As someone with sensitive teeth, I sit firmly on the fence in the discussion about which temperature of water is better, but I’m no expert.

The debate surrounding warm versus cold water has been widely discussed in relation to facial cleansing and hair washing, and is now extending to internal nourishment.

There are so many ways to stay hydrated. You can combine nutrition and hydration in a filling shake, up your water and five-a-day intake in one go with a smoothie, or replenish your electrolytes with a tasty bone broth. Whichever delicious ways you choose to consume water, however, you have to ensure that you’re hydrating adequately. The NHS advises drinking six to eight glasses of water a day.

If you’re not in the habit of drinking water regularly throughout the day, that might sound like a lot. But staying on top of your water intake has huge benefits on your overall health. Ro Huntriss, clinical-lead dietitian and nutritionist for EXALT, says, “Water is an essential component of our diet as it supports many of our core functions including temperature regulation, kidney function – so we can eliminate waste, digestion and brain function to name a few. Simply speaking, we need water to survive.”

Given that there are many ways to consume water that all boast different advantages, could temperature be another way of further boosting the advantageous effects of drinking water? We asked the experts which is better to drink: cold water or warm water.

Cold water vs warm water: what are the benefits?