COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Is it Bad For My Body to Drink Cold Water?
Theres a persistent urban legend that if you drink cold water, especially after eating, youll get cancer.
The theory, which has been widely circulated via email, suggests that cold water solidifies fats you have just consumed, quickly causing toxins to create cancer in your body. Sites devoted to proving or disproving urban legends, like snopes.com, have defeated this theory quite effectively.
It is not unhealthy to drink cold water, though in some cases, tepid or room temperature water may be a better choice.
One theory, upon which medical researchers have varying opinions regards whether drinking cold water is as good for you as drinking tepid water, particularly when you are exercising.
Some doctors suggest that room temperature or body temperature water is better than cold water, because the body has to expend energy to heat cold water to body temperature, resulting in some water loss.
On the other hand, some doctors say that after physical exertion, you should drink cold water since it will help cool the body more effectively than room temperature water.
What is clear is most people who drink cold water are likely to consume more of it, since it tends to taste better and is more satisfying.
Even if drinking cold water results in marginal water loss, the extra water you will probably drink will help make up for this. There are some instances where you shouldnt use cold water, but generally this doesnt apply to drinking.
If you are attempting to help bring down a fever, or assist someone with sunstroke (animal or person), you should not immerse that person or animal in cold water. Instead you should use lukewarm water, or even slightly warm water.
Cold water can provoke chills, which may actually raise body temperature.
Though baths can be a helpful way to bring down high fevers, you especially want to avoid allowing someone to shiver or get chilled. If people with fevers drink cold water that is very icy, they may also get chilly, so lukewarm or tepid water may be a better choice.
There are a number of other urban legends associated with the amount of liquids and the type of liquids you consume. For instance people are told that coffee, tea and sodas deplete water from their bodies. Actually, people who routinely drink caffeinated beverages retain about two-thirds of what they drink, and this can be counted as part of daily fluid intake.
Another myth regarding water is the eight, eight ounce (.24 l) glasses of water are needed daily. While this amount of water, whether you drink cold water or hot, wont hurt you, daily intake of food usually provides about half the amount of needed fluids. Most people would get by with drinking about 32 ounces (approx. 1 liter) daily.
The best indicator on whether your body is getting enough water is urine color. If your urine is dark yellow, chances are youre not getting enough water.
If you pass clear to very light colored yellow urine, your fluid intake is adequate. Remember that urine color in the morning will always be a little darker. Another indicator is thirst.
When your body sends you Im thirsty signals, have something to drink, but dont worry about whether you should drink cold water or warm.
Theres a persistent urban legend that if you drink cold water, especially after eating, youll get cancer.
The theory, which has been widely circulated via email, suggests that cold water solidifies fats you have just consumed, quickly causing toxins to create cancer in your body. Sites devoted to proving or disproving urban legends, like snopes.com, have defeated this theory quite effectively.
It is not unhealthy to drink cold water, though in some cases, tepid or room temperature water may be a better choice.
One theory, upon which medical researchers have varying opinions regards whether drinking cold water is as good for you as drinking tepid water, particularly when you are exercising.
Some doctors suggest that room temperature or body temperature water is better than cold water, because the body has to expend energy to heat cold water to body temperature, resulting in some water loss.
On the other hand, some doctors say that after physical exertion, you should drink cold water since it will help cool the body more effectively than room temperature water.
What is clear is most people who drink cold water are likely to consume more of it, since it tends to taste better and is more satisfying.
Even if drinking cold water results in marginal water loss, the extra water you will probably drink will help make up for this. There are some instances where you shouldnt use cold water, but generally this doesnt apply to drinking.
If you are attempting to help bring down a fever, or assist someone with sunstroke (animal or person), you should not immerse that person or animal in cold water. Instead you should use lukewarm water, or even slightly warm water.
Cold water can provoke chills, which may actually raise body temperature.
Though baths can be a helpful way to bring down high fevers, you especially want to avoid allowing someone to shiver or get chilled. If people with fevers drink cold water that is very icy, they may also get chilly, so lukewarm or tepid water may be a better choice.
There are a number of other urban legends associated with the amount of liquids and the type of liquids you consume. For instance people are told that coffee, tea and sodas deplete water from their bodies. Actually, people who routinely drink caffeinated beverages retain about two-thirds of what they drink, and this can be counted as part of daily fluid intake.
Another myth regarding water is the eight, eight ounce (.24 l) glasses of water are needed daily. While this amount of water, whether you drink cold water or hot, wont hurt you, daily intake of food usually provides about half the amount of needed fluids. Most people would get by with drinking about 32 ounces (approx. 1 liter) daily.
The best indicator on whether your body is getting enough water is urine color. If your urine is dark yellow, chances are youre not getting enough water.
If you pass clear to very light colored yellow urine, your fluid intake is adequate. Remember that urine color in the morning will always be a little darker. Another indicator is thirst.
When your body sends you Im thirsty signals, have something to drink, but dont worry about whether you should drink cold water or warm.
He also said something about the amount of water and he said it didn't matter either. Go Fig?
Good post as always, Holly
during the day. I eat veggies and often have homemade soup.
I am swimming in all the liquid I take in every day. Adding the 8 glasses of water puts me into overloaded bladder syndrome. LOL
I've heard that it's the total amount of fluids you get a day, and doesn't necessarily have to be water. Fruit juices, beverages etc, all count. Even if you drink a cup of coffee, 2/3's of that is water, so it all adds up.
Think those middle of the night pit stops are fairly common....now that I'm older, I sure understand why "chamber pots" were needed!