By M. Vinayak (Himshikha Shukla)
Historically, Copper was the first element known to man. The chalcolithic era or copper age saw man progress from using stones as weapons to replacing it with copper. Ancient societies like Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, Somalia, Incas, Aztecs and Indians used copper in various forms, from currency for trade to household products. Ayurvedic texts mention the use of copper vessels for drinking water. Copper is the only metal with anti-bacterial properties, which were proved to be true even during the 1800s when copper mine workers were immune to Cholera. Over the centuries copper has been used in various forms to treat various illnesses including cuts, headaches, even varicose veins. The rise of ayurvedic usage and indigenous medicines has seen a rise in use of copper products in household items, especially copper vessels and cups.
In ancient India, people had a practice of storing water in copper vessels. According to Ayurveda, consuming copper-enriched water on an empty stomach every morning will help balance the three doshas namely – Kapha, Vata, and Pitta. Copper is also popular because of its purification property. It’s an important trace mineral that plays a vital role and promotes good health.
1. Kills bacteria
The two most common bacteria in the environment are E.coli and S.aureus, and they’re known to cause severe physical ailments. Copper behaves like a sterilizer and can effectively eliminate these bacteria which further prevent waterborne diseases such as jaundice, diarrhoea, and dysentery.
2. Aids digestion
Within the stomach, copper’s sterilizing property helps destroys harmful bacteria and reduces inflammation. Also, copper helps in cleansing and removal of toxins from the stomach. This promotes better digestion.
3. Anti-ageing and boosts skin health
Copper is a natural remedy because it’s packed with cell formation and antioxidant properties. It helps ward off free radicals which are the primary reason for the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles. Copper also helps in skin regeneration, collagen, and melanin production.
4. Aids weight loss
On a regular basis, try consuming water from a copper vessel to help you with weight loss. Apart from helping your digestive system perform well, copper will efficiently help break down and eliminate fat. It also helps in getting rid of harmful waste from your body.
5. Promotes heart health
Copper may help minimize the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. It helps lower triglyceride, and bad cholesterol levels and regulates blood pressure and maintains a good heart rate.
6. Strong anti-inflammation agent
Copper is also popular for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It helps relieve aches and pains associated with arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It’s also known to strengthen the immune system and bones of your body.
7. Combats thyroid
Low levels of copper are usually found in patients who suffer from thyroid disease. Copper is a vital trace mineral that’ll help in the optimum functioning of the thyroid gland. Hence, including copper-enriched water in your diet may regulate the functions of the thyroid gland and help combat this deficiency.
8. Wounds heal faster
Its potent antiviral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties help heal wounds at a faster rate. It also aids in the production of healthy new cells that fasten the healing process of external and internal wounds.
9. Brain stimulator
In the brain, small amounts of copper present inside certain enzymes help in the formation of key neurotransmitters. This allows the brain cells to ‘talk’ to each other and in turn, makes your brain work efficiently and faster too. Copper is also known to have the anti-convulsive property that helps prevent seizures.
10. Combats anaemia
From helping in the absorption of the nutrient iron to cell formation, copper plays a vital role in the functioning of your body. It wards off anaemia – a condition where there’s a deficiency in haemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood which further leads to weariness and paleness. Copper absorbs and uses the iron present in your body and in turn, keeps up the iron levels and helps maintain the flow in the blood vessels.
Copper Applications in Health & Environment:
Copper is your friendly neighbourhood superhero as far as its benefits are considered, not just to the human body, but to the environment too. It is a cheap metal, available in abundance as well as easiest to recycle. There are several benefits of copper, here are some to our health and our environment at large:
Copper in Health:
A healthy human body requires trace amounts of copper to function effectively. Copper helps with generating heat in the human body, aiding communication between different cells, breaking down of certain foods to become hemoglobin and boost our metabolism. Copper deficiency leads health issues like anemia, parasitic infections and leaky gut to name a few. Foods rich in copper include sunflower seeds, lentils, dried apricots, mushrooms among others.
Copper in Environment:
Copper is the friendliest metal in the environment. A good conductor of heat and electricity, Copper is a cheap metal which is also easy to recycle, making it the greenest natural metal. Copper is ideal for making solar panels. Copper is also the future of nanotechnology, it is interesting to note, that leading IT companies, use copper to make the most powerful computer chips available. In the past few years, copper is being used for bioleaching, a process by which mineral ores are extracted from their sulphide ores with the help of elements present in the environment. Copper also plays an important role in managing hazardous nuclear fuel waste.
Drinking Water from A Copper Bottle, Correctly and Safely:
Despite all the benefits of copper, one must remember that copper is only required in trace amounts in the human body. One must also remember that too much of a good thing could also become harmful, especially, if we are talking about the delicate balance of the human chemistry. Water makes 75% of our anatomy, however, one cannot keep on drinking water stored in copper vessel, all day and every day. Here are a few tips on drinking water from a copper vessel correctly and safely:
- Buy a vessel or bottle made of pure copper.
- Fill the bottle with water and store in a cool dry place overnight or all day or for 8 hours.
- Do not refrigerate the bottle.
- The best time to drink water stored in a copper bottle, is on an empty stomach in the morning.
- Do not overdo it, drinking water stored in a copper bottle twice a day (morning and evening) is more than enough to provide the necessary amount of copper to your body.
- Take breaks from drinking water stored in a copper bottle. For example, take a month-long break after regularly drinking water stored in a copper bottle for two months. This allows the body to flush out the extra copper.
Copper water is simply water that has been stored in a copper container. This allows for safe amounts of copper to leach into the water. While most of the practice’s purported benefits aren’t backed by scientific studies, it exerts an antibacterial effect that may kill diarrhea-causing bacteria in contaminated water. However, research suggests that for the leached copper to kill bacteria, the water must be stored in a copper vessel at least overnight or up to 48 hours. This means that the best containers are most likely copper pots or jars rather than copper water bottles that are filled on the go.
Box Matter
FAQs about copper vessels
Will using a copper bottle cause copper toxicity?
Copper Toxicity is caused by using a corroded copper bottle. Copper corrosion can be caused by acidic substances especially food items which are acidic in nature and the softness of the water.
How long should water be stored in a copper bottle?
Water should be ideally stored for 6-8 hours in a copper bottle to gain maximum benefits from it.
Can we store anything else in a copper bottle?
No. Only water can be stored in the copper bottle, other substances may have different acidity levels or chemical structure, and copper can react with the same, making it harmful for the human body.
Can we store hot/cold water in the copper bottle?
It is suggested that the water stored in the copper bottle must be room temperature, neither too hot nor too cold. Temperature can play an inverse role on copper.
How to clean Copper Bottles?
Pure copper oxidizes when exposed to oxygen and liquids. The best way to clean a copper vessel is to scrub it with lemon juice and salt, to remove the oxidation stains.