What Is the Best Temperature for Drinking Water? Experts Weigh In

Does the temperature of your drinking water truly matter? Here is what dietitians and gastroenterologists say about the ideal water temperature for health and overall body function.

What is the Ideal Drinking Water Temperature?

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the importance of drinking water temperature as it relates to hydration level and digestive health. While most of the differences are negligible, the ideal water temperature is generally room temperature to cool, between about 60 and 72 degrees. According to Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, registered dietitian and assistant professor of global health at the University of California, Irvine, this range is the best simply because it is the most palatable. In short, Landry noted that people tend to drink cool water more than warm or hot water.

Most dietitians and gastroenterologists believe that cool or room temperature water is the best for everyday consumption. However, the most important factor is that the temperature is comfortable enough to encourage proper hydration. The American College of Sports Medicine and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association back up these claims, formally recommending that athletes drink cool water because it is easier to consume consistently.

While experts push cool water simply because it is more palatable, the science does not necessarily support this temperature range. According to Dr. Edmundo Rodriguez-Frias, MD, board-certified gastroenterologist and medical contributor at Full of Life, “It doesn’t appear there is good evidence that one particular temperature will cause your body to absorb fluids better than others.“ Instead, cold water is simply more advantageous because it is more appealing, particularly after a hard workout or when it is hot outside.

Impact of Drinking Water Temperature on Digestive Function

In addition, medical experts note that the temperature of the water does not impact digestion in any notable way. Landry said that “The temperature of water has little impact on gastric functioning," citing a study that looked at how hot and cold liquids impact intragastric temperature. The results found that although there was a noticeable change in stomach temperature for a brief period depending on the water temperature, this change did not significantly affect gastric functioning.

There is a limited body of research that indicates that consuming ice-cold water may reduce energy intake. For instance, one study found that men who drank 500 milliliters of water with a temperature of 35 degrees one hour prior to a meal consumed less food than after drinking either water at body temperature or hotter. The impact of the water temperature on overall food consumption was modest enough to discredit the theory that drinking ice-cold beverages is a good way to control your appetite. However, the results do signal that freezing water may impact the appetite differently than cool or room-temperature beverages.

On the flip side, ice water is often more difficult to tolerate for some people. Many individuals report experiencing tooth sensitivity or brain freeze when drinking water that is too cold.

Additionally, the belief that warm water can work to detox the gut is also not rooted in science. However, choosing warmer water is fine if that is your preference.

That said, doctors caution that drinking water that is very hot for longer periods of time has been connected with a higher risk of esophageal cancer.

The Bottom Line

What does all of this mean? The bottom line is that you should drink water at a temperature that is the most comfortable to your personal tastes. However, it is not a good habit to drink hot water on a long-term basis. While the occasional steaming glass of cocoa is fine, you do not want to inadvertently raise the risk of esophageal cancer by making hot water your everyday drink of choice. Rather than focusing on either end of the temperature spectrum, most people would be wise to just make proper hydration the goal.

As Landry noted, “Most of the time, water temperature really doesn’t matter." The registered dietitian reminds people that "the more important thing is that someone is getting adequate fluid intake.” The National Academy of Medicine recommends that most healthy men consume roughly 3.7 liters per day while women drink 2.7 liters per day.

Rodriguez-Frias echoes these sentiments, explaining that water temperature is largely irrelevant unless it leads to discomfort or gastrointestinal issues such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or swallowing disorders. 

In the end, personal preference is usually the best indicator the next time you need to quench that thirst.

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