What is the best option for our health?

Of all the fluids we consume, water is perhaps the most important. In fact, it accounts for about 60% of body weight in adults and is involved in many basic biological functions. But when it comes to drinking water, does temperature really matter?

Some people prefer it with ice cubes. Others prefer it hot with a slice of lemon. Some of us are satisfied with what comes out of the tap. But does the temperature of the water we drink have a positive or negative effect on our health? Fill your cup and take a few minutes to read this article as I explain everything to you.

The importance of water for our health

Water is an essential element for our body. It helps maintain body temperature, hydrate cells, and facilitate digestion and elimination of waste. Dehydration can lead to symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, decreased concentration, and even more serious conditions. Therefore, it is important to drink enough water throughout the day.

How much water do you need?

For adult men, it is recommended to drink 3.7 liters of water per day. For adult women, the recommended amount is 2.7 liters of water per day. Of course, this does not take into account other sources of hydration such as foods, drinks, and water found in food products.

In fact, although you should meet most of your fluid needs by drinking water, beverages such as soup, milk, 100% fruit juices, and decaffeinated tea are an option. Fruits and vegetables also contain a reasonable amount of water.

Factors that increase water requirements include exercise, high temperatures, high altitudes, a high-fiber diet, and increased losses from caffeine and alcohol consumption.

But the question that arises is whether the temperature of the water we drink has an effect on our health?

Health benefits of cold water

Nothing is better than quenching your thirst with a glass of cold water, and drinking it can help replenish fluids in your body after sports activity or strenuous exercise. Cold water cools the body temperature, which has the effect of reducing excessive sweating and thus preventing dehydration.

You may have heard that cold water is bad for your health, but there is little scientific evidence to support these claims. In fact, anything that contributes to hydration with pure water is good for your health. While drinking fresh water helps people drink more, it's not necessarily bad for your health.

One of the most important benefits of cold water is that it helps lower body temperature. Drinking cold water is very useful in cooling the body in the following cases:

• When you exercise : Cold water is a great post-workout drink;
• When it's too hot outside : Cold water effectively helps prevent sunstroke during the summer months;
• When you have a fever : Moisturizing the body and lowering the body temperature helps get rid of unwanted elements in the body in case of fever.
• When you are trying to lose weight : Water is known to stimulate metabolism. It helps burn an additional 70 calories every day (which you would burn if you walked for 15 minutes);
• Prevent dehydration Cold water lowers body temperature and prevents excessive sweating, thus preventing dehydration.

Problems associated with drinking cold water

Drinking cold water can cause toothache in people with allergies or who suffer from tooth decay. But drinking very cold water can also cause:

• Poor absorption of nutrients : The body must then expend more energy regulating body temperature rather than focusing on digestion.
• Slowed heart rate Drinking ice water can slow the heart rate by stimulating the vagus nerve.
• Slows down the digestion process Cold water reduces the temperature of the food bolus, hardens the fat, and disrupts the digestion process.
• holding : By slowing down digestion, cold water can also cause bloating.
• Migraine : “Brain freeze” can make migraines worse.
• It causes sore throat and runny nose : A cold can promote nose, ear, and throat diseases and mucus accumulation.

If you suffer from any of these problems when drinking cold or iced water, it is recommended to drink water at room temperature to avoid them.

Health benefits of hot water

Hydration, regardless of its source, is always good for your health. But when it comes to hot water, scientists seem to agree that it offers many more benefits than cold water.

• Significantly improves digestion : According to Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic traditions, drinking a cup of hot water first thing in the morning stimulates the digestive system, promotes blood circulation in the intestines and helps prevent indigestion and constipation.
• Remove toxins from the body Hot water helps rid the body of harmful toxins, and also helps prevent skin problems such as acne.
• Lessens the pain Drinking hot water has been shown to help combat certain types of pain, such as menstrual cramps, headaches, joint pain, and even muscle pain, by increasing blood flow to the tissues.

There is no harm in drinking hot water. However, some people find hot water undrinkable. However, there are ways to improve the taste of hot water, such as adding fruit or citrus to flavor the water and improve its taste.

Warm water is excellent after meals, especially when you feel bloated after eating a lot of meat or fatty foods.

What to remember

Cold water can help cool the body down after exercise or when the temperature outside is high. It may also be helpful to lower the temperature in case of fever. However, it can cause toothache, slow digestion and trigger migraines. On the other hand, hot water can have benefits such as improving digestion.

Ultimately, whether drinking hot or cold water depends on personal preferences and individual needs. What is important is to drink enough water throughout the day to keep our bodies hydrated and healthy.