My first recollection of a large copper filter was at my grandmother’s home along with neatly lined copper glasses on the shelf. Back then, what was a norm was somewhere lost as life sped by. Fancy cutlery and less expensive products made way into the houses.
Sometime last year, I chanced upon an antique looking copper filter in one of my travels. Not only did it revive loads of forgotten memories where we, a bunch of cousins drank from the copper glasses to stay cool in the summer, but also made me realise that this is something I should be introducing to my boys.
Why Copper?
Jog your grey cells and chances are that you’ll remember a childhood surrounded by copper vessels. Ayurveda states that tamara jal (water that has been stored in copper vessels) has the unique ability to balance all the three doshas (vata, kapha and pitta) in your body. Copper helps to charge the water positively, and when you drink it, your body benefits significantly.
5 Benefits of Drinking Water From a Copper Vessel
Coppers helps with letting your body flush out the toxins, improving digestion, boosting your immunity, de-contaminating water, improving your skin health and more. Here are five known benefits of drinking water that is stored in a copper vessel.
Helps the Digestive System Perform Better
Ulcers, acidity and gastric issues were pretty much unheard of at least five decades ago. All these issues occur because of our inability to digest food better. Copper has properties that stimulate peristalsis.
Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions helps to move food to the different processing stations where it is digested.
Drinking water in a copper glass will help to curb digestive issues by killing harmful bacteria and reducing stomach inflammation.
Aids in Weight Loss
Grabbed your attention? Water stored in copper vessels aid in weight loss, but that doesn't mean you ditch the exercise routine. Tamara jal helps to cleanse your stomach that boosts metabolism and improves digestion. So, drinking that glass of water helps your body break down fat and eliminate it more efficiently.
Just the Perfect Detox
Tamara jal is your go-to detox option! It helps to cleanse and detox your stomach and regulate the working of the organs in it. A glass of water stored in a copper vessel when consumed early in the morning on an empty stomach ensures proper elimination of waste and better metabolism.
Slows the Ageing Process
Tired of the fine lines appearing on your face? Take a sip of good health with tamara jal. Copper is rich in anti-oxidants and with its cell-forming properties, it works wonders to fight off free radicals. It helps to produce new and healthy skin cells, thereby delaying the appearance of fine lines.
Improves Skin Health, Melanin Production
Did you know that copper helps in the production of melanin in our body? Melanin helps to protect our body from sun damage, heal wounds faster and aid in production of new cells that promote a blemish-free and clear skin. With the fact that it also helps to flush out the toxins, it can promote great looking skin all the time!
Kills the Bad Bacteria
Copper is oligodynamic in nature and it can help to destroy bacteria like E.coli and S.aureus effectively. Drinking water from a copper glass can keep water-borne diseases at bay. So, if you are worried about water being contaminated, store it in a copper vessel before you consume it.
Other questions on copper vessels
Buying it
Copper is a very soft metal. It is difficult to mould it into a fancy pattern or an intricate shape. Opt for pure copper vessels only. Do not buy anything that is a mix of vessels. Jugs, glasses and kalash are some options you can consider.
Using the Copper Vessel
Copper jugs and glasses are commonly bought to store water. Rinse it out thoroughly, fill it with water and cover with a steel or glass lid. Consume water after eight hours.
Washing/Cleaning the Copper Vessel
Avoid using a scrub or anything harsh to wash it because it can scrape the copper from the vessel. Squeeze out the juice from half a lime and use it to rub the inside of a vessel. Let it stand for a few minutes before you rinse with tap water. Alternatively mix baking soda with water and spread the mixture evenly inside the pot. Let it stand for a few minutes before you rinse it with tap water.
Storing Water in the Copper Jug/Vessel
You will need to store the water for at least eight hours before you consume it. Why eight hours? Because when water is stored in a copper vessel for over eight hours, just a teeny bit of copper ions gets dissolved into the water. These copper ions are packed with loads of health benefits for you. You can use either tap or filtered water to store in the copper vessel.
Just a Word of Caution
Anything in excess is not good for your body. Too much of copper can have a negative effect on the body. According to the FDA, about 12 mg/day is what one can intake without any side-effects.
Drinking water stored in a copper vessel about twice a day is more than enough to reap its benefits. Water stored in copper vessel should not be drunk all year long. Continue the practice for a maximum of 3 months, take a break for a month to ensure any excess copper deposited in our body is eliminated before you repeat the cycle.
(Pratibha spent her childhood in idyllic places only fauji kids would have heard of. When she's not rooting for eco-living or whipping up some DIY recipes to share with her readers, Pratibha is creating magic with social media. You can view her blog atwww.pratsmusings.com or reach to her on Twitter at @myepica.)
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