Our bodies can burn calories in several ways: basal metabolic rate (BMR), physical activity and digestion. Drinking cold water rather than warm is not one of them. Or, at least cold water doesn’t burn enough calories to be worthy of mentioning.

“If your goal is weight loss and burning more calories, I wouldn’t spend time on the temperature of the water, but rather on reducing calories by snacking on fruits instead of cookies,” UAMS Outpatient Dietitian Andrea Tappe says.

Drinking a glass of ice water rather than a glass of water at room temperature only burns about eight calories. Your basal metabolic rate, which keeps your organs functioning, burns about 70% of your calories. Physical activity adds about 20% and digestion about 10%.

The idea that drinking cold water must burn more calories developed from the belief that our bodies expend energy to warm up. It is true that your body will work to raise its temperature to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will only expend about eight calories to do this. Eight calories is the equivalent of a small pickle.

How much water should we drink daily? Tappe says that men should take in about 15 cups and women should take in about 11 cups. “This may seem like a challenge, but remember it includes water from all beverages, even caffeinated.”

Are you ready to get healthy? Come see a UAMS primary care provider and get started on the right path. We will provide expert medical guidance for starting and maintaining a healthier lifestyle so that the temperature of your water is the last thing you’ll need to worry about!