When I head to a restaurant, I always get strange looks from the server when I ask for a glass of water without ice. However, while it might sound crazy, I have my reasons for not drinking ice water.
Before I explain, just spend a few seconds imagining this scene. Close your eyes and think about standing on the dock at a mountain lake. While the air is relatively warm, the ice on the lake only recently melted away. That clear, blue, beautiful water is, of course, cold, but you drive in any way.
What happens to your skin and body when you dive into that chilly water?
More than likely, you’re aware that cold water constricts skin and seals pores, while warm water loosens the skin and opens the pores. Well, when you drink cold water, it constricts your digestive tract.
Studies also indicate that the problem with cold water is that as the liquid passes through your system, the cool temperature solidifies fats from the foods we’ve eaten and thus the body, in turn, finds it hard to digests the unwanted fats from our stomach.
What Are The Effects Of Drinking Cold Water?
When cold water hits the stomach, the body is forced to use energy to warm up that liquid inside your body to match that of the body’s natural temperature.
This robs your body of the energy it needs to process what you have ingested properly. Instead of working to extract all the foods nutrients, your digestive system is instead working on regulating the temperature of the cold drink.
① When you drink ice water, it restricts digestion, it shrinks blood vessels, and it makes it harder for your body to hydrate itself.
② Instead of being able to focus all its energy on digestion and nutrient absorption, your body is wasting energy trying to keep your temperature up, which may result in water loss.
③ If you drink cold water after you eat a meal, it can lead to excess mucus being created. The creation of mucus may lower your immune system’s ability to fight off colds and other illnesses.
④ When you eat and drink ice cold drinks right after eating, the cold water solidifies fats, and this makes it difficult for the body to digest those unwanted fats.
While some people believe that drinking ice water is an excellent idea because it helps burn off calories, I think that you don’t want to make your digestive system have to work harder. After all, you have many great ways to burn calories, so why to make things even harder on your body.
Drinking Warm Water – Learn the Benefits
Instead of drinking cold water, consider drinking warm water, or at least water that has come to room temperature.
Here are a few of the benefits you can enjoy:
① Your food will more easily break down.
② Hydration will occur faster.
③ You’ll find that bowel movements are easier (especially if you drink lemon water in the morning).
④ It purifies your blood and increases your bodies natural detoxification processes via your skin, kidneys and lymphatic system.
⑤ Digestion is improved because the warm water stimulates natural digestive enzymes.
When you begin drinking warm or room temperature water, you’ll notice a big difference. Your body will feel better when you eat and after you eat, and you’ll be surprised at the improvement in digestion.
Some individuals even find that they don’t crave sugar as often when they start drinking warm water.
Next time you head to a restaurant, make sure you ask for your glass of water without the ice.
Sorry I am drinking ice cold water for the past 50 years.I have no problem. Only the Indians never drink ice water in the restaurants. Plus coke/pepsi
Let’s also not forget that your body is warm on the inside and new warm blood is always flowing. Your body will warm the water up very quickly, negating any adverse effects mentioned. In order to suffer from any of those effects you would have to be continuously swallowing ice cold water.
That was so interesting and so logical! I’ve never thought of that before. Makes lots of sense.