# Is drinking cold water bad for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671 "2013-08-19T22:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mbh9700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@mbh9700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh9700)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/1 "2013-08-19T22:37:30Z")
I have seen articles on this before, and some supposed scientific “facts” behind it, and it’s always made we wonder. I recently saw it circulating on Facebook too, so though I’d see if anyone had some real info on it. Basically, the idea is that if you drink cold water (as opposed to room temperature), the cold water solidifies/coagulates the oily and fatty foods you’ve consumed. It’s claimed this has various effects, such as lining the intestines, or gets more fat absorbed into the bloodstream, less vitamins absorbed, etc., which can lead to digestive problems, higher obesity, higher risk of cancer, etc. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/2 "2013-08-19T22:39:47Z")
**Is drinking cold water bad for you?** No. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/3 "2013-08-19T22:47:46Z")
No, but I have heard this myth repeated (generally by older people) in two places I know well: tropical parts of Mexico, and Malaysia. Either it’s a coincidence, or there’s a common source – perhaps Renaissance-era ideas from the Iberian Peninsula (Malaysia was subjected to Portuguese influence for a while, and of course Mexico was settled by Spaniards.) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/4 "2013-08-19T23:07:03Z")
Total nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/5 "2013-08-19T23:18:22Z")
> [@mbh9700](#): > > I have seen articles on this before, and some supposed scientific “facts” behind it, and it’s always made we wonder. I recently saw it circulating on Facebook too, so though I’d see if anyone had some real info on it. > > Basically, the idea is that if you drink cold water (as opposed to room temperature), the cold water solidifies/coagulates the oily and fatty foods you’ve consumed. It’s claimed this has various effects, such as lining the intestines, or gets more fat absorbed into the bloodstream, less vitamins absorbed, etc., which can lead to digestive problems, higher obesity, higher risk of cancer, etc. cold water doesn’t stay cold for very long after you drink it. total bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/6 "2013-08-19T23:27:17Z")
Snopes debunks: [Does Drinking Cold Water After Meals Cause Cancer? | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/coldwater.asp) Columbia University’s Q&A column debunks: [Search](http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/drinking-cold-water-harmful) Twice! [Search](http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/better-drink-warm-rather-cold-water) ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/7 "2013-08-19T23:35:50Z")
If the problem is cold coagulated fats, then surely ice cream would be pure death? I know that’s not the most scientific refutation of that idea, but it’s pretty compelling to me. I see that someone else has linked some good resources that address it from a more factual basis. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/8 "2013-08-20T00:19:15Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > cold water doesn’t stay cold for very long after you drink it. > > total bullshit. It’s certainly not going to reach your intestines at anything lower than your internal body temperature. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/9 "2013-08-20T00:23:12Z")
In fact, bringing cold food and drink up to body temperature burns a couple calories. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/10 "2013-08-20T00:25:31Z")
Here in Mexico, they won’t drink anything cold, if they have a cold or flu. I have seen people in la cantina order a room temperature beer (90 degrees) if they have a cold or flu. But I don’t subscribe to it. It is a myth. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/11 "2013-08-20T00:32:19Z")
Definitely a myth. Here the water out of the tap is too warm to drink. I get water from the dispenser in the freezer door. And if cold water is bad for you, putting ice in your drink should be worse. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/12 "2013-08-20T00:43:49Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > If the problem is cold coagulated fats, then surely ice cream would be pure death? England, 1986. Went to buy an ice cream in the park. Guy behind the counter tried to stop me, saying I shouldn’t eat cold things on hot days. Um, then why the fuck are you even selling it? Per the OP; No, drinking cold water is not harmful in any way. On the extreme, if you are overheating, it will help cool you off. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/13 "2013-08-20T00:57:42Z")
Although, any water-based liquid, at any drinkable temperature, will help cool you off if you’re overheating. Cold water is better for that purpose, but only slightly. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/14 "2013-08-20T01:00:29Z")
Good thing we never expose a large area of our circulatory system to cold or even frigid temperatures through a large membrane or skin which would instantly congeal any lipids or fa… hey, waitasecond… ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/15 "2013-08-20T01:01:29Z")
If drinking cold water is bad, then eating ice would be a death sentence. Once can dream anyway. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/16 "2013-08-20T01:04:34Z")
It’s worse than sleeping with a fan on, I tells ya! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/17 "2013-08-20T01:08:52Z")
So then hot beverages should be melting that fat? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/18 "2013-08-20T01:52:30Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > No, but I have heard this myth repeated (generally by older people) in two places I know well: tropical parts of Mexico, and Malaysia. And China. Everywhere. You have to ask if cold beer is available otherwise you’re likely to get a tepid one. I climbed a mountain and ordered several bottles of cold water in the restaurant. They thought I was crazy because a hot water pot was available free in the hotel room. Hot water is served by default in most Chinese restaurants (like cold water was once common in USA restaurants). Women refuse to drink anything cold during that special time of the month, and are largely suspicious of it at other times. It’s interesting that you mention Mexico. Other than a couple of my older in-laws, I’ve not seen an aversion to cold drinks. Especially beer. However when warm soda pop, etc., is served, no one complains like we would in the USA (warm Coke? WTF?). ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/19 "2013-08-20T03:18:02Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Went to buy an ice cream in the park. Guy behind the counter tried to stop me, saying I shouldn’t eat cold things on hot days. Duh. There’s a reason why the ice cream truck only comes around during the wintertime… ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671/20 "2013-08-20T13:53:12Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > And China. Everywhere. You have to ask if cold beer is available otherwise you’re likely to get a tepid one. I climbed a mountain and ordered several bottles of cold water in the restaurant. They thought I was crazy because a hot water pot was available free in the hotel room. Hot water is served by default in most Chinese restaurants (like cold water was once common in USA restaurants). Women refuse to drink anything cold during that special time of the month, and are largely suspicious of it at other times. I thought that’s because if it’s warm/hot, you KNOW it’s been boiled. Drinking unboiled water in China is… not recommended. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-drinking-cold-water-bad-for-you/666671.md?page=2)