5 health benefits of drinking cold water

Introduction

Year in and year out, improving one’s health, losing weight, and getting fit compete for the top spot on Americans’ list of New Year’s resolutions.  While water is necessary for the survival of life, it also has remarkable health benefits. Nothing feels quite as good as quenching your thirst with a glass of ice water. Many of us have heard the simple 8×8 recommended rule of thumb –> drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day, which is equivalent to 2 liters of water or a half gallon! While there are known wellness advantages of drinking hot water, cold water has always been misunderstood. In this blog, we will highlight the health benefits of consuming cold water, so that you can fully utilize its benefits.

Photo credit – freepic.diller

Better Metabolism Rate & Boosted Weight Loss

We all know that fast metabolism rate is an indicator of good health. Many people are under the misconception that cold water causes you to gain weight by slowing down your metabolism. This is not true! Drinking cold water actually boosts your metabolism. According to an article published in Active magazine, German researchers recently found that drinking six cups of cold water a day (approximately 48 oz.) can raise resting metabolism by about 50 calories each day — which is about as much as you would burn if you walked for 15 minutes. The reason seems obvious – your body has to work more aggressively in order to maintain the internal temperature, and while doing so it burns more sugars and fats thus leading to weight loss.

Absolute Must Workout Partner 

The good news is that cold water is an excellent workout partner. According to WebMD, a review of several studies revealed that people drink about 50 percent more cold or cool water compared to drinking warm water when they exercise — and as a result are less dehydrated. Other studies have shown that people who exercise in heat and humidity have a gradual rise in core body temperature when they drink cold rather than lukewarm water. Whether running, cycling or lifting weights, it appears that cold water drinkers are able to exercise longer without feeling exhausted. While hitting the gym or going for a run, to keep your body well hydrated and cooled down, pack a bottle of H2O filled with ice cubes. Coldwater is an excellent way to cool off after working out (or even before) because it can help reduce inflammation and soreness. And if you have a headache, try holding some ice cubes in your hands for 30 seconds. The cold will numb the pain!

Staying Alert & Easing Pain

Cold water activates sensors just under our skin, which then increase our heart rate and add an adrenaline rush to give us that skittish and alive feeling. Adrenaline helps in keeping you alert and mentally ready. Research has shown that other than caffeine, drinking ice water helps you to stay attentive and more focused. Having an alert mind by better adrenaline production, leads to making quicker decisions; hence improving your decision-making skills. Adrenaline not only has the capacity to uplift your mind but it also increases the body’s tendency to bear pain. This is the reason why people involved in accidents are often given a cold glass of water so their mind can stay alert, and their body feels less pain as compared to the trauma it experienced.

Rehydrate

Rehydrate Do you feel like you tend to burn-out quicker than you used to? Switch to chilled water instead of warm or room-temperature water. Experts at Columbia University have also shown that the human stomach absorbs drinking water that’s been cooled to approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit much faster than warm or room temperature water, which ultimately helps repel the side effects of dehydration.

Detoxification

Ice cold water works in removing toxins from the body, so drinking more of it could help prevent toxins from building up and having a negative impact on your immune system.

If you can only handle so much plain water, there are different ways you to enjoy that delicious hydrating agua by flavoring it up with natural super foods. What sets infused water apart from just drinking regular water is that it mixes that beautiful H2O with all the natural vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in nature. Plus, it tastes great and helps you detox naturally!

Photo credit – Joyful Healthy Eats

Here are a few detoxifying agents and their health benefits (courtesy of Holly’s Spend with Pennies blog):

• Orange, Lime & Lemon: These citrus fruits contains a ton of vitamin C which boosts your immune system, helps with digestion and relieves bloating! (They have qualities similar to our own digestive enzymes)
• Mint: Its sharp and fresh flavor isn’t just for taste; mint also stimulates the digestive enzymes, soothes the belly and aids in digestion.
• Cucumber: Cucumbers contain lots of vitamin A (antioxidants), C and the B vitamins. They are known for flushing out toxins. In addition, the electrolytes in cucumbers can reduce water retention!
• Berries: All berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries) are full of vitamins and dietary fibers. Fiber helps you maintain a healthy weight, lower your risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
• Ginger: Ginger naturally calms the belly. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which can aid in fat burning and even boost your immune system!

To make the detox drink as healthy as possible, use filtered water and organic produce. To a large pitcher or glass, add one or more detoxifying agents, ice cubes, and water. Muddle the ingredients a little if you’d like to really taste the flavor instantly or simply let the mixture sit for a couple of hours before drinking.

Conclusion

The benefits of drinking cold water are endless. Drinking cold water can help you lose weight, hydrate your body and even boost your metabolism rate. While cold water has a lot of health benefits, it is important to understand that you should not consume cold water if you have a cold, cough or flu. A lot of health practitioners advise their patients to drink cold water, but not while having their meals or right after having a meal, as it cools down the entire body temperature and that can be very dangerous.

Other than these factors, drinking colder water may improve exercise performance and be better for rehydration when exercising, especially in hotter environments. You can realize all the benefits explained in this blog once you make drinking cold water a habit, so grab your water bottles and fill them with some water and ice cubes to have better mental and physical health.