10 Health Benefits of Drinking Copper Water
For ages, our elders have advised us to drink water from the copper vessel to reap health benefits. Perhaps, most of our elders still drink water from the copper vessel, but the younger generation has now switched to plastic or other metallic bottles.
Since our old traditions are making their way back to the present, it’s high time to know the benefits of drinking water in a copper vessel.
Before focusing on the benefits of drinking water in a copper bottle, let us throw light on the importance of copper for our bodies.
Copper is one of the essential trace minerals which offers numerous health benefits. It helps in making red blood cells and collagen. It also plays a vital role in the production of energy.
Now that you have an idea of the importance of copper in our bodies, let us have a look at the science behind the ancient Indian practice of drinking water in copper vessels.
The Science Behind the Ancient Indian Practice of Drinking Water from Copper Vessels
The concept of drinking water in a copper vessel is not new. It is something that was always suggested during Ancient times. But now we also have science backing the age-old logic.
A recently published article, in the Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, discussed the result of storing water contaminated with harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E.Coli in a copper vessel for 16 hours. Would you believe that no traces of bacteria were found in the water after 16 hours and that the quality of the water also improved?
This is just one of the many studies that prove the benefits of drinking water in a copper vessel. Studies have also confirmed that the copper vessel has an inhibitory effect on the bacteria and this, in turn, purifies the water and makes it potable.
There is also a myth that after the water has been stored in a copper jug, the amount of copper in the water increases beyond the permissible limit. It is considered one of the side effects of drinking water from a copper jug but WHO has busted this myth and has revealed in a study that the copper quantity stays within the permissible limit and it is not only safe but healthy to drink water from a copper vessel.
Various other studies have explained the science behind the ancient Indian practice of drinking water from copper vessels and all of them have given a positive conclusion.
If you want to purify your drinking water naturally, just store it in a copper vessel for at least four hours, and you are good to consume the water.
Let us now focus on the health benefits of drinking water from a copper vessel.
10 Health Benefits of Drinking Water from Copper Vessels
1. Helps in Weight Loss
One of the most important benefits of copper water is that it helps the digestive system to perform in a better manner and not only this, but it also breaks down the fat stored in your body. The broken-down fat is then eliminated from the body efficiently. Drinking water from a copper vessel in the morning helps in weight loss. If you want to lose weight efficiently without much exercise, you should drink copper water i.e. the water stored in a copper vessel.
2. Improves Digestion
Copper has anti-bacterial properties, and thus it helps in killing harmful bacteria in the stomach, and in turn, it improves digestion. It is also an excellent remedy for infection and ulcers. You can also drink water stored in a copper vessel for detoxifying your body. The copper mineral gets leached when you store drinking water in a copper vessel. The copper-rich water breaks down the food particles and helps in improving digestion. If you want to improve your digestive system, drinking copper-infused water is one way of doing it.
3. Slows Down Ageing
As we age, fine lines or wrinkles appear on the face. Copper has natural anti-oxidant properties. It also has cell-forming properties. If you want to slow down the aging procedure, you can use copper-infused water for fighting off the free radicals.
4. Good for Heart and Beats Hypertension
The American Cancer Society has discovered that copper helps in regulating blood pressure and heart rate. It is thus, good for the heart. Apart from that it lowers the level of bad cholesterol and beats hypertension effectively.
5. Beats Arthritis And Inflamed Joints
We have already discussed the anti-inflammatory properties of copper. This property of copper can be used effectively for getting relief from pain due to inflamed joints. If you are suffering from arthritis or inflamed joints, drinking water in a copper vessel can be the perfect remedy for you.
6. Beats Anaemia
When the level of copper is low in our bodies, we absorb less iron. This deficiency of iron results in anemia. Iron absorption in the body can be increased naturally with the help of copper. As the copper intake increases in your body, iron absorption will increase too, and this will help you to beat anemia.
7. Boosts Immunity & Heals Wounds Faster
Copper is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. You can use copper-infused water for healing wounds faster.
Another amazing health benefit of drinking Copper water is the strengthening of the immune system. Copper not only helps in the quicker healing of external wounds but also aids in fighting against any internal infection.
8. Regulates the Working of the Thyroid Gland
Copper is an essential mineral that controls the working of the thyroid gland. Copper energizes the thyroid and prevents too much of excretion from the thyroid gland in the blood. However, there should be a balance in the copper intake for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. So instead of consuming too much copper, one should consume it in limited quantity, and drinking water from a copper vessel is a perfect way to ensure that.
9. Boosts Skin Health And Melanin Production
Copper can also be used for improving your skin health. It supports the production of melanin which is the pigment responsible for the color of your skin, hair, and eyes. It also prevents the graying of the hair. The copper mineral because of its cell-producing properties helps in skin regeneration. It improves the softness, elasticity, and firmness of the skin.
10. Antimicrobial, Fights Infections
Several scientific reports have revealed that copper has antimicrobial properties. Here is one such report published in the National Library of Medicine. It can kill harmful bacteria effectively and helps in fighting against infection rigorously.
Tips on Drinking Water from a Copper Vessel, Correctly and Safely
Drinking water from a copper vessel can be very beneficial as discussed above. But, just drinking water from a copper vessel is not enough; it is essential to drink water from a copper vessel correctly and safely to extract maximum benefits. Here are a few tips for drinking water from a copper vessel correctly.
- The quality of the copper used in a copper vessel plays an important role. Buy the copper vessel from an authentic copper seller. Also, make sure that the vessel is made of 100% copper.
- After you purchased a new copper jug or bottle, do not drink water directly from it. Instead, wash or rinse it with a natural acidic solution. You can also use lemon and salt for cleaning the copper vessel.
- If you want to avail the maximum benefit of water stored in a copper vessel, then store the water in the copper vessel for at least eight hours. You can store the water in a copper vessel at night and then drink it early in the morning.
- Do not drink water that has been stored in a copper vessel for more than 12 hours.
- Do not store any liquid other than water.
- Never deep freeze the copper bottle or jug.
Do not keep drinking water from a copper vessel all day long. Excess of anything is bad, and the same thing is applicable in the case of copper too.
Drinking copper water once a day will help you balance the copper intake.
Myths Around Copper
One prevalent myth is that copper is poisonous to your body. This is not true; in fact, copper is one of the essential elements of the body. It is an important mineral for our enzyme system, and it helps in different kinds of metabolic procedures. Copper is poisonous only if you end up consuming corroded copper. It is therefore essential to buy a copper jug or bottle that is made of 100% copper.
Copper is not produced in our body naturally and therefore; you need an external source. And the best way of doing so is by drinking water from a copper vessel.
Also, just drinking water from a copper vessel is not enough. You have to store water in the copper vessel for eight hours at least and then consume it for gaining maximum benefits. When you allow water to sit for an extended hour, the copper is absorbed by water, and it acquires many valuable properties that can be beneficial for the body.
Are There Any Side Effects of Drinking Water from Copper Jug?
There are no side effects or disadvantages of drinking water in a copper vessel if you consume copper water as recommended.
However, as discussed above, you should not drink copper water all day long. Drinking copper water once daily is more than sufficient.
If you drink copper water in excess quantity then it can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gastric (stomach) issues, and headaches. And if you drink excess copper water for far too long then it can also cause serious damage to your liver.
Important Things to Consider While Buying a Copper Jug or Bottle
As discussed above, there are several health benefits of the copper bottle but we should also keep a few important things in mind while buying a copper jug or bottle:
- Buy only 100% copper vessels. Do not purchase copper vessels that are mixed with other metals.
- Buy copper vessels that have a big mouth. It is because it is natural for the copper to tarnish with the passage of time and therefore regular cleaning is needed. A closed or narrow mouth will make it difficult for you to wash the vessel. A big-mouth copper vessel can be washed easily.
- Sometimes, the adulterated copper vessel is sold as 100% pure. How will you check whether it is pure copper or not? One of the simplest methods to check the purity of copper is to apply some lemon juice on its surface and then rinse it with clean water. The surface should shine like new. This is a sign of pure copper.
- Always buy from a reliable brand or offline/online store.
Follow these tips to enjoy maximum copper bottle benefits without worrying about any side effects.
Now that you know how to buy a good copper vessel let us shift our focus to the cleaning process of copper vessels.
Recommendation – Copper Bottle and Jug
How to Wash Your Copper Bottle or Jug
The process of washing a copper bottle or jug is different from washing a regular vessel. You have to clean the copper vessel with your hand and not use the dishwasher. The dishwasher detergent can lead to the oxidization of the copper vessel which will damage it permanently.
Use a solution of lemon juice and salt in equal quantities, dilute it with water, and then use this solution for washing the copper vessel. Do not use any scrubber, soap, or detergent for washing the copper vessel. For the best cleaning, use hot water in the copper vessels.
You should clean the copper vessel once/twice a week using lemon and salt.
If you want to wash your copper vessel daily, use a soft cleaning liquid or hot water for cleaning it. You can also use the copper shining powder every now and then to keep the copper vessel shining like new.
Water Purifiers with Goodness of Copper
Keeping in mind the several health benefits that Copper-infused drinking water presents, some leading water purifier brands have launched purifiers that add the goodness of copper to the purified water.
If you are someone looking to take advantage of copper-infused water but feel it is too much of a task to use a Copper vessel.
You should consider buying a water purifier with the goodness of Copper.
We have reviewed two such copper water purifiers for you.
- Prestige Copper Tattva 2.0 Water Purifier – Low-cost Gravity-Based water purifier with Copper storage tank
- Pureit Copper+ RO+UV+MF Water Purifier – High-end RO+UV+MF water purifier based on the electrochemical dissolution of copper in water.
- Aquaguard Marvel RO+UV+MTDS with Active Copper Water Purifier – 7-stage RO that offers the goodness of copper-enriched purified water.
Final Thoughts
Both the Ancient Indian practice and today’s science provide us with enough reasons to drink water stored overnight in a copper vessel.
But try not to go overboard with drinking copper-infused water. Just drink once or twice a day from the copper vessel to stay healthy naturally.
The drinking water guidelines of the Bureau of Indian Standards specify 0.05 mg/L as an acceptable limit and 1.5 mg/L as the maximum permissible limit (in the absence of an alternate drinking water source) for copper in drinking water.
Like this information? Or have something to share? Connect with us on Facebook
Thank you for clarifying many questions I had regarding drinking from a copper cup. Is it safe to drink this water if you are on medication?
In general, there is no harm in drinking Copper water. But in your case, we would recommend you to please consult your doctor first.
Thank you for the detailed info on drinking copper water. I was too excited and started right off only drinking the copper water, and thought maybe I should check that out. So I did some searching and surfing, and ran across this Article. I had to smile while reading because all my questions were answered…even the questions that I didn’t know to ask or consider. Again, Thank You!
Thank you. Good Article. Very informative on the use of drinking water using Copper. You have cleared many of my doubts. Now I am interested in using Copper utensils.
Can I still drink copper water if I’m not deficient in copper ?
Yes, as long as you don’t overdo it.
My mums also says that, drinking water in copper jug is beneficial. Your article proves my mum’s opinions. Thanks for the article. Really informative.