{"id":48777,"date":"2026-07-27T14:34:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T12:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/?p=48777"},"modified":"2026-07-27T14:34:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T12:34:26","slug":"bloating-cramps-migraines-this-is-how-our-bodies-react-to-overly-cold-drinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/2026\/07\/bloating-cramps-migraines-this-is-how-our-bodies-react-to-overly-cold-drinks\/","title":{"rendered":"Bloating, cramps, migraines: This is how our bodies react to overly cold drinks"},"content":{"rendered":"
In hot weather, it’s not just the amount of fluid you drink that matters; you also need to be careful about its temperature. Drinking ice-cold drinks too quickly or in large quantities during the summer heat can temporarily slow down digestion, causing bloating, abdominal cramps, and even headaches. According to Dr. D\u00e1niel N\u00e9meth, a specialist at the Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology at Semmelweis University, there is no difference in terms of hydration between drinking cold and room-temperature water.<\/div>\n

On hot summer days, it\u2019s hardly surprising that many people choose the coldest drink available, but the body \u2013 especially the digestive system \u2013 doesn\u2019t necessarily respond well to this. Consuming large amounts of overly cold drinks can temporarily slow down the functioning of the stomach and intestines and thus slow digestion; as a result, gas can build up more easily due to the accumulated contents in the digestive tract and their more difficult elimination. This can lead to bloating, tight stomach, or even abdominal cramps.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>These symptoms may primarily occur in people with an underlying digestive disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome, but they can also affect otherwise healthy individuals with a more sensitive constitution. \u201cThe greater the difference between the temperature of the body and that of the drink consumed, and the larger the amount of ice-cold liquid consumed at one time, the more severe the symptoms may be,\u201d says Dr. D\u00e1niel N\u00e9meth. The specialist at the Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology at Semmelweis University emphasizes that people who are prone to migraines, as well as children and the elderly, should be mindful of drinking cold beverages. Their bodies may be more sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, so even a small amount of a very cold drink can cause unpleasant symptoms.<\/p>\n

The adverse effects of icy drinks can extend beyond the digestive system. In some people, irritation of the nerve endings in the throat can trigger headaches or even migraine-like attacks. The best choice is a pleasantly cool drink at around 16 degrees Celsius. This provides a refreshing sensation in hot weather and is less likely to cause digestive problems. In terms of hydration, there is no difference between cold and room-temperature water. Neither hydrates the body better than the other.<\/p>\n

While icy liquids can slow down digestion, hot beverages can have the opposite effect: they can stimulate bowel movement, improve blood circulation in the digestive system, thereby supporting digestion. This may also explain why people in many countries with warm climates traditionally drink hot tea with their meals, the expert points out.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also advisable to be careful after playing sports. Although it\u2019s a common belief that a cold drink \u201cshocks\u201d the stomach, this isn\u2019t entirely accurate. After intense exercise, your body temperature is higher, so a very cold drink results in a greater difference in temperature. In such cases, it\u2019s best to wait a few minutes or opt for a less cold drink.<\/p>\n

The good news is that these effects are usually only temporary. Once the liquid has warmed up in the stomach, the digestive system gradually returns to normal, meaning that cold drinks alone do not cause long-term damage. So, you don’t have to give up refreshing drinks in the summer heat, but it’s better to choose something cool rather than icy.<\/p>\n

\n
Cold drinks and weight loss<\/h6>\n

Many people believe that drinking cold water promotes weight loss. Dr. D\u00e1niel N\u00e9meth explains that while the body does use some energy to warm the cold liquid to body temperature, this effect is minimal and does not, on its own, result in noticeable weight loss. It is more important to drink the right amount of fluid, as this can make you feel full and reduce the amount of food you eat. However, this is due to the quantity of fluid consumed rather than its temperature.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Eszter Csat\u00e1ri-F\u00f6ldv\u00e1ry
\nTranslation: Judit D\u0151tsch
\nPhotos by Bogl\u00e1rka Zellei \u2013 Semmelweis University; cover\/illustration: iStock\/Domepitipat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The adverse effects of cold drinks can extend beyond the digestive system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102255,"featured_media":48779,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129,286],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-x-nyitolap"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102255"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48777"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48780,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48777\/revisions\/48780"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/semmelweis.hu\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}