Are you a polar bear?
If not, drink room temperature water. This one many people have problems with. I know, I used to desire a glass filled with ice no matter what I was drinking. Oddly enough, after a few weeks of drinking room temperature water, one typically no longer desires the ice cold drink (except perhaps on a hot Texas summer day when it is 110 °F). I know if you are currently drinking cold water that you probably don't believe me. But give it a try for a couple weeks, I think you will be surprised.
People have been consuming ice cold drinks throughout the day every day of the year for less than one hundred years. It is hard to believe that this recent trend in history has become so commonplace and so accepted as normal by all Americans. Prior to refrigeration, ice was not readily available. Having a refreshing cool drink in the heat of the summer was a very special treat, something only the rich could afford, a status symbol. It has become a very unhealthy addiction for many.
Why does this matter? Our internal body temperature is normally 98.6 °F. Our guts are amazing; they house an extremely corrosive environment with a pH that can drop to as low as 1 or 2 after a high protein meal. This drop is necessary and beneficial to properly digest the foods we eat. When healthy and in-balance, our guts also contain a high flora of beneficial bacteria.
Taking antibiotics (or ingesting them through the foods we eat), consuming antacids, and eating man-processed foods are a few of the ways we destroy the health of our gut. One of the first things you want to do when eating healthy is to get your gut health back to normal. Heartburn, leaky gut syndrome, Candida and yeast infections, colon cancer, and obesity are just a few signs of an unhealthy gut.
A simple starting point to healing your gut is to stop drinking ice cold drinks. Think about what happens if you place your arm or leg in ice cold water. Your muscles stiffen up and do not function as well. Keep this picture in your mind when you drink an ice cold drink. Room temperature water is so much easier on your stomach.
Though a glass of room temperature water may not sound that appealing to you right now, it is a very simple and easy change to make which can make a big difference to your health.
" I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
After only doing this for a few weeks now, I have to say that drinking room temp water, or close to room temp water is very satisfying. I used to drink at least a 2 liter bottle of soda a day. I still crave a soda everyone once in awhile but with an Izzy's natural soda or some mineral soda I've made the transition. In the process I've saved SO MUCH money too to spend on better organic foods. Drink your morning water - its a good change and it free!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to read this post! I have been drinking room temp water for a while now. It first started because my brita filter pitcher didn't fit in the refrigerator. Now it doesn't bother me at all to drink it this way. Totally makes sense to not disrupt the delicate balance of our insides. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat if I AM a polar bear? :D
ReplyDeleteLol - great comment. Thanks for making me smile, Mr. Polar Bear :D.
ReplyDeleteThis article makes no sense, where is the reference to real science ?
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how to answer your question since I don't know specifically what aspect of what was written that you are questioning or if we even agree on what would be real science. There are many scientists working in the food industry who think they are doing 'real' science. 'Real' science is being done to manufacture foods so that they sell well, so that people become addicted to them (see the post http://www.foodsbygod.blogspot.com/2013/03/stop-cycle-today.html). My concern is good health. The motivation of the majority of 'real' scientists in today's food industry seems to be making money for their company rather than one's health. On the issue of not drinking ice cold water, there is much controversy. I suggest you google this subject and read both sides and see what makes sense to you. Thank you for your question.
ReplyDeleteThis may sound more critical than I intend it to and I personally agree with much of your writing but the question is a valid one, reference to "real science" aside.
DeleteWhat I mean is that it's helpful to read suggestions like this but to only mention "...Your muscles stiffen up and do not function as well..." and suggest a google search isn't really informative.
I can certainly search and find information on my own but since you brought up the subject, it would be nice to include some specific information as to why it's not a good idea to drink cold water. Referring to muscle stiffness in the context of a discussion about the chemical composition inside our stomachs doesn't really help me understand the issues associated with drinking cold water.
Thank you for your comment and I am sorry that my response above was vague. Btw, you do not sound critical - I am so glad you posted a comment. I am not sure I can answer specifically enough to fully satisfy your concerns but let me say a few more things about this topic.
DeleteFirst, rather than googling and researching further, give this a try for a few weeks (drinking room temperature water only) and see how you feel and what your body craves. Have the rest of your family and friends try it too, and see how they feel. The best people to evaluate this are persons who have stomach aches or digestive issues. Those who have iron guts (who do not perceive the effects of anything they eat) will probably not be able to discern the difference. This is your own personal 'real' science. Scientists in the United States claim many artificial ingredients and man-made drugs are safe to consume after conducting 'real' science experiments but then later recall them after evaluating the connection between the item and health effects. Unfortunately those persons experiencing the negative health effects provide the 'real' scientific data over time.
But I will also supply more details as to why I think that drinking ice cold water is not a good idea. Let me expound on the stiff muscle idea. You make a good point, the stomach involves not only mechanical functions but also chemical and microbiota reactions. I specifically addressed only the effect of the ice cold water on the slowing of the mechanical function (stiffing muscles), not the effects on all stomach reactions. Chemical and microbiota reactions are also typically slowed at colder temperatures, which is why we place foods in the refrigerator and freezer so that they last longer. We are slowing down the growth of microorganisms and thus the decomposition. Our gut microflora is very complex. "In 2009, scientists from INRA (France) highlighted the existence of a small number of species shared by all individuals constituting the human intestinal microbiota phylogenetic core." from Wikipedia, gut flora.
The good bacteria in our stomachs have an optimal temperature and pH in which they work best. Optimizing our good bacteria is key to good health. Since our body temperature is 98.6 F (37 C), drinking a beverage of 32 to 40 F (0 to 4 C) is going to be a shock on the system. On the flip side, drinking burning hot teas and coffees are probably also not good for our gut flora.
The same goes for chemical reactions, they have an optimal pH and temperature. Varying these too much causes inefficiency, and typically cooler temperatures slow reactions while higher temperatures increase reactions.
Lastly, as I mentioned in the article, drinking ice cold water is something 'new' for mankind. Many digestive issues such as overgrowth of yeast (even systemic, candida), leaky gut syndrome, etc. are fairly new diseases. I personally am trying to do everything possible (especially those things that are extremely easy) to maximize the functioning of my gut.
I hope this helps give you more to consider on this subject and helps you with any further google searching you do on your own.
Blessings,
Mary
Thanks Mary. That was interesting and more thought provoking. I appreciate the time it took to provide the additional thoughts / information.
DeleteI've been hooked on ice cold drinks since I was a kid but did spend a summer in the army reserves and noticed that you certainly get used to not having really cold water and your tolerance for what seems undrinkable quickly changes.
Maybe it's time for another attempt. In any case, great site and good luck with everything.
Andre
Very interesting article. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDelete