One of the main postulates of Ayurveda is the use of warm liquids. The Indian science of life emphasizes the need to drink enough water and keep it separate from food. Let’s look at why cold water is not preferable from the point of view of Ayurvedic philosophy. At the forefront of Ayurveda is the concept of Agni, the digestive fire. Agni is the transformative force in our body that digests food, thoughts and emotions. Its characteristics are warmth, sharpness, lightness, refinement, brightness and clarity. It is worth noting once again that agni is fire and its main property is warmth.
The main principle of Ayurveda is “Like stimulates like and cures the opposite”. Thus, cold water weakens the power of agni. At the same time, if you need to increase the activity of the digestive fire, it is recommended to drink a hot drink, water or tea. In the 1980s, a small but interesting study was carried out. The time it took for the stomach to clear food was measured among participants who drank cold, room temperature, and warm orange juice. As a result of the experiment, it turned out that the temperature of the stomach dropped after taking cold juice and it took about 20-30 minutes to warm up and return to normal temperature. The researchers also found that the cold drink increased the time food spent in the stomach. The digestive fire agni needed to work harder to maintain its energy and digest food properly. By maintaining strong agni, we avoid the production of excessive amounts of toxins (metabolic waste), which, in turn, cause the development of diseases. So, making a choice in favor of warm, nutritious drinks, you will soon notice the absence of bloating and heaviness after eating, there will be more energy, regular bowel movements.