Cold Water vs. Warm Water: Which is Better For Your Health?

 

1. For Digestion Have you ever wondered why many cultures traditionally start their day with a hot beverage? While caffeine plays a role for some, it's not the only reason. Ayurvedic medicine suggests that drinking warm water in the morning helps to stimulate digestion. Drinking cold water with a meal can potentially impact the digestive process. Your body expends more energy to warm up cool liquids and foods, which can slow down digestion and nutrient assimilation (4). This is particularly important for individuals experiencing digestive distress. Consider starting your day with warm lemon water, which further stimulates digestion and aids in flushing toxins.

    

2. During Detoxification When it comes to cleansing the body of impurities, consuming adequate amounts of water is of paramount importance. For detoxification purposes, drinking room temperature water (often with a squeeze of lemon) is recommended (5). This temperature requires the least amount of energy for your body to assimilate. The lemon further helps stimulate digestion and flush toxins. During a detox, you might also consider adding cleansing ingredients to your water, such as cucumber slices and fresh mint, or apple slices and a cinnamon stick. This makes hydration more enjoyable while providing additional cleansing benefits from these foods.

    

3. For Pain Relief Warm or hot water is often preferred for relieving headaches or inflammation. Because warm water helps stimulate blood flow to tissues, it's an excellent remedy for treating menstrual cramps (6). The warmth can have a soothing effect and promote relaxation.
4. To Relieve Constipation Drinking warm water can help alleviate constipation by promoting bowel movements. Dehydration is a primary cause of constipation, making it essential to increase fluid intake. Warm water specifically helps stimulate blood flow and has a more soothing effect on the intestines compared to cold water.

    

What Ancient Medicine Systems Say About Water Temperature

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has advised against drinking cold water for thousands of years. The underlying logic is that cold water can lead to overall contraction, slowing, and shrinking within the body. Instead, TCM emphasizes that warm water helps keep everything fluid, protects internal organs, and promotes healthy blood flow and circulation.

 

Ayurveda holds a similar viewpoint, generally not recommending cold water for comparable reasons. It's crucial to remember that these are ancient systems of medicine. When they were developed, the focus was less on weight loss and more on preserving energy and maintaining internal balance. In most cases, these time-tested ancient medical systems have proven resilient against passing medical trends. When it comes to promoting healthy digestion and maintaining high energy levels, drinking room temperature or warm water is generally considered more beneficial.

 

 

The Rest of the Time

 

Aside from the specific circumstances mentioned above, the general consensus among many health professionals is to stick with room temperature water for most daily hydration.

 

Always consider the external temperature. On a hot day, cold water can be incredibly refreshing and help cool you down. On a cold winter morning, opting for hot or warm water is likely more comforting and can still stimulate digestion and blood flow for increased energy, in addition to its detoxifying properties.

 

If you don't enjoy the taste of plain water, adding citrus (like lemon or lime) or herbs (like mint or ginger) can make it more palatable. Many people prefer cold water simply because they perceive it to taste better, but room temperature water can be just as enjoyable. Remember to listen to your body; it often provides the best guidance for your health needs.