Is cold water bad for you?

It is not the water we need to worry about, it is the temperature. A glass of plain old water is just as healthy as ever. The issue might arise with low temperatures that can cause havoc and discomfort in our systems.

Drinking ice cold water when you are sweated up can cause upset stomach, nausea, and abdominal cramps. Just like ice can reduce the swelling of an injury, ice water has a similar reaction in our stomach, causing it to contract and become too tight to process food efficiently.

Some people drink a glass of ice water as a pick-me-up because the cold can serve as a stimulant to the body. In some folks, the opposite is true as the cold water drains the body's energy, leaving you feeling exhausted and weak. As the cold water works through your system, your body has to expend extra energy warming the water to body temperature, and for some people, it is too much for the body to handle.

If you have ever wondered why your nose runs when you are outside in the cold, it’s because your body creates mucus as a humidifier to warm and moisten the cold air before it reaches your lungs. A glass of ice water can have the same effect, creating a lot of mucus which is not needed at the time, leaving you with stuffed up windpipes.

One of the worst possible side effects of chugging down a glass of ice water when you are sweated up is the negative effects on your digestive system. For some people, it can lead to a case of the “trots” because the body will not digest efficiently and simply expel much of the water and food.

For some people, ice water might lead to constipation because the cold causes food to solidify and harden, causing the intestines to contract tightly. Either way, it will be a rough time with abdominal cramps and pain.

Some of these downsides for drinking ice water may just be myths. One specific myth is that drinking ice water causes a shrinking of your blood vessels, resulting in your body’s inability to absorb vitamins and nutrients. This theory led to the belief that a glass of warm water will speed up the digestion process and aid in gut health. While your blood vessels do play a role in digestion, there simply is not enough scientific evidence to back the claim that cold water slows the digestive process.

The important thing to note is that drinking water, no matter the temperature, is going to help get your body hydrated. Staying properly hydrated is important to regulate your body temperature, deliver those nutrients to your cells, and keep your organs functioning properly.

A recent study from the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine found that drinking cold water will specifically help with assisting in rehydration more than any other temperature. The study reviewed 6 male athletes that consumed water at different temperatures, found that drinking water at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with a higher intake of water resulted in less sweating when compared to the others.

The study concluded that plain old cold tap water can be the ultimate temperature for rehydration purposes, especially when you are exerting yourself in the heat. 

Cold water consumption has also been proven to assist athletes in their recovery from a workout. One study from the Human Kinetics Journal found that a 10-minute cold shower 20 minutes after a workout session can assist with the hydration status. The same 10-minute shower, also known as cold water therapy, has been proven to assist with muscle recovery as well.

There is a great deal of debate, and a collection of myths, surrounding the consumption of ice-cold water, versus consuming water that is room temperature. The one thing everyone agrees on is to consume water to stay hydrated. The temperature of the water is going to have to be something you figure out for yourself and your own body.

I know that when I am out in the boat poling along a saltwater flat with the sun searing on my carcass, and I reach into the cooler for a drink, it better not be a jug of lukewarm curdled water. It had better be one degree above frozen.

Mark Rackay is a columnist for the Montrose Daily Press, Delta County Independent, and several other newspapers, as well as a feature writer for several saltwater fishing magazines. He is an avid hunter and world class saltwater angler, who travels around the world in search of adventure and serves as a Director and Public Information Officer for the Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse.  For information about the Posse call 970-252-4033 (leave a message) or email info@mcspi.org.