Drinking water regularly is a requirement for good health as well as weight loss – it is practically the number one rule for most diet plans. It might as well be the mantra of the majority of weight loss programs – eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. It has many benefits, including flushing the toxins out of the body, keeping you hydrated, giving you glowing skin, and leaving you with a full feeling that can prevent overeating.
However, there is still the debate of whether drinking water in ice cold form is best, or whether it is better for digestion to drink room-temperature, or even warm, water. We did some investigating to determine which is the best way to consume water to achieve your goals. Read on to see what we discovered.
Ice Water – To Drink or Not to Drink
There have been theories that drinking ice water “shocks” the system and kicks it into overdrive, making it a great way to lose weight. But is this the case, or is drinking ice cold water the same as drinking warm water? The biggest question of all – Does drinking ice cold water burn calories?
Yes, according to How Stuff Works. Because your body is warm, and the water is ice cold, your body does have to work extra hard to warm the water up to body temperature. However, it doesn’t take a whole lot of energy for the body to accomplish this. According to their article, if all eight of the glasses of water you drank in a day were ice cold, you would burn off up to an extra 70 calories per day. However, if the water is not ice cold, and is simply “cold” instead, this number would be even lower.
Warm Water – Are There Benefits?
The basic idea behind drinking warm or room temperature water is that it is easier for the body to digest than cold water, which would help aid overall digestion leading to better health and even weight loss. The origination of the idea is based in the theory that many overseas countries drink their drinks hot versus our cold, and they don’t have weight issues like we do. However, we also eat more fast food and junk food than any other country and live a more sedentary lifestyle overall. So is there any truth to the theory?
According to BetterBones.com there is at least partial truth to the idea of drinking warm water for better health. It is said to aid in digestion, which is great for anyone with a goal of better overall health. It is also thought to help increase circulation, which is an added bonus that can assist in the exercise needed to lose weight and get in shape.
The Conclusion
It would appear (and you likely already knew this) that neither cold nor warm water is the be-all end-all of a diet. To really maximize the health benefits of your eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, choosing some warm and some cold might likely be your best bet. You will burn a few extra calories to lose weight, and aid your digestion and circulation as well. But most importantly is the fact that you get those 64 ounces of water everyday, be they hot or cold.
If you are on a weight loss plan, be sure to check out some of our great healthy treats that are low in calories, carbs and fat, and will allow you to splurge without ruining all your hard work!