Hydration is one of the most important aspects of health. Our bodies are about 60% water, and staying hydrated is essential to many of our bodily functions. (1)
Some health professionals recommend drinking eight 8-oz glasses of water a day, for a total of 64 ounces. Others say that you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For instance, someone who is 140 pounds would drink 70 ounces of water each day. (1,9)
But does it matter what temperature of water you drink? All signs point to cold and warm water each having specific benefits.
The Benefits Of Drinking Cold Water
When most people fill up a glass of water to drink, they want it to be cold. Cold water feels more refreshing, especially on a hot day. Drinking cold water is helpful during exercise. It can keep your body from overheating so that you stay safe and are more successful in your workout. (2)
Cold water also passes through the digestive system more quickly. This allows the intestines to absorb it faster, rehydrating you more quickly. If you’re dehydrated, drink a glass of water between 50 and 72°F. (3)
The Benefits Of Drinking Warm Water
Although cold water tends to be more popular, drinking warm or hot water has numerous benefits. Here are just a few.
Aids In Digestion
Ayurveda, a system of medicine that has been practiced in India for 5,000 years, has advocated drinking warm water for digestion for millennia. Cold water slows down digestion, while warm water increases circulation in the digestive system. (4, 5)
If you’re struggling with constipation, drinking warm water will also be helpful. Warm water makes the intestines contract, pushing out trapped waste. You can drink warm water regularly to keep things moving or on an as-needed basis for occasional constipation. (6)
Improves Circulation
Drinking warm water or taking a hot bath expands your arteries and veins. This allows them to carry blood more efficiently throughout your body. This can also regulate your blood pressure. (6)
Relieves Congestion
Just like taking a hot shower, drinking hot water helps break up nasal mucus and relieve congestion. If you have a cold or allergies, consider drinking warm beverages throughout the day to relieve congestion and improve nasal airflow. (6, 7)
Ways to Drink Warm Water
If you’re used to drinking cold water throughout the day and want to start adding warm water to the mix, here are a few enjoyable ways to drink it.
Tea
Tea is an incredibly versatile beverage. It comes in a variety of flavors and levels of caffeine. You can also change its taste by adding sugar or milk.
Many office water coolers have a hot water option. If you want to start drinking tea at work, keep a mug and a few boxes of tea at your desk so you can enjoy different flavors throughout the day.
Lemon Water
A common practice in Ayurveda is to drink warm lemon water in the morning. Ayurvedic practitioners say that it jumpstarts the digestive system, boosts the immune system, and clears toxins that built up overnight. (8)
If you’d like to try this Ayurvedic practice, make and drink the lemon water before you consume anything else. Mix eight ounces of warm or hot water with the juice from half a lemon. Sip the mixture slowly. Swish fresh water through your mouth after you’re finished to clear out remaining citric acid and protect your teeth. (8)
Stay Hydrated
While cold and warm water each have benefits specific to them, what’s most important is that you stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and enjoy all of the benefits it brings to your body.
