Should You Drink Warm or Cold Water to Boost Your Metabolism?
It's healthy-living gospel: You should drink water first thing in the A.M. to unlock health benefits, including weight loss. Some like it warm, following the ayurvedic teaching that it's easier for the body to absorb warm water and that it's more soothing to the stomach. Others prefer to greet the day with ice water, believing that cold water kicks the body's metabolism into gear. So what's better?
There's something to be said for both schools of thought. The Today show recently noted that a 2003 study found that people who drank ice water experienced a 30 percent increase in metabolism. If you drink a half-liter of ice water per day, that amounts to burning 100 calories. Which may sound significant, but the reality is that drinking water, whatever its temperature, will help ratchet up your metabolism, stave off overeating, and save calories over soda and other sugary drinks. And although a warm cup of water may feel soothing to the stomach, there's no evidence to suggest that the body absorbs it any different than if it was cold. The take-home? Drinking water, period, is infinitely more important to your health and well-being than the temperature at which it's served.
