Myths: Does drinking cold water burn calories?

Surely you have heard in those conversations with friends, or outside the gym, how drinking cold water burns calories. There are opinions that support this version. There are others that reject it and an infinite number of “scientific” reasons that you hear, but that have no basis or that sound very unrealistic. Let’s start by identifying when this rumor was born. In 2003, a study in Germany monitored 14 people drinking cold water and found that they could increase their calorie intake by up to 30% for at least one hour. They concluded that if you drink 2 liters of cold water, you could burn up to 100 extra calories a day. The dissemination of this study was immediate and reached the ears of many people. Especially those of other researchers who had been studying the same topic and thermogenesis in food (how many calories it takes to metabolize food). This made them attack the study carried out in 2003. They realized that statistically there was a certain effect, not so significant, but an evident effect on calorie burning. By drinking a glass of cold water you would be burning approximately a total of 4 to 7 calories per glass, which would be equivalent to a chocolate M&M’s. It’s almost nothing, but the theory that cold water helps burn calories can be justified. Drinking enough water is necessary for the body to function properly. But if what you want is to lose weight, hydration will be super important. Drinking water will ensure that your metabolism is moving at its highest performance. Another factor to consider is that cold water is more pleasant to the palate. That is why it is preferred over room temperature water. Also, drinking cold water will give a small boost of energy. That is why it is advisable to have it on hand during exercise sessions at the gym. However, if you drink water before eating, no matter what temperature it is, you will feel full faster and will not eat large quantities. You should also avoid drinking carbonated soft drinks or other sugary drinks. Drinking water should be a habit that no one should stop doing. More than for losing weight, it should be taken for a health issue. A human being is made up mostly of water and it is this liquid that gives us the vitality we need to keep going every day. Have you gone a long time without drinking water? Analyze how you feel before and after drinking just one glass. Identify how your body fills with energy. Stay hydrated during exercises or activities in which you lose fluids through sweat.