Did you know that, on average, the human body is made up of 60% water? This fluid is essential for life, and many people are keen to increase their water intake to help their bodies perform vital tasks efficiently.
But is it better to drink warm or cold water? While you’re staying hydrated, you may be wondering if there are other benefits that you could enjoy depending on the temperature of your water. Whether you prefer a glass of hot or cool water there are several advantages you could enjoy.
Let’s take a closer look at the upsides of drinking warm and cold water.
Table of Contents
Warm Water Benefits
You may be most tempted to have a glass of warm water when the weather is on the cool side. However, there are many reasons to sip hot water at any time of the year.
Improved Circulation
Hot water causes your blood vessels to expand, increasing blood flow and improving circulation. This could potentially reduce your blood pressure and lower your risk of developing heart disease. Of course, if you have high blood pressure, you should speak to your physician for medical advice as well as taking care of yourself.
Helps Remove Toxins
When you consume warm water, your body temperature rises and you might begin to sweat. This can help clear out toxins and could be a simple and effective way to cleanse your body.
Congestion Relief
You may already have experience with warm water helping with congestion relief. Steam from hot water can loosen any build-up in your nose and throat, helping you to breathe more easily. If you are reluctant to take medicines when you have a sinus or throat blockage due to congestion, warm water might be a superb solution.
Easier to Get to Sleep
Having a warm drink of water before bedtime could help you feel more relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep. You could also add a different taste using lemons, oranges, or another of your favorite flavors to help you wind down more quickly.
Pain Relief
Warm water can increase blood flow to the muscles and provide a soothing effect. This could be helpful if you are suffering from issues such as joint pain or pain from menstrual cramps.
Warm Water Downsides
While there are major upsides to consuming warm water, there are some risks you should be aware of. Let’s have a look at some of these possible problems.
Lack of Convenience
You may not always have access to a hot water tap, and it’s not always convenient to carry a flask. As warm water cools quickly in a glass, it may be cold before you have time to take a drink.
Potential to Cause Injury
It’s critical to check the temperature of your warm water before drinking. If it’s too hot, you could scald yourself and cause serious injury.
Cold Water Benefits
A glass of cold water can be delightful on a hot day when you need to cool down. You’ll be pleased to hear there are other potential benefits to staying hydrated by drinking cold water.
Boosts Energy and Alertness
If you are looking for a natural way to boost energy, drinking water is one of several fantastic options. Consuming cold water can make you feel mentally alert and give you more physical energy throughout the day.
Cool Down During Exercise
When your body temperature is rising during exercise, sipping cold water can help you cool down without having to stop your workout. This is important for hydration when you’re active and losing water.
Easy to Take a Bottle of Cold Water With You
It’s easy to put tap water into a bottle and take it with you before you leave the house. You can even add a few ice cubes to keep it cool for as long as possible. If you can keep your water in a shaded spot, this can help maintain a low temperature and allow you to have a refreshing, cool drink at a later stage.
Cold Water Downsides
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to increase your cold water intake. However, there are some potentially negative aspects you’ll want to avoid.
Increased Carbon Footprint
Buying bottled water from a store can increase your carbon footprint. If you’re trying to be more eco-friendly, it’s better to use a long-life bottle that you can refill at home.
Could Affect Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth may become sore if they come into contact with cold water. If this is the case, you may enjoy drinking water that isn’t quite as cool.
May Affect Your Digestion
Cold water could have an unwanted effect on your digestion. This is because your body will be trying to regulate your temperature instead of diverting resources to the digestive process.
Now You Don’t Need to Ask, ‘Is It Better to Drink Warm or Cold Water?’
There isn’t really a right or wrong answer when asking, ‘is it better to drink warm or cold water?’. Both will keep you well-hydrated and can help your body and mind in various ways. With so many advantages to drinking warm or cold water, you may want to enjoy both options at various times of your day.
Once you get into a routine of drinking water, you could notice significant positive effects on how you look and feel.
Before you rush off to enjoy a glass of water, check out more of our excellent blog posts.
