This is the final of the two articles appearing on why drinking
water is considered good for the human body. However, healthcare
practitioners also point out that drinking lot of water is only good for
those people who have healthy kidneys and those persons with chronic
kidney impairment or related renal problems should avoid drinking
excessive water.
As thick smog continued to hang over
the Malaysian peninsula in June this year, some parts of the country
registered poor readings on the Air Pollutant Index (API).
The temperature in many parts of the country soared and hovered around 30 degrees Celsius.
But when the thickness of the haze reached its peak, health authorities
asked members of the general public to remain indoors, unless they had
something urgent to attend to.
"Stay indoors and drink a lot of warm water," Health Minister Datuk
Seri Liow Tiong Lai told reporters when quizzed on what the precautions
that the public should take in such a situation.
WHY DRINK WARM WATER?
Many people believe that drinking hot or warm water as opposed to cold or chilled water is simply an old wives tale.
However, healthcare practitioners indicate that drinking warm water prolongs the life of body cells.
COLD WATER VS WARM WATER
Drinking cold water is considered more satisfying as it quenches our thirst.
"However scientists actually believe that the intake of cold or chilled
water solidifies the fats in our food and make it harder for us to
digest and disperse the unwanted fats from our body," medical
practitioner Dr A. Radha said.
She added that cold water is not as good for hydration as compared with
water that is at room temperature. There is a theory which indicates
that cold water causes the blood vessels surrounding the stomach to
shrink, which slows absorption.
Some medical researchers have varying opinions on whether drinking cold
water is as good for the body as drinking warm water, particularly
while a person is exercising.
"Some physicians suggest that water at room temperature is better than
cold water, because the body has to expend energy heating the cold water
consumed to bring it at par with the body's temperature.
"On the other hand, some doctors say that after physical exertion, you
should drink cold water as it will help cool the body more effectively,
than water which is at room temperature," Dr Radha stated.
She added that most people who drink cold water are likely to consume
more of it, since it tends to taste better and is more satisfying. Even
if drinking cold water results in marginal water loss, the extra water
that a person probably ends up drinking makes up for this.
THE CASE AGAINST COLD DRINKS
Dr Radha points out that consuming cold drinks is not very healthy as
they solidify the fats from the foods we have just eaten or are eating
at present.
"This makes it harder for the body to digest and remove unwanted fats from its system.
"However, if we simply swap our cold drinks for a warm drink such as
warm water, coffee or tea, the warm fluids will keep the fats in our
foods in liquid form, ease the digestive system and help the fats pass
through our body reducing the risk of clogged arteries," she said.
"If you are attempting to bring down a fever, or assist someone who has
sunstroke, you should not immerse that person in cold water. Instead
you should ask the person to drink lukewarm water, or even slightly warm
water," Dr Radha advised.
Dr Radha explained that cold water can provoke chills, which may
actually raise the body's temperature, though taking cold baths are
helpful in bringing a high fever down.
If people with fever drink cold water that is very icy, they may also
get chilly, so lukewarm or tepid water may be a better choice for them.
Also warm or hot water relaxes the body in a better way. Cold water
might be more refreshing, but it can also disrupt your vocal cords, she
noted.
KNOWING IF YOU ARE DRINKING ENOUGH WATER
Dr Radha said that the best indicator on whether the body is getting enough water is the colour of one's urine.
"If the urine is dark yellow, chances are that a person is not getting
enough water. If the urine passed out is clear to very light yellow in
colour, then the fluid intake is adequate. Remember that the colour of
urine passed in the morning will always be a little darker," she said.
She also pointed out that scientists believe that drinking warm water with meals also helps in losing weight.
"If we simply swap our cold drinks for a warm drink like warm water,
coffee, tea or herbal drinks, the warm fluids will help the fats in our
food to remain in a liquid state and will ease the digestive system and
help release the fats from our body, thereby reducing the chance of our
arteries becoming clogged with fat particles.
Dr Radha also mentioned that as per traditional Chinese medicine, a
person should drink water at room temperature or slightly warm.
"Cold water is not so good for your stomach," she noted.
PS:No Wonder :)