Whether drinking cold water is good or not reveals a surprising truth

On hot summer days, a glass of ice cold water is truly a great way to cool down. However, is regularly drinking cold water good? This question has caused a lot of controversy and is of interest to many people. This article will analyze in depth the positive effects as well as the potential harms of drinking cold water, helping you have an overview and make the right decision for yourself.

1. Is drinking cold water good?

The answer is not simply "yes" or "no", but depends on many factors such as:

• Frequency: Drinking cold water in moderation will bring certain benefits. However, abuse can cause unwanted harm.

• Temperature: Water that is too cold can cause heat shock to the body, especially when drunk immediately after exercise or hot weather.

• Health status: People with gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases need to be more careful when drinking cold water.

2. Positive effects of drinking cold water

Drinking cold water is not only refreshing, it also brings many unexpected health benefits.

Cools and soothes the body

When the body is exposed to cold temperatures, blood vessels constrict, helping to quickly reduce body temperature. This is especially useful on hot summer days or after intense exercise. The cool feeling spreading throughout your body not only helps you relax but also reduces the risk of heatstroke and cramps.

Instant rehydration and energy replenishment

Cold water is absorbed into the body faster than warm water, helping to rehydrate promptly, especially when you are dehydrated due to heavy sweating or diarrhea. Providing enough water helps maintain the function of the body's organs, increase energy and improve work performance.

Accelerates the process of burning excess fat

Some studies show that drinking cold water can stimulate the body to burn more calories to warm the cold water in the stomach. However, the effectiveness of this method is still controversial and needs further research. However, drinking cold water combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise is still considered an effective way to support weight loss.

3. Harmful effects of drinking cold water

Although cold water brings many benefits, overusing it can cause some unwanted health effects.

Stimulates migraine attacks

When drinking cold water, blood vessels in the head area suddenly contract, causing a sudden change in pressure in the brain. This can trigger migraine attacks in susceptible people. In addition, vasoconstriction also reduces blood supply to the brain, causing temporary hypoxia and exacerbating headaches.

Increases tooth sensitivity causing pain

The sudden temperature difference between cold water and teeth can stimulate sensory nerves in the teeth, causing an unpleasant feeling of sensitivity, especially for people with sensitive teeth or other gum problems. dental.

Increased risk of colds

Although there is no completely convincing scientific evidence, many people believe that drinking cold water, especially when the body is sweating or when it is cold, can reduce the resistance of the respiratory tract, causing conditions for bacteria and viruses to invade, causing respiratory diseases such as colds and sore throats.

Digestive system disorders

Cold water can constrict blood vessels in the stomach, reducing the secretion of gastric juice and digestive enzymes, making it difficult to digest food. In addition, drinking cold water right after a meal can reduce the temperature in the stomach, affecting the fermentation process of food and causing problems such as bloating, gas, indigestion, and even diarrhea. diarrhea. Imagine the stomach as a production factory, appropriate temperature is a necessary condition for digestive processes to take place effectively.

Affects the circulatory system and heart rate

For people with cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, drinking cold water suddenly can cause blood vessel constriction, increase blood pressure and change heart rate. This can lead to dangerous complications such as angina and myocardial infarction.

4. Some notes when drinking cold water 

Although cold water offers many benefits, using it properly is important to avoid unwanted effects. Here are some notes that you should keep in mind:

• Do not drink too much cold water: Although cold water helps cool the body quickly, drinking too much or too cold can cause heat stroke, especially when the body is vigorously active. 

• Do not drink cold water immediately after exercise: After exercise, the body loses a lot of sweat and the body temperature increases. Drinking cold water suddenly can cause peripheral blood vessel constriction, reducing blood flow to muscles and organs, causing cramps, muscle fatigue and even heat stroke. 

• People with cardiovascular diseases should be cautious: People with cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia should limit drinking cold water, especially ice water. Sudden changes in temperature can cause blood vessel constriction, increase blood pressure and aggravate cardiovascular diseases. 

• People with digestive problems: Drinking too much cold water, especially on an empty stomach, can cause stomach spasms, causing indigestion, bloating, and belching. You should drink warm or room temperature water before or during meals to aid digestion.

In short, cold water is a great refreshing drink, bringing many health benefits. However, to know whether drinking cold water is good or not and enjoy the full benefits, we need to use cold water reasonably and scientifically. Drinking cold water is not bad, but overusing it is worrying.