Drinking water is vital for health. It helps the body produce tears, saliva, sweat, and other fluids. It also removes waste, maintains a healthy fluid balance, manages body temperature, and enables numerous other bodily functions.
However, studies have not provided strong proof that the temperature of the water makes much of a difference. Here’s a closer look at some of the evidence.
Weight Loss
A small randomized study from India with 50 participants found that people who drank warm to hot water after meals lost more weight over three months compared with those who drank room temperature water. More research is needed to establish the connection.
Sore Throat
Hot drinks, including water, are common home remedies for cold and flu. An older small study without a control group found that people reported fewer subjective symptoms after drinking hot beverages, including reduced runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness, and tiredness. The results suggest hot drinks could be a beneficial complementary approach to ease cold and flu symptoms.
Warm fluids may help loosen mucus and soothe the throat, minimizing coughing. Sharma suggests gargling with warm salt water.
“If you have a sore throat, I recommend drinking warm water or tea; you might find if you pay close attention that drinking cold water makes your sore throat pain worse,” Mulvihill says.
Hydration
“We do need adequate hydration for all organ systems to run efficiently, and to effectively remove toxins from our body in the form of urine and sweat,” says Rebecca Blake, RD, a registered dietitian-nutritionist and founder of Rebecca Blake Nutrition. “Western medicine does not draw any association between cold or ice water intake and adverse health consequences.”
It’s difficult to say whether warm or hot water is better than cold water for hydration, Sharma says — but based on his clinical experience, he recommends his patients try warm water or tea if they still feel thirsty after chugging cold water throughout the day.
If you’re dehydrated from GI illness, Sharma suggests electrolyte powders, or sodium and sugar dissolved in water.
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