In the summer, it's hot, and many people love to drink ice-cold water to cool down. However, what they don't realize is that this can cause certain harm to the body. So, what are the disadvantages of drinking ice water in the summer?
Disadvantages of Drinking Ice Water in the Summer
1. The more you drink, the thirstier you get
When the summer heat is unbearable and you're hot and thirsty, many people are inclined to drink some ice water for a quick refreshment, but in reality, it makes you thirstier. The quenching effect of ice water is only psychological. In order to maintain a stable body temperature, your body actually releases more heat to counteract the drop in temperature caused by drinking ice water.
2. Indigestion
Drinking large amounts of ice water can easily cause the blood vessels in the stomach lining to constrict, reducing the activity of many digestive enzymes in the stomach, which can easily lead to indigestion.
3. Abdominal pain and diarrhea
Drinking large amounts of ice water can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, speeding up its contractions. Sometimes, it can even cause gastrointestinal spasms, leading to abdominal pain. Food doesn't stay in the gastrointestinal tract long enough, resulting in incomplete digestion and absorption, which causes bloating and diarrhea.
4. Damage to the digestive system
Drinking ice water in the summer causes the stomach to contract sharply when exposed to cold, slowing down gastrointestinal motility and causing bloating and indigestion. This contraction can also lead to the rupture of blood vessels in the stomach lining, damaging the digestive system.
5. Stomach diseases
When the stomach is suddenly hit by a large amount of cold drinks, it contracts sharply. The motility of the stomach lining slows down or even stops, and the stomach's digestive function weakens or disappears. Long-term consumption of ice water can easily lead to stomach diseases.
6. Heatstroke
During the hot summer, especially outdoors in an air-conditioned environment, you can be drenched in sweat in just a few minutes. At this time, many people habitually drink a glass of ice water, but this is not scientific. The coolness from drinking ice water is only temporary. Drinking large amounts of ice water in the summer can cause sweat pores to close, hindering perspiration and body heat dissipation, which can easily lead to heatstroke.
7. Uterine cold
Women who love to drink ice water to cool down in the summer are prone to making their uterus cold. Over time, this can lead to symptoms of uterine cold, and in severe cases, it may even cause infertility.
8. Triggering angina
For the elderly, especially those with cardiovascular diseases, drinking ice water can not only cause stomach discomfort but may also lead to cerebral vasospasm, triggering angina. Therefore, the elderly should absolutely avoid drinking ice water.
Is it better to drink cold or hot water in the summer?
Warm water is best for drinking in the summer. While drinking cold water may lower your body temperature temporarily, your body will accelerate blood circulation to warm up, and the result is that the more cold water you drink, the more likely your body temperature is to rise. Drinking hot water, on the other hand, raises your body temperature, promotes sweating, and directly expels heat through perspiration. However, to be precise, warm water is even better.
1. Warm water is gentle on the stomach, while cold water is more irritating and not good for people with stomach issues. But water that is too hot is not good either; people who often eat very hot food are more prone to esophageal cancer.
2. Drinking warm water is beneficial for blood circulation, especially in the summer after exercising and sweating profusely. You should not drink too much cold water at that time.
3. Warm water has the highest nutritional value. Don't underestimate it—water is nutritious too. Warm water contains the highest amount of oxygen, which is most beneficial to the human body.