Yesterday I asked you what temperature of water you prefer, cold or room temperature. The overwhelming majority of answers said cold water, meanwhile had I asked the same question in other parts of the world (I.E parts of Europe) the answer would have been room temperature.
There are benefits and drawbacks to drinking one temperature over the other. One drawback to drinking cold water is it puts strain on your vocal cords. Not enough to notice day-to-day, but if you sing or use your voice in any other professional manner you may notice a slight difference in the octaves you can reach.
Let’s explore some of the benefits to both.
Working out
Whether you’re hitting the treadmill, the weights, or the pool, your body temperature heats up as you continue to work out. The warmer your body temperature, the quicker you loose energy. Cold water is an excellent way to combat this, keeping your core temperature at a lower temperature will allow you to work out longer!
When I swam in a master’s program, we were always told to bring a bottle of cold water. When I started bringing one, I noticed an improvement almost immediately, I wasn’t going home nearly as tired, and I could push myself much further during the workout!
Dehydration
Finally, we can say the warmer weather is here! We can put the cold, snowy winter we had behind us and get ready to have fun in the sun! It is important to always stay hydrated while you enjoy the upcoming summer. Drinking warm water tricks your body into feeling less thirsty, which can be great in the moment, but to keep hydrated that’s not what you want. When you drink cold water it has the opposite effect, encouraging you to drink more water and stay hydrated!
Staying Awake
Have you ever been at work during a long day and you can’t get away for a coffee break? Try drinking cold water.
I’ve done this many times, even just cold water from the office water cooler helps just enough to push me over the hump and finish with the workday! Cold water helps your body produce adrenaline, making you more alert without the side effects of caffein.
Which on that note, if you are trying to cut down on caffein consumption, cold water is a good way to go!
Warm/Room Temperature Water
Nasal Congestion
If your nose is plugged up, a great way to help it clear out is by taking a warm or hot shower, it helps thin the mucus and allows it to run, freeing up your nasal cavity. Similarly, drinking warm or room temperature water can have the same effect! While drinking cold water may make you feel worse as it has the opposite effect!
Digestion and Metabolism
Warm water can be great around dinner time! I LOVE a cold drink with my meals, it is a life saver when I take a bite out of something that probably should have sat and cooled off for at least another 5 minutes. But drinking warm water can help with both your overall metabolism and digestion!
If you have a heavy meal that is high in calories or fat your body may take longer digesting them. However, if you drink a glass of room temperature or warmer water it helps break down those foods in your stomach, making them easier to digest!
Remember when I talked about drinking cold water to stay hydrated? Well, if you drink warm water, it helps boost your metabolism! It fools your body into thinking it needs less of everything, including water. So, if you aren’t sweating constantly and loosing fluids, Warm water is a great way to help you feel less thirsty or hungry!
Whether you grab your water from the fridge, or from your jug that’s been sitting on the counter all day, both have their ups and downs but neither cause harm. The key thing is to remember to stay hydrated as the warmer weather approaches, as drinking enough water in general matters more than what the temperature of the water is!
