5 reasons you should ditch that glass of cold water for the sake of your health

When you enter home after being exposed to long hours of the scorching sun, you are drenched in sweat and have a parched throat. Isn’t it almost instinctive to open the refrigerator and drinking cold water to get some respite from the hot weather? All the time. But do you know what seems like relief is detrimental to your health?

It is said that the cooler the water is, the more severe the consequences are. Science discourages the practice of drinking cold water no matter how hot it gets. It reasons that drinking chilled water can disrupt the normal functioning of gastric juices.

Here are some reasons why drinking cold water is detrimental to your health:

1. Disturbs digestion:

According to experts, drinking cold water and cold beverages contracts blood vessels, ultimately restricting digestion. It also hinders the natural process of nutrient absorption during digestion. As the body gets busy regulating the body temperature, its focus gets diverted from digestion. Consuming water of low temperature can cause dehydration as your body compensates by spending energy to regulate this temperature. Instead, the extra energy used to regulate the temperature could have been used in digestion and absorbing nutrients.

2. Causes sore throat:

Another reason to stop consuming icy water is to prevent a sore throat and blocked nose. Drinking chilled water, especially after eating food, creates a lot of mucus in your respiratory system. When the track gets congested, it also becomes vulnerable to many respiratory infections.

3. Makes breakdown of fats difficult:

According to experts, drinking chilled water just after your meal solidifies the fat from the foods just consumed, making it difficult for your body to break down the unwanted fat. It is better to avoid drinking water for at least 30 minutes after your meal.

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4. Responsible for change in heart rate:

Cold water is also responsible for decreasing heart rate. It stimulates the tenth cranial nerve – the vagus nerve, which is an integral part of the body’s autonomous nervous system and mediates heart rate lowering. Consumption of chilled water stimulates the nerve, causing the heart rate to drop.

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5. The shock factor:

It is recommended not to have cold water after a workout. A lot of heat gets generated after any exercise. Immediately drinking cold water causes a difference in temperature, which negatively affects digestive health. Moreover, after a workout, the body is not able to absorb cold water, so drinking cold water is of no use. Ice cold water comes as a shock to your body, which can cause chronic pain in your stomach.

So, these are some reasons why you should prevent drinking ice-cold water to remain healthy. Hence, the next time you open your refrigerator for drinking cold water, keep all the above points in mind.