Water is the key ingredient to quench thirst and keep the body cool in summers. Hydrate and drink water even when you’re not thirsty. It is good to increase water intake irrespective of your activity levels as high humidity levels don’t allow sweat to evaporate quickly. As a result, the body becomes unable to release heat in an efficient manner.

However, remember not to drink very chilled water. It can be harmful when your body is trying to cool down.

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Drinking cold water may lead to a slight constriction of the blood vessels in the skin and hence decreasing the heat loss. When ice-cold water goes into stomach, the abdominal muscles contract and become tight. Thus stomach becomes inefficient to process food completely. It may cause constipation. Also drinking chilled water can lead to difficulty in clearing up the stomach.

When you drink ice-cold water, your heart rate drops. It becomes normal when your body temperature reaches equilibrium once again. Drinking chilled water slows down your body’s rehydration process, rather than speeding it up.

You may feel refreshed after drinking chilled water but it will last for a very short while. Cold water ingestion actually drains your energy in the long run. Chilled water can also lead to weight-gain as it causes fats to harden and congeal. Thus your body has to work really hard to digest them but even then it fails to do so proficiently.

Cold water may block up your sinuses and give you a runny nose. It results in extra mucus accumulating in your pipes, thus making your throat sore. Ice water can be the leading reason for ‘brain freeze’ as well. It chills the nerves in the spine which in turn causes headache.

Drinking cold water is linked to triggering migraines in people who already experience the problem. It can create physical troubles if consumed with hot food. That’s why in many cultures like China, hot water is served with every meal.

It’s worthy to drink rather warm water. Warm water can aid in digestion, blood circulation and getting your body rid of toxins faster and more efficiently. Though this practice has been found to make you less thirsty and you may not feel thirsty as often as you should be despite your body losing water through sweating, it can be dangerous. Keep drinking normal water to keep your body hydrated and for more energy.

Though a glass of ice water may tempt you to cool down on a hot summer day, but after knowing so many ill-effects, you may think twice before going for it.

Hydration of body in right way is the key source of strength, power and endurance!