Benefits of Drinking Earthen Pot Water
Want health benefits from plain water? Try earthen pots for storing and drinking water this summer to get maximum benefits.
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Humans have been looking into nature for protection against sickness for thousands of years. Especially in India, Ayurveda always considered nature healing important. Using earthen pot water is one way of living that weaves our lives with goodness.
Earthen pots, or clay pots, also called matka, have been used extensively for centuries to store water. Drinking water from these pots is believed to provide numerous benefits. However, recent technological shifts in our societies have pushed us away from our healthier roots.
In the past few years, attempts have been made to start using earthen pots again. But what does science say about it? Do clay pots really help?
Today, you’ll learn the many earthen pot benefits, how to use it, when to use it, and a few other interesting facts surrounding it.
The History of Earthen Pots
Before we humans started using metals like iron, we had gained expertise in using stone and other Earth’s materials. This was the time when stoneware and earthenware were used as cooking utensils, water-storing vessels, etc.
The current evidence of pit-fired earthenware dates back to 29,000 to 25,000 BCE. As far as the question of earthenware pottery goes, the story goes back to some millennia.
When it comes to legends and scriptures, the tale tells that the first earthen pot was made when gods and demons churned the ocean (Sheersagar) for Mahamrita (godly nectar). [1]
Apart from the facts and stories about clay pots, numerous earthen pot benefits must be known. These benefits are making people give these pots a place beside their refrigerators and cherish the goodness of the soil.
Earthen Pot Benefits (Matka) – A Healing Touch of Mother Earth
In ancient India, people used various containers such as gold, silver, copper, bronze, etc. Clay pot, or earthen pot, was one of the most extensively water-storing vessels. We’ll see why.
Ayurvedic texts, under Samskara, discuss the benefits of storing water in certain metals
1. Earthen Pots Work as Natural Water Cooler
Health experts usually go against drinking water stored in refrigerators. The reason? Our bodies respond differently when exposed to water at different temperatures. A few studies vouch for it. This is what they speak:
- Drinking water at a temperature lower than 16° C is the worst to rehydrate ourselves. The best water temperature to achieve optimum hydration was found to be 16° C. Anything too low than this temperature proved worse. [2]
Usually, the refrigerated water that we take out of our fridges and gulp stays around 10° C.
- Drinking large amounts of cold water (1 liter) can temporarily reduce lung function [3]
Water stored in earthen pots keeps the water cool, but not too cool. But how do clay or earthen pots cool the water?
Earthen pots are porous in nature. This allows for slow evaporation that brings down the water temperature and cools it down naturally. However, this effect might not be noticeable in glazed ceramic earthen pots because they are non-porous.
Unlike refrigerated water, earthen pot water can even be consumed easily by those suffering from cough and cold [4]
2. The Mud Pot Soil Adds a Healing Touch Of Vitamins and Minerals
All the nutrients that we consume and get benefitted from are the produce of the soil. The plants reap these out of the soil; we eat the plant produce; we get these nutrients.
It is not just ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, but science also confirms that touching the soil and plants increases the variety of microbes on the skin. This potentially mimics the benefits of growing up on a farm. Not only this, it enhances immunity and even benefits gut health. [5]
Storing water in a mud pot enriches it with essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron, which are naturally present in the pot’s soil. These minerals are crucial for various bodily functions and overall health. Furthermore, according to Ayurveda, mud pots embody the Prithavi Mahabhut (Earth element), an essential growth factor that promotes vitality and supports the body’s natural healing processes.
Earthen Pot benefits us by controlling the growth of pathogens in the water [6]
Vitamins and minerals fuel our body functions and help us lead better lives. Whereas their lack leads to fallen immunity and a streak of diseases.
Some Ayurvedic studies have even shown that drinking water stored in earthen pots helped maintain body glucose levels.
3. It Makes the Water Alkaline
Earthen pot water turns the water from acidic to alkaline. But what’s the hype about alkaline water?
The basic nature of the human body is acidic. Although it is natural, too much acidity in the body can lead to numerous health issues. Ayurveda states an imbalance of pitta to be the reason behind the body becoming more acidic. When this goes beyond the bar, health issues peak.
Here is what one might face with a body wading through hyper-acidity:
- The stomach acid rises, the chest burns, and so does the heart
- Nausea and vomiting creep in due to upset stomach and irritated stomach
- General discomfort or cramping in the belly area takes place
- Excess gas stuffs up the digestive system. The result? Bloating and gas
- Food becomes difficult to digest
And all this happens in the initial minutes of the tragic play. When left uncontrolled, it may lead to ulcers.
Alkaline water has been presented as an effective solution to counter this. It neutralizes the excess stomach and blesses us with health and healing.
Here are a few things that science has proven so far about alkaline water:
- Alkaline water enhances the acid-base balance and improves hydration levels in the human body [7]
- Drinking alkaline water enhanced overall athletic performance [9]
When minerals come in contact with the water stored in the clay or mud pot, they make it alkaline. Thus, drinking this alkaline water serves us the same benefits that commercially sold alkaline water provides. [10]
Water stored in plastic (bottles, RO containers, etc.) gets mixed with harmful compounds released by it
4. May Reduce the Growth of Pathogens
Water is something that we consume the most throughout the day. It hydrates us and helps us survive. However, numerous pathogens come uninvited with such water.
The porous nature of earthen pots cools the water down. This controls the growth of some bacterial populations. Not just this, water stored in mud pots has been found to be significantly helpful in reducing coliform bacteria. [11][12]
Coliform bacteria, although not potentially harmful, do lead to several health issues such as pneumonia, breathing sickness, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc. [13]
Ayurveda promoted the usage of metal containers and earthen pots to store water long back. The reason being their numerous benefits. However, water should be stored in earthen pots carefully. Below are some tips to enhance the quality of earthen pot water.
5. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Choice
Earthen pots are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic and metal containers. Made from natural clay, these pots are biodegradable and have a minimal environmental footprint. Unlike plastic, which often contains harmful chemicals and takes centuries to decompose, earthen pots break down naturally and do not release toxins into the environment.
Moreover, producing earthen pots does not involve using electricity, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or other pollutants commonly associated with the manufacture of synthetic materials. By choosing earthen pots, you avoid contributing to plastic pollution and reduce your reliance on electricity and toxic materials, promoting a more sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyle.
How to Correctly Store Water in Earthen Pots
Although earthen pot water benefits us to the core, it has been found to be contaminated too in several areas. To counter this and enhance the quality of water, take care of these few pointers:
- Store boiled and naturally cooled water or filtered watered in matka
- Cover with a properly fitting lid to prevent pollutants from falling inside
- Use clean hands to prevent the growth of bacteria and keep it hygienic
- Do not dip your hands inside the water while taking the water out
- Instead of dipping a glass inside, use a ladle to take out water from the pot and fill your glass
- Clean the matka (pot) every day, if possible. Dry it before using
- Covering the whole matka with a thick cloth (such as a sack) will keep the water comparatively cooler
- Add some cleaned vetiver roots to it for better cooling [14]
Other than this, you are good to store, pour, drink, and cherish.
The Bottom Line
For centuries, people have trusted earthen pots, or matkas, to store water. However, the recent technological shift has pushed us away from our healthier roots. It is time to realize the ancient wisdom and regain the traditional practices that work.
Modern science is catching up to ancient wisdom. So far, it has revealed the many earthen pot benefits. It lauds the natural water cooler.
Earthen pots gently cool water through evaporation, and the clay itself may add minerals and even reduce bacteria. Not just this, clay pot water can even make water alkaline and help us have better digestive health. Furthermore, it hydrates us better. Drinking from a matka is a simple way to embrace a healthier, more traditional lifestyle.
So, are you ready to ditch the fridge and rediscover the goodness of nature’s own water pitcher? Store, pour, and cherish.
FAQs
Is earthen pot water good for health?
Drinking water stored in an earthen pot serves numerous health benefits, such as providing more vitamins and minerals, making water alkaline, reducing bacteria, and keeping it cooler.
What happens when water is kept in an earthen pot?
When we store water in earthen pots, it cools down naturally. This prevents the growth of bacteria, makes water alkaline, and adds nutrients to it.
How to use an earthen pot for water?
To use an earthen pot for water, wash it every day (if possible), and dry it before using. Cover it properly with a fitting lid and use a ladle instead of dipping glass every time.
Can we put RO water in an earthen pot?
Yes. RO water can be stored inside an earthen pot. Not only will it provide better quality water but it will also add nutrients that usually get filtered inside RO.
Is matka water safe to drink?
Water stored in an earthen pot is safe to drink as long as you are not storing already contaminated water. If the water is contaminated, boil it. Otherwise, store RO-purified water in the pot.
