In hot weather, should you drink ice water?

Article content

The question:

Should you drink cold water when it’s hot outside?

The science:

If the heat is increasing in your area, you may be hydrating more. But should your water be at a certain temperature?

Whether you enjoy drinking water that is room temperature, cool from the tap, or chock-full of ice cubes, there are few wrong ways to hydrate, experts said. In most cases, it comes down to how you prefer your H2O. There are some key reasons, however, that some people opt for cooler or warmer water.

Water is essential for our survival. It helps regulate our body temperature, lubricate our joints and eliminate waste through sweat and urine, among other things. Most experts suggest drinking when you are thirsty, and you will probably need more when you are exercising or spending time in the heat. It is recommended that men drink about 13 cups of water and other beverages per day and that women drink about nine.

“It is really important to stay hydrated, so I think whatever your preference is, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water,” said Katherine Zeratsky, registered dietitian nutritionist at Mayo Clinic.

As for which water temperature is best, science does not point in one clear direction, experts said.

One exception may be for certain athletes whose performance may suffer when their core body temperature becomes very elevated, said Brian Weiner, a gastroenterologist who has studied water temperatures and the ice diet for years.

A study of 45 physically fit men found that those who drank cold water during hour-long exercise sessions had a smaller rise in core body temperature compared with those who drank room-temperature water.

This may be because when the blood vessels in the mouth and the upper esophagus are exposed to cold water and ice, they cool the blood, which is then circulated throughout the rest of the body, Weiner said.

For athletes, Weiner said that “cold beverages are better than, let’s say, room-temperature or hot beverages.” This is especially true for athletes whose gear interferes with cooling, such as football or hockey uniforms, he added.

Other people prefer cold water, or cold treats, because they consider it thirst-quenching and refreshing, research shows.

Cold water is not ideal for everyone, however. People with a history of migraines may be more likely to experience head pain after drinking cold water, particularly through a straw. Those with achalasia, a condition in which the muscles in the esophagus do not perform properly, may experience discomfort with cold food and cold drinks. It may be painful for those with tooth sensitivity. And, in rare cases, cold beverages may affect blood pressure and heart rhythm in subsets of patients with certain underlying cardiovascular conditions, research suggests.

In most cases, however, it comes down to personal preference.

“Individual preference matters, and the goal oftentimes when we are thinking about drinking water is to support better and continuous hydration. Not overdrinking, but maintaining fluid balance and a hydration state that supports our health,” said Elaine Choung-Hee Lee, professor and director of research support and the Human Performance Laboratory in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut.

“I have always personally preferred really warm water, and that’s how I stay hydrated, though for others, that is the opposite of preferable,” she added.

What else you should know:

While many people prefer cold and room-temperature water for hydration, some experts recommend warm water or warm beverages for certain situations:

– For illness. Warm beverages, such as coffee or tea, or hot soup are well-known home remedies. Researchers in Britain studied whether hot beverages relieved symptoms from the common cold and influenza more so than room-temperature ones. They found that the hot drink “provided immediate and sustained relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness, whereas the same drink at room temperature only provided relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough and sneezing.”

– For throat irritation. When treating a cough, consider hot water or tea with some honey (for anyone older than 1) and lemon, said Marianne Sumego, a physician who specializes in internal medicine and pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic.

– For sleep. Warm beverages such as chamomile tea or milk may help with sleep, research shows. The behavioral factor of having such a bedtime routine may influence sleep as well, Zeratsky said.

The bottom line:

The best temperature for drinking water depends largely on preference, experts said. One study, though, suggests cold water may have a beneficial effect for some athletes.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to Healthing.ca – a member of the Postmedia Network.