Ice Therapy: A Surprising Weight Loss Hack
Have you heard about the new “ice hack” for weight loss? It is a very simple trick that some people say can help you burn more calories and lose weight faster.
The ice hack is when you drink ice water or put ice cubes in your mouth. The idea is that your body has to use extra energy (calories) to warm up the ice water to body temperature.
It may sound too good to be true, but there is some science behind this weight loss hack. Let’s take a closer look at how it works and if it really helps with weight loss.

How Does the Ice Hack Help You Lose Weight?
The ice hack may help you lose weight. It does this by boosting your metabolism through thermogenesis.
What is Thermogenesis?
Thermogenesis refers to the body’s production of heat or energy. Whenever you eat or drink something, your body has to use up calories to digest and absorb it.
When you eat ice water or ice cubes, your body has to burn extra calories. It has to heat them up to your normal body temperature of 98.6°F (37°C). This process of heating up the ice forces your metabolism to work a bit harder.
How Many Calories Can You Burn?
You may surprised to learn that drinking a glass of ice water can actually burn around 10 extra calories! That may not seem like much, but those calories can add up over time.
Some studies show that drinking 8 glasses (64 oz) of ice water daily could help. It could help you burn an extra 80 calories or more per day. This comes just from the thermogenic effect.
In theory, burning an extra 80 calories a day could let you lose over 8 pounds of body fat in a year. And all from just drinking ice water! That’s pretty amazing for such a simple hack.
Other Potential Benefits of the Ice Hack
The main weight loss benefit of the ice hack is burning extra calories. But, cold water and ice may also have a few other diet-friendly effects:
1. Suppresses Appetite
Drinking ice cold water helps fill up the stomach. This can decrease hunger pangs and cravings. The coldness of the liquid may also have an appetite-dulling effect.
2. Boosts Energy & Focus
Drinking ice water makes your body work harder. It has to to get back to its normal temperature. This small jolt of energy may translate to feeling more awake and focused.
3. Flushes Out Toxins
The ice hack increases water intake. This helps your body to filter waste and toxins from the blood, lymph system, and digestion.
4. May Increase Fat Burning
Some research suggests that drinking ice water may expose you to the cold. This may trigger your body to burn fat for fuel and energy to stay warm. This process called cold thermogenesis.
5. No Extra Calories
Plain ice water has zero calories. This is unlike sugary juices, sodas, or coffees. They would sabotage your diet. It’s the ultimate free no-calorie beverage!
More good studies are still needed. But, the evidence suggests the ice hack may be an easy, free way to boost your metabolism.
How to Do the Ice Hack for Weight Loss
Doing the ice hack for weight loss is about as simple as it gets. All you have to do is:
1. Drink Ice Water Daily
Aim to drink 8 glasses (64 oz) of ice water each day. Fill your glass up with ice cubes first, then top with cold water and let it get icy cold.
2. Eat or Suck on Ice Cubes
Also to drinking icy beverages, you can also suck on or crunch ice cubes directly. Start with 10-15 ice cubes daily.
3. Have Ice Water Before Meals
Drink 1-2 glasses of ice water 15-30 minutes before meals. It helps fill your stomach and stop overeating.
4. Carry a Water Bottle with You
Keep a reusable bottle with ice water with you at all times. That way, you can sip the icy liquid all day.
5. Add Lemon or Mint for Flavor
If plain ice water gets boring, add lemon, lime, or cucumber slices. You can also use fresh mint leaves for a refreshing flavor boost.
The key is to stick with drinking ice cold water every day. Do it consistently rather than just occasionally. That’s how the extra calorie burn can really start to add up over weeks and months.
Best Times for the Ice Hack
If you try the ice hack for weight loss, there are a few best times to focus on drinking your icy drinks:
First Thing in the Morning
Drinking a large glass of ice water first thing when you wake up can spike your metabolism. It gives you an early calorie-burning boost.
Before Meals
As mentioned, drinking 1-2 glasses of ice water before meals can curb your appetite. Do this 15-30 minutes before eating. This stops overeating.
Mid-Morning & Mid-Afternoon
Sipping ice water can help. Do it during the 10am and 3pm snack times. It can curb cravings and munchies from boredom or dehydration.
Before Exercise
Staying well-hydrated by drinking ice water before and during exercise is essential. The extra coolness can keep your body temperature down during intense activity.
Tips to Stick With the Ice Hack
Like most healthy habits, drinking lots of ice water every day requires some discipline. Here are some tips to help make the ice hack routine stick:
Keep a Reusable Bottle on Hand
Having a large, reusable water bottle that can hold ice very handy makes it easy to sip icy water all day.
Set Reminders on Your Phone
Program reminders on your phone to prompt yourself to drink a full glass of ice water every few hours.
Make Ice Ahead of Time
Get into the habit of always having plenty of ice cubes made and ready so your water can stay as cold as possible.
Replace Other Beverages
Instead of sugary sodas, juices, and caloric drinks, choose ice water. Make it your new go-to drink.
Add Crystal Light or Mio
Plain water is best. But, you can add drink mixes or flavorings to make your ice water more appealing if needed.
The ice hack is such a simple habit but one that does take some consistency to work with as a weight loss strategy. If you can stick with it though, it’s an easy free way to boost your fat loss results!

Conclusion
The ice hack for weight loss simply involves drinking lots of ice water every day. While it sounds too good to be true, there is real scientific evidence behind it.
Your body has to warm up the ice water to its 98.6°F. This burns extra calories in a process called thermogenesis.
Studies show that drinking 8 glasses of ice water daily could burn an extra 80 calories or more. This might help you lose over 8 pounds of fat per year!
Also to burning calories, the ice hack offers other weight loss perks. These include suppressing appetite. They also include more hydration, better energy, and even potential fat burning boosts.
The ice hack alone won’t melt away excess weight. But, it may boost your metabolism a bit. You need to combine it with a healthy, calorie-smart diet and regular exercise.
Just be consistent with sipping and munching on ice water and ice cubes all day, every day. It’s a simple, free hack. It uses your body’s natural processes. They work a bit harder and burn a few extra calories to help your weight loss.
FAQs
How many calories can you really burn per day with the ice hack?
Most research suggests drinking 8 glasses (64 oz) of ice water can help burn an extra 80-100 calories per day. Your body expends more energy to warm it up.
Does the ice hack work better for people with faster metabolisms?
The ice hack may work better for those with faster metabolisms. Their bodies likely have to work a bit harder to warm up the ice water. But the effect should still occur in anyone trying it.
Can you just chew on ice instead of drinking water?
Yes, you can get some of the calorie-burning benefits from just sucking on ice cubes. You get them from doing that rather than drinking ice water. Just don’t overdo it and damage your teeth.
Which is preferable: drinking ice-cold water or water at room temperature?
The colder the water or ice, the more calories your body will spend to warm it up. So for greatest thermogenic calorie burn, ice water is best.
Is there a limit to how much ice water you should drink per day?
The ice itself is harmless. But, drinking too much water could lead to water intoxication. 4-8 glasses per day is generally considered a safe, healthy amount.
Will the ice hack work for weight loss without diet or exercise?
The ice hack may speed up your metabolism a bit. But, it won’t cause much weight loss by itself if diet and exercise habits stay unhealthy. You should combine it with an calorie deficit.
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