Cold Water Vs Room Temperature Water: When Should You Drink Them?

Hydration is essential for the survival of all animal species on earth, and humans are not exempted from the rule. Experts recommend that humans drink around half their body weight in ounces of water daily.

However, among humans, there is an ongoing debate on whether people should be drinking chilled water or water at room temperature and how your choice can affect digestion in the long run.

When is Water Cold, and when is it not?

Only a glass of water that has a temperature of  32 to 37°F (0 to 3°C) is considered cold. You can turn your faucet to “cold” or add an ice cube to your glass to get this effect. In the case of room temperature water, the values may vary depending on the kind of room you’re in but the glass of water should be at a range of 68°F to 78°F.

When Should you Drink Room Temperature Water?

Drinking water at room temperature does not have any big scientifically proven benefits but warm water is lauded as a great thing to drink. There is very sparse scientific research on the benefits of drinking warm water, but many cultures believe it is beneficial.

One expert said: "The only thing that really is plausible scientifically is that by drinking cold water, you are constricting your blood vessels and may not have good absorption, whereas when you drink warm water, your blood vessels are more dilated."

A traditional practice known as Ayurveda says it's better to drink warm water, especially in the morning, as it is like a wake-up call for the digestive system. This is supposed to create heat in your digestive system, and drinking cold water will counter the effect.

Of course, cool drinks can also be required, especially on hot summer days when you feel too warm, but it is important to drink water at warmer temperatures consciously. Drinking warm water at least an hour or two before a meal or between meals is recommended.

When should you drink cold water?

There is no large disparity between the benefits of drinking cold water and room temperature water, but they both have good uses. According to the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, athletes who drank cold water after exercising had lower core temperatures and could also delay the temperature rise while working out. The cold water also helped boost their performance.

An expert said: "If you're planning to go for a run on one of our 90°F-plus days, you may want to drink ice water beforehand and put ice cubes in your water bottle.”

Conclusion

Regardless of which one you’re drinking, staying hydrated is the bottom line. We recommend that you settle for the temperature that encourages you to drink water at that point in time.