Does Warm Water Speed Up Metabolism?

Water has numerous benefits to the body, but there's no evidence that hot water has an impact on metabolism. Water is the body's most important nutrient and stands next to oxygen in its importance to the performance of the body, but the water's temperature is not a significant factor in burning calories.

Significance

• Water does not provide the body with calories but serves a major function in the delivery and waste removal system in the human body. Water has major restorative properties and should be used on a regular basis in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Theories/Speculation

• Theories exist about the benefit of different water temperatures in speeding up metabolic activity and helping the body burn calories more efficiently. Some think cold water lowers the body temperature and hot water raises body temperature, and then the body must work harder to get to 98.6 degrees. To do that, some think metabolism must increase.

Clarification

• The metabolic impact of the various temperatures of water-if they exist-are short-term, leaving a false impression about the value of drinking hot water. Water of any temperature has a significant role in the body during exercise, though it does not appear to impact the burning of calories.

Benefits

• During exercise, water helps the body transport oxygen to the active muscles through plasma, which is mostly water. It also helps the body expel metabolic waste. Water plays a major role in the removal of body heat generated during a workout, and through the blood plasma, it helps control blood pressure and cardiovascular function.

Effects

• Water does play a key role in the regulation of body temperature during exercise and day-to-day activities. But the temperature of water does not matter.