Drinking ice water after exercising, good or not? & bull; hello healthy

After heating and exercising intensively, your body usually automatically thirsts for cold and fresh drinks. Even a bottle of ice water looks very tempting. Especially if you have heard the myth that drinking ice water after exercising can speed up the process of burning fat and calories so that you become thinner faster. However, drinking iced water after you exercise may carry its own risks that you didn't know about. Before downing your iced water after exercising, first pay attention to the following facts.

How is ice water different from cold water?

Before understanding the effect of drinking ice water on the body after exercise, you need to know that ice water and cold water are not the same. Cold water ranges from 4 to 15 degrees Celsius. The average ice water temperature is below 4 degrees Celsius. This means adding an ice cube or two doesn't necessarily make your water icy cold, just chilling it. If measuring the temperature of the water is difficult, try to feel it yourself when you drink because usually ice water will cause your teeth to ache.

Is it true that drinking ice water after exercise can make you thin faster?

Many people believe that drinking iced water after a workout can help burn more calories, so those of you who are trying to lose weight will be tempted to try this method. Drink ice water after your body temperature rises because exercise will burn your calories. In fact, there are very few calories burned in the process of heating or adjusting the temperature of ice water to a hot body temperature after exercise. To burn about 15 calories, you have to spend two glasses of ice water or the equivalent of 400 milliliters. That means to reduce 1 kilogram from your body weight, you must drink 102 liters or the equivalent of 400 glasses of ice water. So, drinking ice water after exercise is not the right or effective way if you want to lose weight.

Is it true that the organs of the body will be shocked by the ice water that is too cold?

You may also have heard of the prohibition to drink ice water after exercising because the body temperature becomes hot and ice water will make the organs in the body that are scalded "shocked". If you drink too much ice water whose temperature is below 3 degrees Celsius, there is a possibility that the blood vessels will narrow and this is at risk of causing blood flow to stop. However, this did not happen immediately because of a sudden change in temperature. Temperature that is too cold can essentially cause constriction and shrinkage. This is why if you eat ice cream or a liquid that's too cold, your brain feels like it freezes. This is the body's way of reminding you not to eat or drink too quickly and too much. Hence, you should avoid drinking too cold and too much iced water under any circumstances.

Why shouldn't ice water be drunk after exercising?

It turns out that drinking ice water after exercising is not recommended by health professionals. Ice water actually risks causing bad effects for needy. Here is an explanation of why iced water should be avoided after exercising.

1. Not quickly absorbed by the body

Unlike cold water or room temperature water, ice water is difficult for your body to absorb after exercise. Cold water can pass through the stomach faster so that the water can be sent to the small intestine for maximum absorption. After exercising, it is easier for your body to become dehydrated because you lose a lot of fluids through sweating. So, ice water that your body doesn't absorb quickly will actually make you feel even more thirsty. You are actually more susceptible to dehydration and feeling bloated.

2. Urinate

Drinking ice water can make you urinate more often. This is because the bladder is located just in front of the small intestine. The colder the temperature of your small intestine is, the colder the urine will be and the more difficult it is for the bladder to hold it. If you urinate too often, your body can become deficient in potassium and sodium. To get around this, you can add a little salt to your drinking water to balance the various electrolytes that are lost during your exercise.

3. Hyponatermia

Drinking ice water is more difficult to quench your thirst because ice water is difficult for the body to absorb. So, some people end up choosing to drink bottles of ice water all at once. It turns out that this can be life threatening because drinking too much water without pausing risks causing hyponatermia. Hyponatermia occurs because sodium in the blood drops dramatically suddenly. Sodium is an electrolyte whose job is to regulate water levels in the body. When you are deficient in these electrolytes, the cells in your body can become swollen. This is what in some cases is at risk of causing death.

What is the right water temperature to drink after exercising?

Avoid water that is too cold or too warm to drink after exercising. The recommended temperature ranges from 4 to 15 degrees Celsius. Cold water has been shown to be better for your body after exercise because it is absorbed by your body more quickly and can prevent your body temperature from rising dramatically. If cold water is not available, room temperature water may be an option after exercise.