Burning Calories

[mercury]

Hey

Iv always thought that drinking ice cold water helps to burn cals throughout the day, but just read on a few websites that its infact warm water? Anyone know?

Thanks

[milly143]

From what I understood it should be room temperature. Hhhmmm.

[Ethel]

The only calories burned from drinking water is due to the physical activity of walking to get it and lifting the glass or bottle to your mouth.

And then walking to the loo half an hour later.

[hannahjo]

My boyfriends gym instructor said that the body only does what ever it does with water when its at body temperature, so cold water would have to be warmed up which would burn calories� not sure how much truth there is in that though

[kazzianne]

I agree with Ethel - drinking water is very good for you,but cant see how it can help you burn extra calories.

[undercovers]

whilst the calorie loss will be small drinking very cold water will require the body to expend energy trying to regulate your temperature so in theory you should be able to lose the odd calorie that way - though for health reasons of absorption i also think that room temp water is recommended.

if you are looking to lose a few calories during the day just be a bit more active - never take lifts or esculators, take a walk every day etc

[chazza]

I have read that a glass of ice cold water shocks the system and speeds the metabolism up so that you burn the food off quicker

[malaise]

Ice cold water will slow your metabolism, so the websites you've been reading are correct.

For digestive purposes, it's recommended to drink 2 glasses of water with lemon - boiled and cooled to about room temperature; the same before bed (yes, it's disgusting, and I've never got used to it!). I can't speak for weight loss purposes but I imagine they'd be the same or similar.

[gessoo]

malaise - For the last few months I have been drinking water with lemon (boiled and cooled as you suggest) instead of tea in the morning and again at night. I find it absolutely lovely and am really hooked now. Have also found that it has reduced any inclination I had to eat sweet stuff!! (I just cut a thick slice of lemon and pour the boiling water over it - a lemon lasts for a day or two!)

[gessoo]

PS I have lost weight as well, although I have been watching what I eat as well as drinking the water with lemon.

[malaise]

Argh, gessoo, you like it?! Maybe I have a sweeter tooth or something, but I just can't fathom it. I gulp it down as fast as I can! (though I think you're supposed to sip it, but at least I'm doing something right ;-) ) Maybe it really is good for you, since it's working OK for both of us?

[dancealot13]

I agree with Chazza. There are a lot of things that speed up the metabolism, along with cold water, but the difference is very slight, so you would barely see the differnce in somone drinking ice water vs. someone drinking room temp. water. Smoking ciggarettes, drinking caffeine...all little tricks of the trade. And you can feel it when you ingest these things,..cold water makes your body shiver, you get goose bumps and the body has to work harder to WARM itself therefore increasing circulation which increases metabolism..scientificly it totally makes sense. Ciggarettes and caffeine..speed the heart up etc.

[Ward-Minter]

Smoking cigarettes "tricks of the trade" My God what trade is that??? Cancer Research or the Undertakers??

Water whatever temperture will benefit you. The increase of metabolism will be marginal and will not last so forget all that nonsense.

Water is needed to aid and assist the digestion of ALL foods including solid fats. Hence, that is why if you are stranded on a desert island with no water but a little food, DON'T EAT as the bodies natural reserve will be wasted in helping digest the food. You can survive two weeks + without food, yet two days without liquid will kill most folk.

Also water will fill you up and make you eat less. Many hunger pangs are simply thirst pangs but brain can not differentiate between the two.

Then of course, as a poster says, you will need the loo more often. This act does increase overall excercise rates. However if your increase your water intake to the recommended 8 normal glasses a day, your body will soon adjust and you wont need the loo as often as when you start. Also it will assist in the erradication of toxins from the liver and kidneys.

Forget the lemon, forget bottled water, forget tempature and forget metabolism. Just drink AT LEAST 8 clean glasses of tap water a day. I believe you will loose just a pound a monthish. But over a years long diet (ALL DIETS SHOULD LAST!!!) thats still nearly an extra stone of white pasty fat that will hopefully have disappeared.

[dancealot13]

"Tricks of the trade"- We use this saying in America often. People in the arts is actually what I was personally thinking of. Models actors dancers etc....often smoke and drink caffeine beyond moderation because of the 'so called' Postive affects they have. Staying thin, having energy..blah blah. It's not my cup of tea, but it is "A Trick of the Trade" ;)

[gessoo]

You are right Ward Minter, but adding a slice of lemon makes gives a nice 'zing' to the water and, in my case, it certainly has meant that I don't want to eat sweet things any more.