To Burn Calories, Try Ice Water

Drinking cold water causes the body to burn more calories and could be an effective weight-loss method for overweight children, according to research. Studies have suggested that drinking water has a thermogenic effect in adults that significantly increases their resting energy expenditure (REE), the calories required to maintain normal body functions in a resting state. Water-induced thermogenesis hadn’t been tested in pediatric patients, researchers said. This study monitored REE in 21 overweight Israeli children, before and after drinking approximately two cups of cold water (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) while watching a movie in a lying-down position. The average weight of subjects was 119 pounds. A significant drop in REE occurred immediately after the water drinking, which may be due to the rapid cooling of the upper gastrointestinal tract, researchers said. After three minutes, REE began to increase and was significantly higher at 24 minutes compared with the start of the study, and 25% higher when it peaked at 57 minutes. Drinking cold water may make under-hydrated muscle more metabolically active, researchers said. International Journal of Obesity, Nov. 2011