There’s no evidence that drinking cold water is bad for most people’s health. Both cold and room-temperature water will keep you hydrated.

Some people believe that drinking cold water is a bad habit that can harm your long-term health. This belief is based on the idea that drinking cold water contracts your stomach, making it harder to digest food after a meal.

Some people also believe that your body has to work harder to maintain its internal temperature if you’re drinking water that’s near the temperature of ice.

But is there any truth to these ideas? Keep reading to find out the possible risks and benefits of drinking cold water.

Risks of drinking cold water


There is no strong evidence that drinking cold water poses a risk to most people.

Drinking cold water does affect your body in ways you might not anticipate. For example, a small study from 1978, involving 15 people, found that drinking cold water made nasal mucus thicker and more difficult to pass through the respiratory tract.

By comparison, the researchers found that chicken soup and hot water helped people breathe more easily. This suggests that, if you’re trying to treat a cold or flu, drinking warm fluids might feel better than cold fluids.

There are also some health conditions that drinking cold water may aggravate. Older research from 2001 found that drinking ice-cold water could be a trigger for people with migraine.

A 2012 study also found that pain due to achalasia, a condition that limits your body’s ability to pass food through your esophagus, can also get worse when you drink cold water with a meal.

But these examples will not apply to most people.

In traditional Chinese medicine, drinking cold water with hot food is believed to create an imbalance. Typically, meals in Chinese culture are served with warm water or hot tea. This belief is mirrored in several other cultures around the world.

Some people hold a similar belief that drinking cold water on a hot day won’t help cool you down. There isn’t enough research to conclude that either belief is true or false.

Benefits of drinking cold water


While drinking cold water may not suit everyone, it can have some benefits.

According to a 2012 study, drinking cold water during exercise can help keep your body from overheating and make your workout session more successful. This is likely because drinking cold water allows your body to maintain a lower core temperature more easily.

A small 2014 study also found that cold and room-temperature water decreased the participants’ heart rates, but body-temperature water did not. However, this study only included 12 participants and they were all young, which means this finding may not apply to everyone.

Can drinking cold water help with weight loss?


Drinking plain water, regardless of the temperature, has an association with lower calorie intake throughout the day. It is a good alternative to sugary beverages.

The same 2014 study found that drinking cold water led to a 2.9% increase in energy expenditure for about 90 minutes after drinking, meaning it may cause you to burn slightly more calories than usual. However, this was a very small study.

It’s unlikely that drinking cold water is a powerful tool for jump-starting weight loss.

Is warm or hot water better than cold water?
This could depend on the individual, the climate they live in, and personal preference.

If you live in a hot climate, you may find cold water refreshing. This could motivate you to drink more water, which can be useful in hot weather.

In contrast, if you have a viral infection or live in a cold climate, you may prefer warm drinks. There is no conclusive evidence that one is always better than the other.

Takeaway
If you have a cold, the flu, or a chronic condition like migraine, you may want to avoid drinking cold water if it worsens your symptoms.

But there is little evidence to suggest that everyone needs to avoid drinking cold water. While some cultures regard drinking cold water as a significant health risk, there isn’t much research to support that claim.

As for the benefits of drinking cold water, they turn out to be the same as drinking room-temperature water: keeping you hydrated and feeling refreshed.

If you’re concerned about drinking enough water, managing your weight, or consistently feeling dehydrated, consider speaking with a doctor to create a personalized plan.