The last time I went to visit my grandparents was a long time ago. But I still have fresh memories of my grandfather’s wit and humour. The man is 89 years old and finds it amusing to see how fashion choices and lifestyle trends evolute with time. Things and foods that their generation thought lowly off are in trend now. He says it’s the human mentality to follow a repetitive pattern of behaviour. So the same movements and preferences come back after every two decades. After all, where will so many new trends come up from? He finds it funny how marketing gurus talk of Ayurveda as if it’s some discovery. 

Health Benefits of Drinking Copper Water!

It so happened that I was making a fuss about my lost water bottle. It was a cute reddish-pink colour metallic bottle that I had carried with me for 2400kms. I kept saying how drinking water from that copper bottle has changed my digestion, improved skin tone, etc. That’s when he potched in and talked about how they used copper utensils back in the day. Clean drinking water was a scarcity back then. Low-income families used copper utensils to store water to keep it fresh and hyenic for drinking. Human civilization has been using copper for a long time ago. The copper era or the chalcolithic era is marked in history for its heavy usage of copper in every aspect of life. Copper is a good conductor of heat and has antibacterial properties. 

On a side note, he also reminded me that drinking water directly from the bottle without giving it time to leave its ions is a plain farce. He called out my BS in front of the whole family!

So what indeed is all this drama behind those bright & pricey water bottles? Is it worth investing in one, and how to maintain one? 

What Happens When Water Is Stored In Copper Utensils?

The water gets positively charged when stored in copper utensils for a minimum of 8 hours. This activated water can clear all the three doshas, Vata, pitta and Kapha. This purification process helps in killing all possible bacterial and fungal growth in water. The water is also known to help in balancing our bodies Ph levels. 

How To Check If The Utensil Is Genuine Copper?

There is a high possibility of landing up with an adultered version of a copper bottle. This is because there are many cheaper alternatives available in stores and online portals. However, as a consumer, you need to understand that copper is not a cheap metal. Henceforth, one can not procure a copper utensil for any less; unless the seller gives it a loss. 

• Wash your utensil with a mixture of table salt and vinegar. If the resulting colour is a shiny reddish-brown, then you do indeed have the real thing. Exposure to hydrochloric acid exposes the metal to water, carbon dioxide and oxygen, making it reveal its actual colour. 
• Natural copper does not have magnetic properties. It will not attract a magnet that is around it. 
• Copper is a soft metal, and banging on it gives a muted sound, unlike an intense ringing from alloys. 

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Terrabrush Copper Water Bottle – YouTube #Shorts

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Health Benefits Of Using Copper Utensils?

Copper has antibacterial properties: When bacteria come in contact with copper surfaces, they die rapidly. This is the reason why hospitals around the world are contemplating the replacement of regularly used surfaces with copper plates. Copper was used to sterilizing water and wounds in hospitals even 4500 years ago. Before there were antibiotics, there were copper salts that were used to stop diseases. However, eventually, it was concluded that excessive amounts of it were doing more bad than good, and copper salts were cancelled. 

Copper slows down ageing: Free radicals are the reasons why we get those nasty fine lines on our faces. Copper is a powerful antioxidant and has cell forming properties that help in fighting off those radicals. Copper also helps in the creation of new and healthy cells. This is how it helps in banishing fine lines and wrinkles on our faces. 

Copper helps in easy digestion: Our millennial lifestyle plays a significant role in most of our ailments. Be it the amount of stress we take or the kind of food habits, it all leads to eventual disaster. 

Indigestion is one major problem that most people of our generation crib about. Copper has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in killing unwanted microbes in our gut. This reduces bloating and aids in keeping our inner aura clean and fresh. A clean gut helps in keeping up our appetite and also keeps our minds fresh. It also helps in cleansing and detoxing our liver and kidneys. 

Copper helps in keeping the heart healthy and in weight loss: Cardiologists believe that the absence of copper aggravates plaque deposits that lead to blocking vessels. Copper deficiency can also lead to weakened heart muscles and reduced pumping capacities. Copper is also known to teach your body how to respond to higher stress levels more securely. 

The right amount of copper can improve your metabolism significantly. A better metabolism leads to better fat burning. 

Not only these, but the antioxidants in copper-infused water helps in fighting off cancerous cells too. One can also benefit from the copper bottles when suffering from low haemoglobin count and hypertension. 

How To Use And Maintain Copper Utensils To Derive Their Maximum Benefits?

Traditionally, copper utensils were cleaned off using a thick paste of salt and tamarind pulp. However, you can substitute the tamarind for lemon or vinegar. 

It’s advised to clean your copper utensils once you have brought them from the store. Add the juice of a whole lemon and fill the utensil with water; let it sit for a while. You can then rinse this mixture with warm water and use it as it is. The acid helps in getting rid of tarnish and grime that has been collected over time. You might be the kind of person who is charmed by the benefits of lemon water. However, avoid this habit while sticking to a copper utensil. 

Ensure that you buy utensils from certified websites as they do a thorough quality check of their products. Genuine websites usually provide a certificate of authentication along with their products. Fill the utensil with clean water and let it sit for a night. Do not refrigerate it and drink that water first thing in the morning. Do not add lemon or honey to this water, as it makes the water highly acidic. Ensure that you continue the habit for a couple of months. After that, you may choose to give it a rest to detox your body off any excess copper. 

Potential Downsides Of Copper Usage!

Anything in excess is wrong, even if it’s nectar in its purest form. WHO advises a daily dosage of 10mg of copper for an adult human. Anything in excess can cause poisoning or copper toxicity. This happens in the form of nausea, headaches etc. and can lead to kidney and liver problems. 

However, these extreme conditions can only happen when stagnant water is consumed from copper taps. These conditions enable more copper to leach into the drinking water. 

All in all, the usage of copper utensils can do wonders for the human body. However, it’s crucial to be mindful of the proper use to derive those benefits. It’s terrific how Ayurvedic principles always stay relevant irrespective of the age we are in.