Do your copper bottles do more harm than good? This may harm your kidneys

Many people are turning to copper bottles for daily intake, thinking it is a healthy choice. Since copper is an essential mineral that our body needs for various functions, such as the production of red blood cells and immune support, the trend makes sense. But is it really safe for the kidneys? According to the TOI report, this is what we know.

How does copper water help?

Copper is crucial, but we only need a small amount. When the water is stored in a copper bottle, a small pinch of copper will naturally mix in the water. This can help improve digestion, kill bacteria and support overall health. This is one of the oldest Ayurvedic practices.

What is copper toxicity?

Although small amounts are useful, too much copper can be harmful. This is called copper toxicity. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea. Toi cites studies that suggest long-term exposure to high levels of copper may damage organs such as the liver and kidneys. In some cases, such damage may be permanent.

How does it affect the kidneys?

Your kidneys work hard to filter out waste from your blood, including excess copper. Drinking water for copper is usually safe. However, if you use copper bottles frequently or too long, the copper levels may become too high. This puts stress on the kidneys and can cause injury or long-term injury.

People who already have kidney or liver problems are at greater risk. According to TOI, they should not contact their doctor first and should not drink water from copper bottles. Likewise, water that stores water in a copper bottle for more than 6-8 hours may contain more copper than safe copper.

How much copper is safe?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults are not allowed to consume more than 1.3 mg of copper per day, while the upper limit is 2 mg. If the bottle is not of high quality or stored for too long, some copper bottles may release more.

Tips for safe use of copper bottles

• Choose a high-quality bottle to avoid excessive copper leaching.
• Store only clean room temperature water in the bottle. Avoid adding lemons, tea, coffee or storing cold water.
• Limit storage time to 6-8 hours. A good habit is to fill the bottle in the morning and drink water throughout the day.
• Clean the bottle regularly with a natural detergent (such as lemon, salt, or vinegar) to remove any copper oxide.
• Don’t rely on it as the only source of water.
• If you have liver or kidney problems, avoid it, or talk to your doctor first.
• Check the bottle for any damage or rust as this will increase the copper level in the water.

Input from TOI