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Room Temperature vs. Cold Water: Which Is Better for Drinking?
Pentair Water Solutions
11/01/2017
Many debates spark heated discussion in the world of Big Water®. H2O aficionados spend a lot of time debating questions like what water filtration methods are best? What is the proper level of hydration? One question that doesn’t seem to have an easy answer: is room temperature water better for you than cold water for drinking?
Everyone has their unique taste preferences. When it comes to drinking a glass of filtered water, some people prefer crisp ice water while others swear by room temperature water. Is either option significantly better for your health? Or is there no discernible difference?
As with most scientific questions, the answer is “it’s complicated.” Below, we’ve rounded up expert opinions in various situations so you can make a confident decision when choosing room temperature water vs. cold water.
Exercise
If you’re breaking a sweat at the gym and want your core body temperature to remain stable for as long as possible, stick to ice-cold water. Logically, you may assume that cold water is better-suited for temperature regulation when you’re prepping for a marathon or simply stretching at the YMCA. But, until recently, no scientific studies were on the books.
A 2012 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition asked physically fit subjects to complete two 60-minute exercise sessions. The subjects who drank cold water versus room temperature water experienced a significantly smaller rise in core body temperature. They were able to keep their internal temperature stable for twice as long (30 minutes, compared with 15 minutes for subjects drinking room temperature water).
VERDICT: Drink cold water when exercising to cool off.
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Digestion
If you are experiencing indigestion or stomach cramps, try to stay hydrated and keep things moving. Is there any proven benefit to drinking room temperature water or cold water when your gut is off-kilter?
Google any combination of the words “warm water digestion,” and you’ll find plenty of anecdotal accounts of warm water aiding in digestion due to its purported ability to dissolve food faster. However, more specific scientific inquiry is necessary to declare a clear winner between cold water and room temperature water for your stomach and intestines.
Only one study has concluded that warmer water aids in digestion. The 2016 study published in Gastroenterology Nursing found that warm water intake is associated with favorable effects on gas expulsion and intestinal movements in patients recovering from surgery. When you’re at home and have a heavy feeling in your tummy, however, we recommend reaching for whatever temperature water you’re craving.
VERDICT: Tossup. Drink any type of filtered water.
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Colds and Stuffy Noses
When your throat is scratchy, and you keep reaching for the tissues, what do you shuffle into your kitchen to make? An icy beverage or a hot cup of tea?
Warmer water is the go-to at-home cold symptom remedy because it is associated with relief from issues like congestion, sore throat, and runny nose. According to a first-of-its-kind study published in 2008 in Rhinology, a “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.”
VERDICT: Drink warm water for cold symptom relief. Room temperature water is also a good choice if you are coughing or sneezing.
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