Is your copper bottle doing more harm than good? Here's how it could be harming your kidneys

These days, many people are turning to copper bottles for their daily water intake, believing it's a healthy choice. Since copper is an essential mineral needed by our body for various functions like red blood cell production and immune support, the trend makes sense. But is it really safe for your kidneys? Here’s what we know, based on a report by TOI.

How Does Copper Water Help?
Copper is vital, but we only need it in small amounts. When water is stored in a copper bottle, a tiny bit of copper mixes into the water naturally. This can help improve digestion, kill bacteria, and support overall health. It’s one of the oldest Ayurvedic practices.

What Is Copper Toxicity?
While a small amount is helpful, too much copper can be harmful. This is called copper toxicity. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhoea. TOI cites studies that show long-term exposure to high levels of copper can damage organs like the liver and kidneys. In some cases, this damage may be permanent.

How Does It Affect the Kidneys?
Your kidneys work hard to filter out waste, including excess copper, from your blood. Drinking water with normal levels of copper is usually safe. But if you're using the copper bottle too often or for too long, the copper levels can become too high. This puts pressure on the kidneys and may lead to injury or long-term harm.

People who already have kidney or liver problems are at greater risk. According to TOI, they should not drink water from copper bottles without first checking with their doctor. Also, water stored in a copper bottle for more than 6–8 hours may contain more copper than is safe.

How Much Copper Is Safe?
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should not consume more than 1.3 mg of copper daily, with the upper safe limit being 2 mg. Some copper bottles may release more than this if the bottle is not of good quality or water is stored for too long.

Tips to Use Copper Bottles Safely

• Choose a good quality bottle to avoid excess copper leaching.
• Store only clean, room temperature water in the bottle. Avoid adding lemon, tea, coffee or storing hot/cold water.
• Limit storage time to 6–8 hours. A good habit is to fill the bottle in the morning and drink the water through the day.
• Clean the bottle regularly using natural cleaners like lemon and salt or vinegar to remove any copper oxide.
• Don’t rely on it as your only water source.
• Avoid use if you have liver or kidney issues, or speak to a doctor first.
• Check for any damage or rust on the bottle, as this can increase copper levels in the water.

Inputs from TOI