True or False?
There is a myth shared on social media that if you drink cold water with your meals, it will cause the grease contained in the foods you eat to congeal into a solid mass of fat in your body. That would cause severe health problems. But, is it actually a myth?
According to Lucia John, PhD, our normal body temperature is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. “If we raise that temperature a few degrees, the body starts to show signs of distress and we say that we have a fever. But, the warm blood becomes thick and sticky when we drink cold water or juice, or any ice-cold fluids, like beer.
The thickened blood may be unable to flow properly to the extremities of the body, so the hands and feet begin to feel numb and ache, toes begin to hurt, toenails lose their shine and may begin to decay. The heart labors harder to pump the blood throughout the body and the lungs fight to keep up. The legs may swell and become dark, when blood cannot be efficiently pumped back up to the heart.”
But, after scouring the internet, and every available online medical database for articles confirming, or even suggesting that drinking cold water with meals is harmful, we couldn’t find a single one. So, we conclude that while there may be logic to the myth, there is simply no scientific basis for the claim that cold water will ‘solidify fats and grease’ you’ve consumed in your body, or that the resulting ‘sludge’ will line intestines, turn into fats, or lead to cancer.
So, the answer as to whether it’s true or false that drinking cold water congeals greases in our body is that it’s FALSE.
Dispelling The Cold Water Myth
Body Temperature Regulation
Homeostasis
The human body maintains a stable internal temperature (around 98.6°F or 37°C) through homeostasis. When you drink cold water, your body quickly warms it to this internal temperature.
Metabolic Processes
The metabolic processes in your body continue to function efficiently regardless of the temperature of the water you drink.
Fat Digestion and Absorption
Digestion
Fat digestion begins in the mouth and continues in the stomach and small intestine, involving enzymes like lipase that break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
Absorption
These smaller molecules are then absorbed into the bloodstream and utilized by the body. This process is not affected by the temperature of the water you drink.
Myths and Misconceptions
Misconception
The myth likely stems from observing how fat solidifies when exposed to cold temperatures outside the body, such as when grease congeals in cold water. However, this doesn’t apply to the body’s internal environment.
Scientific Evidence
There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that drinking cold water causes fats to congeal in your digestive system.
Benefits of Drinking Water
Hydration
Drinking water, whether cold or warm, is essential for staying hydrated and supporting overall health.
Thermogenesis
Drinking cold water might cause a slight increase in calorie expenditure as your body works to warm the water to body temperature, but this effect is minimal.
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