An argument I’ve been trying to win for a long time has been that room-temperature water is better than cold water. Yeah, yeah, here comes the tomatoes. What people don’t realize though, is that drinking room temperature water, the superior temperature for water, is good for you.
Many people would agree that when it comes to cold water, it tastes better. At first, I thought it was a bunch of nonsense, but after a quick Google search, I realized that there was actually some science behind it.
According to Taste of Home, “our brains perceive cold drinks as less flavorful than hot ones.”
The cold suppresses your taste buds and eliminates the taste of any impurities in your water. So basically, if you don’t like room-temperature water just because of its taste, you might want to check out the water you’ve been drinking.
However, just because it tastes good doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
“Cold water can constrict blood vessels in the digestive system, which may slow down the digestive process,” WaterDrop says.
Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy explains that, unlike cold water, room-temp water benefits digestion, “[helping] dissolve these foods [and] making them easier to digest.”
It helps the body maintain steady blood flow and digestive enzymes, which allows better nutrient absorption and smooth digestion. For those who bloat after a meal or deal with indigestion, room-temp water is for you.
Even when you’re sick, specifically when it deals with a stuffy nose or congestion, room-temperature water is better for you.
Foothills says that “drinking cold water may make you feel worse by thickening nasal mucus.”
Alongside these things, drinking cold water before bed can disrupt your sleep cycle. This is due to the sudden shift in temperature which can make it harder to settle down at night.
When it comes to athletes, FluidLogic says room-temperature water is great for “anyone sustaining a consistent level of physical activity over a long period of time,” “any athlete who needs precise hydration before and after bursts of intense exertion,” and even for simple everyday activities.
Stated by WaterDrop, room-temperature water is also said to, “enhance metabolism and circulation, making it a preferred choice for those focusing on overall wellness.”
Not only that, but it aids in the body’s natural detoxification process, “[helping] the body process toxins more efficiently by promoting better circulation and lymphatic drainage,” WaterDrop mentions.
Despite all of these benefits, others will still ridicule those who prefer room-temperature water, but there’s alternative reasons people turn to it as well.
People with sensitive teeth or throats may be averse to cold water since drinking it can be uncomfortable or just a shock with the quick change in temperature.
Along with people who sing professionally or in concert, they may stray from drinking cold water because cold water can cause temporary stiffness and tension in the vocal cords which makes it harder for them to stretch and vibrate.
Even with all of these benefits there will still be people that insist cold water is better and there isn’t much more that can be said to change their mind. That being said, if you’re looking to better yourself as a person, and feel better daily, drink room-temperature water.
