brirute
03-06-2004, 02:42 PM
I have read and heard several places that when drinking water, the colder the better. The theory is that your body needs to use energy to warm the water. I'm not saying this is a definite truth, but it certainly makes sense.
If this is the case, wouldn't this also hold true for food? For example. Take an apple. If I eat an apple that is kept in the fridge, versus one on the counter wouldn't the same theory hold true?
I realize that this is not going to make a big difference in calories burned versus the actually calories in food. But over time say a year, how many more calories would be burned if a person puts their fruit in a fridge. Or maybe, cranks their fridge just a little more, so that things are just a little colder. Water, milk, yogurt, fresh veggies, etc.
I maybe just blowing smoke here, but some food for thought on a Saturday afternoon. No pun intended. ;)
If this is the case, wouldn't this also hold true for food? For example. Take an apple. If I eat an apple that is kept in the fridge, versus one on the counter wouldn't the same theory hold true?
I realize that this is not going to make a big difference in calories burned versus the actually calories in food. But over time say a year, how many more calories would be burned if a person puts their fruit in a fridge. Or maybe, cranks their fridge just a little more, so that things are just a little colder. Water, milk, yogurt, fresh veggies, etc.
I maybe just blowing smoke here, but some food for thought on a Saturday afternoon. No pun intended. ;)
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cuddledumplin
03-09-2004, 05:17 AM
I read that models even sleep in frigid rooms to increase their caloric burn, so my guess is it would help a bit. Drinking iced water is supposed to help burn 200 calories a day. If you ate a lot of things cold and kept your house cold, who knows?
justme_
03-09-2004, 08:46 AM
Hmm... so what you're saying is sleeping in the cold will allow you to burn more calories? I'm wondering though... I read somewhere that it's easier to lose weight in the summer because in the winter your body saves calories to keep warm?????? I don't know, but it said that would be the reason why it'd be easier to lose weight in the summer, than in the winters. So living in a warm country would make it easier then? And if that's true then how come sleeping in a cold room could help you lose weight as well? Also, here it says eating cold foods would (possibly) help you burn calories, but then how come I read a couple of times, that spicy foods stimulate the burning process. They're kind of opposites. I would really love to know more about this temperature influence, because I really don't understand. I know the influence of weather/temperate is really tiny, but any little bit of help is welcome.
justme_
03-09-2004, 08:49 AM
And.. the difference between tea and water as well... Tea is really healthy etc., but people say water is better. Tea gets rid of possible cancer cells (or something) and it's really really really healthy (one of the 14 superfoods I read somewhere, if you can call it a food). So why not drink tea instead of water? It just tastes a lot better. But I would also like to know if cold water is better than warm tea, then. Maybe for weight loss though, but overall I think tea is better.
justme_
03-09-2004, 05:11 PM
Well, go on... someone should know. I really wanna know!
never2L8
03-09-2004, 06:05 PM
I am no expert but the minimal extra calories that may be burned by staying cold would certainly not make up for the discomfort. I would prefer to give up one cup of coffee a day or extend my exercise by 10 minutes for the same result and keep myself warm. I believe it is also easier to lose weight in warmer weather because you are more likely to be active and outside rather than inactive and indoors. When you are cold you are also more likely to eat hot food that may be higher in calories instead of a cold snack, fresh fruit or salad that has fewer calories.
In regards to food being eaten cold causing your body to burn more calories, once again the benefits - if there are any - would be more easily acheived by other means. I drink my water cold because it tastes better to me, my apples are kept on the kitchen bench by preference and I generally only keep food cold for preservation purposes.
Tea contains antioxidants which are scientifically reported to assist with good health. If you really want the healthy stuff, Green Tea is supposed to be really good for you. Tea is also a diuretic which increases urination which helps reduce fluid retention and assists with cleaning up of your blood. Water assists with fluid retention, cleaning up your blood and only misses out on the antioxidants that tea has. But if you put sugar and milk in a cup of tea you are then adding calories that water doesn't have.
If you don't like drinking a lot of water and like your tea black with no sugar, then go for a 50/50 split. Don't replace all of your water with the tea, just take them in turns or something.
In regards to food being eaten cold causing your body to burn more calories, once again the benefits - if there are any - would be more easily acheived by other means. I drink my water cold because it tastes better to me, my apples are kept on the kitchen bench by preference and I generally only keep food cold for preservation purposes.
Tea contains antioxidants which are scientifically reported to assist with good health. If you really want the healthy stuff, Green Tea is supposed to be really good for you. Tea is also a diuretic which increases urination which helps reduce fluid retention and assists with cleaning up of your blood. Water assists with fluid retention, cleaning up your blood and only misses out on the antioxidants that tea has. But if you put sugar and milk in a cup of tea you are then adding calories that water doesn't have.
If you don't like drinking a lot of water and like your tea black with no sugar, then go for a 50/50 split. Don't replace all of your water with the tea, just take them in turns or something.
angel85
03-09-2004, 09:04 PM
I don't know about burning more calories in a cold environment, but I have read that it is usually better for the room you are sleeping in to be slightly cool. Apparently it is easier to fall asleep/sleep deeper in a cooler room than in a more temperate room. It has been a while since I read the article this was from, so there may be newer findings. I don't know.
scribbles
03-10-2004, 02:11 AM
I have read and heard several places that when drinking water, the colder the better. The theory is that your body needs to use energy to warm the water. I'm not saying this is a definite truth, but it certainly makes sense.
If this is the case, wouldn't this also hold true for food? For example. Take an apple. If I eat an apple that is kept in the fridge, versus one on the counter wouldn't the same theory hold true?
I realize that this is not going to make a big difference in calories burned versus the actually calories in food. But over time say a year, how many more calories would be burned if a person puts their fruit in a fridge. Or maybe, cranks their fridge just a little more, so that things are just a little colder. Water, milk, yogurt, fresh veggies, etc.
I maybe just blowing smoke here, but some food for thought on a Saturday afternoon. No pun intended. ;)
One Calorie is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water by one degree (at 1 ATM). So, if you drink 1 L of ice water a day (0.959 kg @ 0 degree celsius), the energy needed to bring that water temperature to your body temperature of 37 celsius would be ~35 calories. Or, ~12,775 calories in one year if you drink 1 L of ice water a day (equivalent to a measly 3 lbs or so of weight lost). And to expend that 200 calories mentioned in a post above, you'd need to drink a little over 5.5 L/d.
I would suppose that there would be a similar effect with cold food, if you take into account water content -- eg. an apple is over 80% water -- but I don't think metabolism would be greatly affected in the long run. Spicy foods exert their effect by increasing your heart rate and stimulating, supposedly, fat metabolism, which would increase the amount of calories burned... but again, I'm not sure how significant the effect would be.
If this is the case, wouldn't this also hold true for food? For example. Take an apple. If I eat an apple that is kept in the fridge, versus one on the counter wouldn't the same theory hold true?
I realize that this is not going to make a big difference in calories burned versus the actually calories in food. But over time say a year, how many more calories would be burned if a person puts their fruit in a fridge. Or maybe, cranks their fridge just a little more, so that things are just a little colder. Water, milk, yogurt, fresh veggies, etc.
I maybe just blowing smoke here, but some food for thought on a Saturday afternoon. No pun intended. ;)
One Calorie is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water by one degree (at 1 ATM). So, if you drink 1 L of ice water a day (0.959 kg @ 0 degree celsius), the energy needed to bring that water temperature to your body temperature of 37 celsius would be ~35 calories. Or, ~12,775 calories in one year if you drink 1 L of ice water a day (equivalent to a measly 3 lbs or so of weight lost). And to expend that 200 calories mentioned in a post above, you'd need to drink a little over 5.5 L/d.
I would suppose that there would be a similar effect with cold food, if you take into account water content -- eg. an apple is over 80% water -- but I don't think metabolism would be greatly affected in the long run. Spicy foods exert their effect by increasing your heart rate and stimulating, supposedly, fat metabolism, which would increase the amount of calories burned... but again, I'm not sure how significant the effect would be.
cuddledumplin
03-10-2004, 08:21 AM
The figure I mention is from the book The World's Best Kept Beauty Secrets by Diane Irons. I didn't make up the figure, so don't blame me. I always lose weight in the winter. I guess that I'm weird. I listen to a band from Iceland called Sigur Ros, and they are likely the skinniest band on the planet. So, there may be a bit of truth to the coldness thing.
cuddledumplin
03-10-2004, 08:23 AM
I also wouldn't mind losing 3 lbs. a year by something as effortless as drinking cold water.
zip2play
03-10-2004, 09:46 AM
scribbles,
I LIKE the way your mind works....I was going to do the same calculation. My only refinement is to consider only the temperature diffeerence between fridge water (5C) and tap water (15C) for only a 10 kcal/liter difference. ("A mere bag-0-shells."....Ralph Kramden)
For some REAL chilling sit in a cool pool for a half an hour. If you get to the shivver point, the caloric expenditure is ENORMOUS (holding body temperature is the single largest use of fuel.)
That's why we can easily drop a sudden 10 pounds running a high fever- Just raising the body temperature 4 degrees take a huge caloric expenditure!
Hit the pool, kids! :bouncing: :bouncing:
I LIKE the way your mind works....I was going to do the same calculation. My only refinement is to consider only the temperature diffeerence between fridge water (5C) and tap water (15C) for only a 10 kcal/liter difference. ("A mere bag-0-shells."....Ralph Kramden)
For some REAL chilling sit in a cool pool for a half an hour. If you get to the shivver point, the caloric expenditure is ENORMOUS (holding body temperature is the single largest use of fuel.)
That's why we can easily drop a sudden 10 pounds running a high fever- Just raising the body temperature 4 degrees take a huge caloric expenditure!
Hit the pool, kids! :bouncing: :bouncing:
justme_
03-10-2004, 10:15 AM
Ok, what about the spicy food then? Why does that help you lose weight? Cause it raises your body's temperature?
zip2play
03-10-2004, 10:20 AM
justme,
Many claim that spicy foods (and caffeine) are thermogenic...so yes, they will help (but maybe not very much).
Your MOUTH might feel VERY hot without actually raising the body temperature.
Anything that ups the heart rate will cause reduction also (ephedrine, PPHC, amphetamines, Sudafed)....trouble is, with increasing heart rate and pressure there's always increased stroke possibility (slight but present!)
I found that the best way to quick weight loss is SHEER TERROR!:D:D (not very practical though!)
Many claim that spicy foods (and caffeine) are thermogenic...so yes, they will help (but maybe not very much).
Your MOUTH might feel VERY hot without actually raising the body temperature.
Anything that ups the heart rate will cause reduction also (ephedrine, PPHC, amphetamines, Sudafed)....trouble is, with increasing heart rate and pressure there's always increased stroke possibility (slight but present!)
I found that the best way to quick weight loss is SHEER TERROR!:D:D (not very practical though!)