The dangers of cold water warned about in the Donguibogam can also be fully explained by modern science. Your body is an extraordinary organism that constantly strives to maintain an optimal state. However, when cold water enters the body, the gut enters an emergency state, much like a battlefield. First, our digestive organs function most efficiently at a warm temperature of around 37Β°C. This temperature is essential for digestive enzymes to actively break down food and absorb nutrients. Yet when cold water enters, the temperature of the digestive organs drops rapidly, significantly lowering the activity of these digestive enzymes. As a result, food is not properly broken down, placing a burden on the intestines.
Second, cold water also affects intestinal peristalsis. Our intestines move food downward through wave-like peristalsis, but sudden temperature changes can contract the smooth muscle of the gut or induce spasms. This disrupts the gut rhythm, potentially causing diarrhea due to excessive peristalsis or, conversely, inhibiting intestinal motility and leading to constipation. In particular, the vagus nerve, a part of the autonomic nervous system, has a significant influence on gut movement and the secretion of digestive fluids; cold stimulation can cause an imbalance in the vagus nerve, further disrupting gut function.
Third, it can be harmful to the gut microbiota environment. Inside our intestines, countless beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria live in balance, but a cold environment can disrupt this microbial ecosystem. It may inhibit the proliferation of certain strains or create a favorable environment for harmful bacteria that thrive in cold conditions, worsening gut trouble. Finally, cold water can impede blood circulation in the intestinal mucosa. When exposed to cold stimulation, our body constricts blood vessels to maintain body temperature, which reduces blood flow to the intestinal mucosa and ultimately hinders the supply of nutrients and oxygen. The immune function of the intestinal mucosa declines, weakening the intestinal barrier and creating an environment where inflammatory reactions are easily triggered, as seen in leaky gut syndrome. All of these processes interact to cause chronic symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia. Though it may seem like just a glass of refreshing water, it can actually be a significant stressor for our gut.
