Copper has incredible abilities to kill all kinds of micro-organisms likely to be found in drinking water.
A common memory of our childhoods when visiting grandparents or our ancestral home was drinking water drawn from a copper vessel. Cool and nourishing, it quenched thirst perfectly and provided respite from the harsh sunlight on a hot summer day.
These copper vessels have largely been overshadowed by the increasing ubiquitousness of refrigerators but they can still be found in select households, a symbol of our culture and our past.
By itself, plain, old water is a highly beneficial drink. The old adage that advises one to drink seven to eight glasses of water per day does so rightfully as water ferries nutrients and oxygen across cells, aids in digestion and the regulation of body temperature, cushions joints and much more.
Copper was the first element known to man and was put to every possible use, jewellery, tools, weapons and sculpture. Copper is also an excellent conductor of heat and electricity so it should come as no surprise that vessels were also carved out of copper, both for storage and for the process of cooking.
The health benefits derived from copper were proven in the 1800s when it was found that workers in the copper mines had become immune to cholera.
Copper is an essential mineral present in our bodies and it’s deficiency often leads to poor functioning and affects the immunity. Intake of water stored in a copper vessel helps meet this deficiency and improves the immunity against diseases and infections.
Copper vessels can turn green over time due to oxidation. But this can be fixed quite easily with the help of a mildly acidic cleanser such as lemon juice or vinegar.
Simply scrub the vessel using a mixture of lemon juice or vinegar and salt and you’ll find your copper vessel as good as new.
10 Health Benefits Of Drinking Water Stored In A Copper Vessel:
1. Copper acts as an antibiotic
When water is stored in copper containers for long periods of time, i.e. over eight hours, copper releases its ions into the water imbuing the water with copper’s own anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant qualities.
Copper is a crucial trace element within the human body. This water also undergoes a natural purification process also known as an oligodynamic effect. This eliminates microorganisms, fungi and other harmful substances in water making it safe to drink.
Water in a copper vessel also has the properties of a natural antibiotic. It can ease congestion and soreness of throat.
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2. Copper is an anti-inflammatory agent
The anti-inflammatory properties of copper help soothe stomach, making it an oft-recommended remedy for indigestion, infections and ulcers. It is also a great detoxifying agent and cleanser and thereby helps regulate the working of liver and kidneys.
It ensures proper elimination of wastes and absorption of essential minerals from food. Copper helps the body break down fat more efficiently and ensures that only the fat that is needed by body is stored.
3. Copper delays ageing
The antioxidants within the water drawn from a copper vessel help combat cancer-causing radical cells. This water also has melanin which helps shield the skin from the sun’s UV rays which helps to delay ageing.
It can also help correct dysfunction in the thyroid gland but caution should be exercised when treating this particular ailment with water in a copper vessel as an excess of copper can also be harmful.
4. Copper prevents conditions like anaemia
Copper aids with the digestion process which would be helpful enough on its own but this also leads to a greater production of haemoglobin which can prevent the development of conditions like anaemia.
A lack of healthy red blood cells that can carry adequate oxygen to your tissues leads to anaemia which can make you feel perpetually weak and tired. Copper presents a strong defence against this condition.
5. Copper lowers cholesterol
Copper also regulates the amount of low-density lipoprotein, often known simply as bad cholesterol, within the body.
The deficiency of copper in the body of a child could lead to hypotension or low blood pressure whereas the deficiency of copper in the body of an adult could lead to hypertension or high blood pressure.
6. Copper has healing properties
Copper is also a great tool for healing wounds quickly due to its various anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
It strengthens the immune system and aids in the production of new cells.That is why drinking copper water is greatly beneficial for both internal and external health.
7. Copper is also used for pain relief
The placement of a copper coin or ornament on an aching joint is a common sight in India. This is due to the soothing properties of copper. Hence, drinking water stored in a copper vessel can soothe pain within the body.
It also treats chronic conditions like osteoporosis which causes bones to become brittle and weak and leads to intense pain even from mild stresses like coughing.
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8. Copper is important for cardiovascular health
A lack of copper in the body can also lead to plaque deposits blocking blood vessels, weakening heart muscles, reduction of the pumping capacity of the heart and so on.
Drinking water from copper vessels is an important remedy for heart patients. Copper is also the main ingredient in the production of melanin in the body.
9. Copper is essential for overall health
Copper has anticonvulsive properties and is a good tool for preventing seizures. It also has alkaline properties which balance the acids in the food, preventing the body from heating up.
This helps keep the body cool even in the hot Indian summers.
10. Copper helps maintain balance within the body
Copper also finds a mention for itself within Ayurveda which prescribes treatment for three kinds of doshas present in human body. The tridoshas refer to three different states wherein one of the dosha dominates the other two dosha leading to different set of physical and mental problems in an individual.
Ayurveda says that water in a copper vessel helps to balance the tridoshas, which is essential for mental and physical health of an individual.
The king of the doshas is Vata dosha which controls all movement inside the body, from cellular actions to the movement of your hand as it raises a glass of water to your mouth.
Pitta dosha refers to heat energy that manifests as a person’s metabolism, it plays a role in the formation of enzymes, the regulation of hormones and so on.
Kapha dosha is associated with strength and stability and is responsible for the material development of tissue. Copper vessels also aid in maintaining the pH balance of the body.
Summary:
It should be clear by now that the age-old Indian practice of drinking out of copper vessels is extremely beneficial to the individual. Aside from the health benefits, copper is a better alternative to plastic bottles which are killing our planet and a more convenient option as compared to glass bottles.
Copper vessels are not meant to be refrigerated and water must be stored for atleast 8 hours to derive the full list of benefits of copper. The best time to drink water in copper vessels is in the morning on an empty stomach.
It is best to limit your drinking of such water to once or twice a day and to take a break after drinking water in copper vessels for a long period of time.
Make the switch today and reap the benefits for the rest of your life.
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