Cold vs. Warm Water for Health
Can a glass of cold water cause cancer?
There are few things better than a cold glass of water on a hot day. At least that's what I've always believed, until I heard something surprising. A client warned me that you should only drink warm or tepid water, because cold water is BAD for you.
There are several websites and blogs that say cold water causes, "stomach cramps, discomfort, and bloating." They believe that "drinking cold water can alter our normal digestive process." Some even go so far as to say cold water can cause cancer. I decided to look into the claims and see if there was any truth to what they said.
THE CLAIM: Cold water "solidifies" any oily foods you've eaten and slows down digestion. The cold "sludge" then reacts with stomach acid and is absorbed by the intestine faster than solid food. That "sludge" lines the intestine, turns to fat and leads to cancer.
None of these claims hold up under scrutiny.
The real temperature risk points the other way. Very hot beverages above 65°C (149°F) raise esophageal cancer risk, according to the WHO's cancer research agency.
The Cancer Claim Falls Apart
The National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society do not list cold water as a cancer risk factor. Multiple recent reviews have found no effect on digestion speed or food breakdown from water temperature in healthy people.
The “sludge” theory says cold water solidifies oils in your stomach, creating a fatty buildup that lines your intestine and causes cancer. This ignores how your body works.
When you drink cold water, your body warms it within tens of minutes. Research using scintigraphy scanning shows intragastric temperature returns to near body level within 20 to 30 minutes. Your stomach acids break down everything before moving it to your intestines. Temperature doesn’t change this process.
No peer-reviewed research has shown that cold water creates intestinal “sludge” or increases cancer risk.
When Cold Water Does Cause Problems
Not everyone tolerates cold water well. Three groups need to pay attention.
People with achalasia. A 2012 study of 12 achalasia patients found that cold water increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure and prolonged esophageal contractions. Three-quarters of patients reported worsened swallowing difficulty or chest pain when drinking cold beverages. Hot water had the opposite effect, reducing sphincter pressure and helping food pass through.
Achalasia is a rare disorder where your esophagus can’t move food to your stomach properly. It affects about 1 in 100,000 people in the U.S.: If you have this condition, stick with warm fluids and follow your gastroenterologist’s advice.
People prone to migraines. A 2001 study of 669 women found cold water triggered headaches in 7.6% of participants. Women with active migraines were twice as likely to get these headaches as women who never had migraines. Take smaller sips and let cold drinks warm slightly in your mouth before swallowing.
Anyone with cold sensitivity. Some people experience stomach spasms from cold water due to individual temperature sensitivity. If cold water bothers you, drink room-temperature water instead.
Brain Freeze Is Real but Harmless
Cold-stimulus headache happens when something very cold touches the roof of your mouth. The cold triggers rapid constriction and dilation of blood vessels, activating pain receptors in the vessel walls. The trigeminal nerve, which senses facial pain, refers this pain to your forehead.
Brain freeze typically lasts from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. In the majority of people, it lasts less than five minutes.
Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth to warm the area. Or drink something room temperature. The pain stops when the temperature returns to normal.
The Hot Beverage Warning You Need
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies drinks hotter than 65°C as probably carcinogenic to the esophagus. That’s 149°F. Your coffee maker brews at a temperature of 195 to 205°F.
Let hot drinks cool for a few minutes before drinking. Repeated exposure to extremely hot liquids can cause damage to esophageal tissue over time.
What Temperature Should You Choose
Water temperature is a matter of personal preference for healthy adults. Hydration, not temperature, supports long-term health.
Hot liquids can improve nasal mucus flow briefly when you have a cold. A 2012 study found drinking cold water during exercise helped prevent overheating. Choose what helps you drink enough water throughout the day.
Cold water does burn slightly more calories as your body warms it. One small study estimated that drinking 48 ounces of cold water daily burns about 50 extra calories. That won’t drive weight loss on its own.
Cold water does not cause cancer or harm your digestion. Drink water at whatever temperature helps you stay hydrated. Skip very hot beverages above 149°F. If you have achalasia, esophageal problems, or frequent migraines, check with your doctor about water temperature.
Reference Links:
The effects of water temperature on gastric motility and energy intake in healthy young men
Kyoko Fujihira, Yuka Hamada, Takuma Yanaoka, Ryo Yamamoto, Katsuhiko Suzuki & Masashi Miyashita
European Journal of Nutrition, Published 07 January 2019
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1888-6
The effect of a cold beverage during an exercise session combining both strength and energy systems development training on core temperature and markers of performance
Danielle LaFata, Amanda Carlson-Phillips, Stacy T Sims & Elizabeth M Russell
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Published 19 September 2012
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-9-44
Water intake and obesity: By amount, timing, and perceived temperature of drinking water
Jaewon Khil, Qiao-Yi Chen, Dong Hoon Lee, Kyung-Won Hong, NaNa Keum
PLOS One, Published April 25, 2024
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301373
Cold water ingestion ameliorates increase in core temperature and discomfort during simulated motor racing in a hot environment: a randomized trial
Stephen Richard Bird, Olga Troynikov, Chris Watson, Marc Cohen, Simon Sostaric
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Published 17 February 2025
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1514963
Hot beverage intake and oesophageal cancer in the UK Biobank: prospective cohort study
Maki Inoue-Choi, Yesenia Ramirez, Caitlin O’Connell, Amy Berrington de Gonzalez, Sanford M. Dawsey, Christian C. Abnet, Neal D. Freedman & Erikka Loftfield
BJC Epidemiology, Published 19 February 2025
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-025-02953-2
Headache Caused by Drinking Cold Water is Common and Related to Active Migraine
Peter Mattsson
International Headache Society Cephalalgia, Published April 2001
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-2982.2001.00211.x
Hot Water Swallows May Improve Symptoms in Patients With Achalasia
Moo In Park
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Published online: October 9, 2012
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm.2012.18.4.355
Effect of Cold Water on Esophageal Motility in Patients With Achalasia and Non-obstructive Dysphagia: A High-resolution Manometry Study
Alessandra Elvevi, Ivana Bravi, Aurelio Mauro, Delia Pugliese, Andrea Tenca, Ivan Cortinovis, Silvano Milani, Dario Conte and Roberto Penagini
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Published online: December 30, 2013
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm.2014.20.1.79
Response of Esophagus to High and Low Temperatures in Patients With Achalasia
Yutang Ren, Meiyun Ke, Xiucai Fang, Liming Zhu, Xiaohong Sun, Zhifeng Wang, Ruifeng Wang, Zhao Wei, Ping Wen, Haiwei Xin and Min Chang
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Published online: October 9, 2012
Click Here for the Study: https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm.2012.18.4.391
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2/7/2016
Updated 10/1/2025
