to the constriction of blood vessels in the stomach. Room temperature water allows for quicker hydration, making it the better option when you need to replenish fluids rapidly.
Is Cold Water Bad for You? Myths and Facts
During or following a meal, it’s best to drink room temperature water to prevent fats from solidifying and to stimulate the digestive system.
According to some experts, drinking cold water can slow down the digestive process. It can cause digestive issues, especially in sensitive individuals.
Think about what happens when you put your arm or leg in cold water: you stiffen up a bit. If you want to maintain or achieve a healthy gut, warm water is the best choice as it’s much easier on your stomach.
Some myths suggest that cold water is harmful, but the truth is that it depends on the situation:
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Myth: Cold water slows metabolism.
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Fact: Cold water may cause temporary digestion slowdowns but does not permanently affect metabolism.
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Myth: Drinking cold water after a meal solidifies fats.
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Fact: Cold water might slow fat breakdown, but the body eventually adjusts.
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Myth: Cold water weakens the immune system.
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Fact: There is no scientific proof that cold water weakens immunity.
Based on the arguments above, it’s easy to assume you should drink only room temperature water because drinking cold liquid is harmful to the body.
For the sake of clarity, cold water isn’t always bad. It’s important that you don’t miss out on the benefits of drinking cold water as well:
1. Burning Calories
Room temperature water may prevent fats from turning into sludge, making them difficult to remove from the body. Cold water, though, can also be a strategic tool for jump-starting weight loss.
One of the benefits of drinking ice water is it may help burn calories. This is because it forces the body to work harder to maintain its ideal core temperature.
As to how much calories are burned, studies don’t seem to agree on the numbers. In one small study, it could increase the burning rate by 30%.
Keep in mind that this is a small research study, and you may need to consume at least two liters of really cold water to burn 100 calories more a day. For anyone trying to lose weight, burning 100 extra calories is a huge help.
2. Regulating Core Temperature When Exercising
When it comes to drinking cold water vs warm water when working out, you may want to do the former. Cold water can help prevent your body from overheating.
Even when you exercise, your body strives to maintain its core temperature. It is usually between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
When you perform an exercise session on a hot day, your body’s cooling system needs to work harder. It can then raise your body temperature by a few degrees.
In the meantime, you end up losing more water because of profuse sweating. If it’s a humid day, your sweat won’t evaporate, and it prevents your body from cooling.
If you work out outside, make sure you can bring a water bottle of ice-cold water with you. It helps you stay hydrated and enables your body to regulate its temperature.
This is also a good excuse to enjoy the benefits of drinking cold water in the morning (if you work out around this time). As a bonus, it stops you from drinking sugary beverages, which can do more harm than good.
3. Fasting
More studies reveal the benefits of fasting, including intermittent fasting. In a 2012 study, doing IF for a month can significantly reduce inflammation markers.
This can help you manage different chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension. Even better, you can still drink water and tea during IF.
The question is, should you drink ice water or room temperature water when fasting? The answer is it depends.
Drinking cold water when hot (or during summertime) is a good idea while doing IF. Meanwhile, you may want to consume room temperature water or even warm water during colder seasons like autumn and winter.
Drinking Warm Water vs Cold—Just Drink Water!
It is easy to get caught up with the cold water vs temp debate. It’s understandable as you only want the best for your health.
When in doubt, you can keep the following tips in mind:
- Use room temperature water to aid in digestion.
- Mixing room temp and cold water is possible as well when making smoothies with Sunwarrior Warrior Blend. For example, room temp can dissolve the powder, while cold water improves its texture and flavor.
- Bring cold water when you’re going out on a hot day.
- When you’re feeling the cold, drink warm or room temperature water.
- Just drink water because it’s good for the body.
Taking care of yourself requires many steps and even an overhaul of your lifestyle, but it doesn’t need to be complex. Drinking clean room temperature water, for instance, is a good start.
The Best Water Temperature for Hydration: Cold vs. Room Temperature
When it comes to hydration, room temperature water is often the best choice for everyday drinking. However, if you’re working out or in hot weather, cold water can help cool you down.
How Does Drinking Room Temperature Water Affect Your Body?
Drinking room temperature water:
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Improves digestion by keeping the stomach relaxed.
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Prevents dehydration by ensuring better absorption.
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Reduces bloating compared to cold water.
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Helps nutrient absorption from food more effectively.
Why Room Temperature Water Is More Hydrating for Your Body
Since room temperature water is absorbed more quickly, it helps maintain optimal hydration levels. This is especially important when consuming vegan collagen for skin and joint health, as proper hydration enhances collagen absorption.
Pedialyte Popsicles vs. Cold Water: Which is Better for Hydration?
Pedialyte popsicles contain electrolytes, making them useful for dehydration recovery. However, room temperature water is still a reliable hydration method without artificial additives.
Conclusion
So, is room temp water better for you than cold water? In most cases, yes. Room temperature water hydrates more efficiently, aids digestion, and supports overall health. However, cold water is beneficial for cooling the body and post-exercise recovery. The best approach is to drink water at the right temperature for your needs while ensuring you consume enough daily.
Sunwarrior recommends drinking plenty of clean water, whether cold or room temperature, to maintain overall well-being. Pair your hydration with a plant-based protein powder to maximize energy and nutrition.
FAQs
Is room temperature water better for you than cold water?
Yes, room temperature water is easier to absorb, supports digestion, and prevents bloating.
Does drinking room temperature water hydrate you more effectively?
Yes, since the body absorbs room temperature water faster than cold water, it is more effective for hydration.
Why is it better to drink room temperature water?
It aids digestion, prevents teeth sensitivity, and supports metabolism better than cold water.
Is cold water bad for your digestion?
Cold water can slow digestion by constricting stomach blood vessels, making room temperature water a better choice after meals.
How does cold water compare to room temperature water for hydration?
Both hydrate the body, but room temperature water is absorbed faster and more efficiently.
Can drinking cold water cause stomach cramps?
Yes, for some people, cold water can cause stomach discomfort, especially after exercise.
Does drinking room temperature water improve your overall health?
Yes, it supports digestion, hydration, and metabolism, contributing to overall wellness.
Is drinking room temperature water good for weight loss?
Yes, it helps in fat digestion and detoxification, which can support weight management.
What are the benefits of drinking room temperature water over cold water?
Faster hydration, better digestion, and reduced risk of bloating and stomach cramps.
Is cold water less hydrating than room temperature water?
Yes, because room temperature water is absorbed more quickly by the body. Stay hydrated with Sunwarrior’s clean water tips and plant-based nutrition solutions!
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on May 17, 2018, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
