BLOG 186: WATER TEMPERATURE
Water: Used 100 different ways but when it is time to heat up or chill out this liquid??
We use life’s most important element hundreds of times per day in many different ways. From showering to quenching our thirst, H2O is part of all that we do. Sometimes we use cold water, sometimes room temperature and sometimes we use it hot.
There is no label on water that reads, “For best results….” Temperature can be trial and error or totally based on preference. Science tells us there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom but what happens when you heat or cool this liquid??
Drinking water: For this, the winner is cold water. It passes through the stomach faster which means the intestines absorb it quicker, and hydration occurs faster. The American College of Sports Medicine says that drinks should be between 50 and 72 degrees F for optimal hydration. How much of this cold water should you drink?? Well, that depends on a number of factors. Every cell of our body needs water. It gets rid of waist, keeps our body temperature in check, and lubricates our joints. 60% of our body weight is water. We lose water through urination, sweat, and even breathing. About 20% of the water we need can come from our food. However, for most adults, men should consume about 15.5 cups or 3.7 liters and women should have 11.5 cups or 2.7 liters. Probably more than assumed.
Showering: Hot or cold this daily cleaning task exposes our skin to different temperatures. The hotter the drops, the more natural oil from the skin gets stripped. Dry, cracked skin has never been a good look. Leave that for winter. Lukewarm is best which opens the pores (good for face washing too) and washes away bacteria. You don’t have to burn off the germs with extreme heat. Warm water for washing hair is also ideal. Hot water can damage the hair. Shampoo works its magic best with warm water.
Toothbrushing: There’s no science behind toothbrushing water temp, so do so at your discretion. I would say most of us just do room temperature.
Washing the dishes: The water should be about 120 degrees F. That is almost too hot to touch but this necessary to kill off an bacteria and grease. The key is that hot water dries quicker so the bacteria has less time to come back.
Washing produce: It’s actually best to use room temperature. Some of us like that fresh feeling of washing off fruits and veggies with cold water. However, cold water can actually perpetuate bacteria when it enters the cracks of the skin. Warm water transpires wilting faster. So just go with room temp.
Watering plants: Best at room temperature. Hot water causes damage to the roots and can even kill the plant. Cold water causes dormancy, so it won’t optimally grow.
We need to drink and use this liquid readily. If we are going to do something, we are going to do it right, so using the best temperatures is important. Cheers to H2O and proper hydration, cleaning, bathing, and watering.