An ancient practice with a modern twist

Storing drinking water in copper vessels is an old Ayurvedic practice, and modern research gives us reasons why it has endured. Copper is naturally antimicrobial. Studies have found when water is stored in copper vessels for several hours, the copper can significantly reduce bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella Typhi, and Vibrio cholerae. Copper is also an essential trace mineral that our bodies need for functions including energy production, iron metabolism, connective tissue formation, and maintaining the nervous and immune systems. A copper cup is therefore more than a beautiful way to hold water — it brings a traditional practice into something as ordinary.

A healthy habit

I fill my copper cup with plain water at night and leave it beside my bed. By morning, the water has been sitting in contact with the copper for several hours, and the cup itself has another surprisingly useful benefit: it is difficult to ignore. A little indulgence to start my day; hydrating before coffee, before checking my phone, or getting rushed into the day.

Keep it simple

The practice doesn't need much ceremony. Fill the cup with plain drinking water before bed, leave it overnight, and drink it in the morning. Sometimes the smallest details are what make a simple habit stick.