Why you shouldn’t drink very cold water in the middle of summer: “It can make you feel hotter”
It may feel refreshing in the moment, but drinking ice-cold water in the summer months may not be the best way to cool down.
When the summer heat is at its worst, nothing feels more satisfying than taking a big swig of ice-cold water from the fridge. It’s one of those simple seasonal pleasures but it might not be having the desired effect.
One expert, Dr. David Callejo, has revealed the better way to stay cool and re-hydrate this summer. On Instagram, Callejo explains that drinking icy water in the middle of a heat wave could actually be counterproductive. The human body constantly works to maintain an internal temperature of around 98.6°F (37°C).
“If you drink very cold water, your internal temperature drops, and your body responds by activating mechanisms to warm it back up,” he says. “That process can actually make you feel hotter.”
Instead of reaching for a bottle that’s been chilling for hours, Callejo suggests hydrating with drinks that are cool, but not ice-cold.
So, what’s the right way to cool down? While some cultures opt for hot drinks in extreme heat to trigger sweating and help the body regulate temperature, sipping tea at 95°F isn’t something most people are eager to do.
His advice is to drink plenty of fluids that are refreshing but not frozen. Water that’s cool, but not straight from the freezer, is your best bet for staying comfortable in the heat.
And, of course, staying in the shade and regulating exercise is also key to staying cool when the temperature gets particularly high.
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