Historically, copper was the first element known to man. The Chalcolithic Age or the Copper Age saw man progress from using stones as weapons to replacing them with copper. Ancient societies such as Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, Somalia, the Incas, the Aztecs, and the Indians used copper in various forms, from currency for trade to household products. Ayurvedic texts mention the use of the copper vessels for drinking water. Copper is the only metal with anti-bacterial properties, which proved true even during the 1800s when people working in the copper mines were immune to cholera. For centuries, copper has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including cuts, headaches, and even varicose veins. We present to you the only metal that has travelled throughout history without losing its reliability and 13 amazing health benefits of copper utensils and bottles.
Benefits of drinking water in a copper vessel:
When water is stored in a copper vessel or bottle, for eight hours or more, copper releases some of its ions into the water through a process called the oligodynamic effect. Copper is known to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and antioxidant properties. It aids in the formation of haemoglobin as well as cell regeneration and unfortunately, the human body cannot make trace amounts of copper to function healthily, so copper has to be a part of our intake through food or water, but the presence of copper benefits the human body in many other ways,
Here are 10+ amazing health benefits of drinking Purified water from a copper vessel:
1: Balances High Blood Pressure:
According to the American Cancer Society, copper is known to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If copper deficiency has occurred since childhood, it leads to the development of hypotension, however, if adults suffer from copper deficiency, they develop hypertension. Therefore, trace amounts of copper are important for the regulation of blood pressure in a person.
2: Aids the functioning of the thyroid gland:
According to experts, the most common feature in thyroid patients is copper deficiency. Copper balances the anomalies of the thyroid gland, i.e. it activates the thyroid gland to function well, but it also fights the harmful effects of too much secretion from the thyroid gland. While a deficiency of copper leads to dysfunction of the thyroid gland, it is also true that too much copper also causes dysfunction of the thyroid gland, leading to hyper or hypothyroidism in patients.
3: Prevents anemia:
Copper aids in the breakdown of food to form haemoglobin, it also helps the body absorb iron, the deficiency of which causes anaemia. A deficiency of copper in the human body can lead to rare haematological disorders that also result in a decrease in white blood cells.
4: Heals arthritis and inflamed joints:
Copper has anti-inflammatory properties that provide great relief to patients suffering from arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, copper has bone-strength properties, making it the perfect cure for arthritis.
5: Prevents infections:
Copper is a natural antibiotic, water stored in copper bottles for more than 8 hours is free from all such microbials. Copper is effective against E. coli, S. aureus and cholera bacillus, among other common waterborne disease-causing agents.
6: Aids digestion:
Ancient Roman texts talk about prescribing copper-based medicine to kill germs in the stomach. Ayurveda claims that drinking “tamra jal” cleanses and purifies the stomach. Copper also has properties that stimulate peristalsis, reduce inflammation of the stomach lining and aids better digestion. Copper is a great remedy for stomach ulcers, indigestion and stomach infections.
7: Helps the Cardiovascular System:
Copper helps to clear plaque as well as widens blood vessels to increase blood flow to the heart. Studies have proven that copper deficiency can lead to dysfunction of the heart muscle, leading to inadequate pumping of blood, impaired blood circulation in the body and inability to respond correctly to stress.
8: Controls aging:
Ancient Egyptians used copper-based beautification agents a lot, these days many skin care products are based on copper as copper is not only an antioxidant, it also aids in cell regeneration, negating the harmful effects of agents on the skin.
9: Boosts brain capacity:
The human brain communicates with the rest of the body through electrical impulses. Copper helps cells communicate with each other by carrying out these impulses, which makes the brain work more efficiently.
10: Prevents strokes:
Copper also has anti-convulsant properties, which means copper is an effective means of preventing seizures. Copper also has antioxidant properties, which means a copper deficiency can cause oxidants to work faster and better, increasing the risk of stroke.
11: Helps for weight loss:
Copper plays a vital role in dissolving excess fat deposits in the human body and helps in losing weight. Copper keeps the body in a fat-burning state even when the person is at rest, however, this does not mean that too much copper will burn more fat; too much copper can poison the human body.
12: Helps in healing wounds faster:
Copper exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Apart from this, copper also helps in skin regeneration and strengthens the immune system, helping the body to heal wounds faster.
Health benefits of copper:
A healthy human body requires a small amount of copper to function effectively. Copper helps generate heat in the human body, aids communication between different cells, breaks down certain food substances to form haemoglobin and boosts our metabolism. Copper deficiency leads to health issues such as anaemia, parasitic infections and leaky gut. Foods rich in copper include sunflower seeds, lentils, dried apricots, mushrooms, etc.
Know About Storing Water in a Copper Vessel:
Claims of the antimicrobial properties of copper have been documented since ancient times. However, without any concrete scientific research, it is difficult to ascertain whether these claims are true or are a figment of our collective conscience. Cultured cholera bacteria were introduced to water stored in a copper vessel for over 16 hours. Sudha and others, after several more tests, reported that copper has an antimicrobial property, as they were not able to remove any sample of cholera bacteria from the water stored in a copper vessel, even though the amount of copper in the water was within the permissible limit by WHO standards.
Another study conducted by the University of South Carolina reported that copper killed 97% of the bacteria present in ICUs, reducing the risk of contracting hospital-acquired infections by 40%. In June 2016, Natural Chemical Biology published another study, which proved that copper has an important role in burning fat in the human body. In 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency registered copper as the only natural metal with properties to kill harmful microbes.
Drinking Water Correctly and Safely from a Copper Vessel:
Despite all the benefits of copper, it must be remembered that the human body requires only a small amount of copper. We must also remember that too much of a good thing can also be harmful, especially if we are talking about the delicate balance of human chemistry. Water makes up 75% of our body composition, however, one cannot drink water stored in a copper vessel all day and every day. Here are some tips to drink water correctly and safely from a copper vessel:
- The best time to drink water stored in a copper vessel is in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Store the water in a copper vessel in a cool dry place overnight or for a whole day or for 8 hours.
- Do not keep copper vessels and copper bottles in the refrigerator.
- Drinking copper vessel water twice a day (morning and evening) is enough to supply your body with the required amount of copper. Don’t overdo it,
- Take a break from drinking water stored in a copper vessel. For example, take a one-month break after drinking water stored in a copper bottle regularly for two months. This allows the body to excrete the excess copper.
Also Read: Bone Health: Why is bone health important? Tips to keep bones healthy
Know the History of Copper Vessel:
Ancient societies did not know about bacteria and other harmful microbes in detail, yet, copper has found its way into almost all ancient medical texts. The benefits and various uses of copper have been diligently recorded in ancient texts around the world. Ayurvedic texts claim that drinking water in a copper vessel cures the three doshas of the body, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha by positively charging the water. Water kept in a copper vessel for 6-8 hours is called Tamra Jal.
Older homes in Western countries, including the US, have copper pipes installed to this day, it was believed that a glass of tap water back then was enough to keep a person healthy. However, our practices don’t end there, most Indian homes have small copper vessels, which is considered purifying and invigorating.
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