Drinking water has many health benefits. According to experts, women should drink 2.7 liters or 11.5 cups, while men should drink 3.7 liters or 15.5 cups a day. Adequate water intake ensures that your essential organs work properly and protect the spinal cord, joints, and sensitive tissues.
Water also dispels body wastes when you sweat, pee, or take a dump. You need it to help you think, remain active throughout the day, prevent dry skin and mouth, and reduce headaches. It can also help ward off serious illnesses such as dehydration, hypertension, stroke, and kidney failure.
What’s Your Water?
Although there are many ways to get enough water, the temperature at which you drink it can have an impact on your well-being. Raising your eyebrows after that statement, eh?
Well, it appears that drinking it at specific temperatures has different impacts on your health. Curious as to which type of water—hot, cold, or plain can give you the most health benefits? Scroll down below to find out.
Cold Water And Its Benefits
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
Drinking cool or ice-cold water can give several health benefits, including:
1. Offers Refreshment During Hot Days
When you’re feeling hot because of the weather or you’re sweating due to an intense workout, a glass of cold water will not only quench your thirst but will also help you feel better. You get a refreshing feeling the moment the cool liquid courses through your body. To make sure you and your family can enjoy a refreshing, cool drink during hot summer days, you can have a read of this to help you prepare.
2. Helps Burn More Calories
Cold water is not only a great fix during hot weather. It can also help you burn more calories. This is because the body needs to warm up the water to maintain an ideal body temperature. Drinking six cups or 48 ounces of cold water daily increases resting metabolism by 50 calories, the same amount burned with a 15-minute walk.
If you adhere to a strict eight glasses a day routine, you’ll burn 70 calories, and it can add up over time. While this is good news for those who want to shed some pounds, it is by no means the ultimate secret to weight loss. Losing 70 calories can be negligible compared to a 2,000-calorie diet, but if you’re serious, you can lose an additional 150 to 180 calories if you substitute ice-cold water with sodas and juices. Add in a healthy diet, and you’ll see better results.
3. Helps You Exercise Longer
Source: pxhere.com
Drinking cold water during and after exercise can also do you good. According to sports and fitness experts, it’s the best way to stay hydrated and energized. Ice water prevents your core temperature from rising and losing water due to sweat. When you’re cool and less sweaty, you can perform better in any intense exercise or physical activity.
It also allows you to work out longer since the water’s temperature increases your heart rate and energy. As a result, you can endure an hour or more of strenuous exercises without feeling exhausted. So, the next time you head out to the gym, pack your water with some ice cubes and experience its benefits.
4. Keeps You Mentally Sharp And Active
If you’re feeling sluggish, guzzling cold water can revive your senses. The water’s temperature activates your adrenaline glands which leads to an alert state. It helps you stay attentive and focused so you can make better decisions.
Adrenaline can also increase your body’s tolerance to pain. For instance, drinking cold water after an accident can keep you alert. It can also numb pain and lessen the trauma.
5. Boosts Immune System
Cold water can also help strengthen your immune system. Scientists found it is better absorbed when it is cooled to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 4.4 degrees Celsius. It also balances white and red blood cells to better fight infections and diseases. Ice-cold drinks likewise eliminate toxins from the body to keep you strong and healthy.
Hot Water And Its Benefits
Source: rd.com
There are also instances when hot water can bring relief. But do remember that it’s recommended to ingest water between 130-160 degrees Fahrenheit or 54-71 degrees Celsius only, so you won’t burn your tongue or scald your throat. In addition, hot water works well in the following situations:
1. Relieve Stuffiness Due to Colds
Inhaling steam can loosen clogged sinuses and provide relief from coughs and colds. Drinking hot water can also ease sore throat pain, and may even help reduce sinus headaches.
2. Aids Digestion
Drinking hot water is thought to help you digest food quickly and eliminate wastes better. In addition, a cup of hot water before breakfast and another before bedtime can help regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation.
3. Improve Circulation
Source: belmarrahealth.com
Taking in hot drinks can also improve blood circulation. Your arteries and veins expand when you drink hot water, making sure that blood can pass and reach various parts of the body. Continuous blood flow is vital to keep you away from high blood pressure and other heart ailments.
4. Reduce Stress Levels
The stress of everyday life can take a toll on you when you come home from work. A cup of hot water, tea, or coffee can be a great way to relieve yourself of all these. Hot drinks ease your worries and draw you to a relaxed, worry-free state so you can drift off to sleep.
Benefits of Plain Water
Source: pxhere.com
While hot and cold water has their health benefits, drinking water at room temperature can also help you feel better. It can keep your fever at bay and prevent dehydration when you’re sick with diarrhea. Plain one also works best if you’re sensitive to hot or cold food and drinks.
Make drinking water a habit, and you’ll be able to curb your appetite for sweet and fatty foods. Add in some fruity flavors such as lemon, mint, or berries, and you’ll enjoy drinking water throughout the day. As you achieve your water drinking goals, you’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight and prevent serious illnesses.
Conclusion
Drinking water has a positive impact on our health because it ensures the proper functioning of various organs and body systems. However, water taken at different temperatures has specific effects on our well-being.
Cold water can be a refreshing alternative to sugary drinks during hot weather or while doing exercises. It can also help you stay alert and active throughout the day. But if you’re feeling stressed and sick, a cup of hot one can do the trick. Even plain water also has its benefits. No matter what temperature you drink, it’s a surefire way to ensure good health now and in the future.
