Water myths

With so much health lore lurking on the Internet and other mass media, it's often hard to separate fact from fiction. Mind Your Body finds out what water beliefs are water-tight and what should be sunk.

1 Does drinking cold water burn more calories but affect your womb?

Dr Stanley Liew, consultant endocrinologist at Raffles Hospital, said: 'Drinking cold water may burn some calories but this is usually not significant enough to have any effect on body weight. Drinking cold water should not affect the womb unless one drinks a huge amount of cold water causing hypothermia or water intoxication, which is harmful to your body as a whole and not specifically the womb.'

2 Is it true that drinking mineral water exclusively will help one attain good skin?

Ms Jaclyn Reutens, a dietitian at Aptima Nutrition and Sports Consultants, said: 'No, it's not true. Good skin is attained through a healthy diet, exercise and adequate hydration. Drinking enough fluids helps to improve blood circulation and in the effective removal of toxins. The best beverages that meet hydration needs are water, milk, 100 per cent fruit juices and caffeine-free tea or coffee.'

3 Is one large glass of water first thing in the morning recommended?

Dr Lew Kian Hwa, registrar at Alexandra Hospital's Health For Life Centre, said: 'You can do that although most doctors would not recommend it. It is more of a lifestyle preference. It sort of jump starts your body by helping to flush your kidneys and rid your body of toxic substances.'

4 Is it good to drink water immediately after exercise?

Ms Png Weileen, head of sports nutrition at the Singapore Sports Council, said: 'It is important to replenish lost body fluid immediately after exercise to prevent progressive dehydration..

'For a short duration, low intensity exercise like a half-hour walk, drinking water is sufficient to replenish lost fluids. But if you are engaging in a long duration, high-intensity workout like wakeboarding or swimming for more than an hour, sports drinks would be a better choice. Ideally, fluids taken after exercise should not contain caffeine and alcohol as they exert a diuretic effect on the body, thus increasing urine production.'