For Ayurveda, copper is an extremely important metal. This is because, for thousands of years, India and other Asian countries would collect and store water in large copper pots. People would drink water from smaller copper vessels as well to feel cool under the hot summer sun.
But it wasn’t just about tradition or how cool and refreshing the water tasted. There was a lot more to this metal.
Benefits Of Drinking Water From A Copper Vessel
1. Fights Bacteria
One of the most known benefits is a copper vessel’s ability to go after germs, especially bacteria. In fact, copper is excellent for tackling E.Coli and S.aureus, two types of bacteria that can lead to diarrhea and dysentery. In rural places with scarce sources of clean drinking water, people store water in copper vessels to purify it.1 Water would be stored for 16 hours in these vessels and this would destroy all diarrheal diseases.
2. Stimulates The Brain
Copper is one metal that can help in the formation of myelin. This is a sheet that protects nerve cells and is vital for all your cognitive functions. One study revealed in people who have had a traumatic brain injury, it would be longer and more difficult to recover if you’re copper level is low.2
3. Balances All Metabolic Energies Based On Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, everybody has a dominant metabolic energy. These are known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. If there are any imbalances in these energies, you could face medical issues and discomfort. Ayurveda recommends that drinking water from copper vessels helps to balance all these energies.
4. Adds Towards The Recommended Value Of Copper
Copper is vital for the body. It is found in small quantities in the body to help break down iron and other important brain functions. Though rare, it could be possible to have hypocupremia, a deficiency in copper. Drinking water from a copper vessel first thing in the morning can add up to your copper intake.
How To Drink Water From A Copper Vessel?
- Pick a tumbler that is purely made out of copper and not mixed with other metal traces, otherwise, you won’t get the complete benefit of using copper
- Before using a copper vessel, wash it with lemon and water. Do not use dishwashing soap as this can be too harsh and maybe even strip off traces of copper
- Pour water in your vessel and place it near your bedside
- Drink it first thing in the morning
You might find the taste slightly metallic but you will get used to it in time. Besides, there’s nothing like a glass of clean, chill water to energize your body first thing in the morning.
What Are You Not Supposed To Do With Copper Vessels?
Ayurveda recommends drinking from copper vessels only twice a day and not more than that. Experts recommend allowing your body a gap of a month after using copper vessels for three months in a row.
While drinking water from a copper vessel is perfectly fine, do not cook in them. Copper poisoning is a reality. Cooking in copper vessels can leach copper into our food and into our system. If you have had excessive amounts of copper, you would experience nausea and diarrhea. If you continue cooking in copper, you increase the risk of seriously damaging your kidneys or liver. This is the reason why copper cooking vessels are lined with stainless steel or tin.
If you notice your copper beauties are scratched or damaged, it’s time to get new ones. Never store food or water in damaged copper vessels or you risk copper leaking into your system.
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