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Water stored in matka (earthen pots) is cool and refreshing and has several health benefits. Drinking water stored in matka is an ancient practice that is regaining popularity for its numerous health advantages. Before refrigeration was common, earthen pots were essential for cooling water in hot climates.
Matkas are eco-friendly and sustainable. They do not require electricity, like refrigerators. The clay is natural, biodegradable, and reusable. Here are some of the health benefits of drinking matka water:
Natural Cooling Properties
The clay that is used in the making of the earthen pots or matkas is porous, meaning it has tiny pores. When you fill the pot with water, the water escapes through these small pores. As this water turns into vapour and leaves the pot, it takes the heat with it, and the rest of the water is still in the pot. This makes the water left behind cooler. The more water that evaporates out, the more heat leaves, and the cooler the water in the pot gets.
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Alkaline In Nature
Usually, the food that is consumed by you throughout the day can become acidic in the body. As per the National Library of Medicine, the water from the matka has an alkaline pH, which can balance the acidity of the foods and neutralise acidic toxins. This helps maintain a healthy pH balance and prevents issues like acid reflux and indigestion.
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Boosts Metabolism
As per the National Library of Medicine, the water from the matkas surely helps boost metabolism. Matkas are porous and allow water to breathe. As the water sits, the clay naturally filters it and infuses it with beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron. When we drink this mineral-rich water, it helps our digestive enzymes work better to properly break down food and absorb nutrients.
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Prevents Sunstroke
During the hot summer months, sunstroke is a common problem that people face. Sunstroke occurs when the body overheats from prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Drinking clay pot water can help prevent sunstroke. As per the National Library of Medicine, clay pots are porous and allow evaporation, which helps cool the water inside. This evaporation also allows the water to absorb more minerals from the clay. These minerals help the body rehydrate quickly and replace electrolytes lost through sweating.
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Gentle On The Throat
Drinking water that is too cold from the refrigerator can irritate the throat and make it feel itchy or sore. However, water from a clay pot is naturally cooler without freezing. The clay keeps the water from getting as cold as the refrigerator. Matka water is gentle and will not make coughs or throat irritations worse.
Natural Purifier
When water is stored in a clay pot, the holes act like filters to block harmful things from entering the water. Bacteria, parasites, and other contaminants cannot pass through the clay. This natural filtering makes the water much cleaner and safer to drink. The clay pot acts as a simple, natural water purifier without the need for chemicals or fancy systems. In places without modern water treatment, clay pots provide an easy way to remove risks from drinking water and prevent sickness.
Aids Digestion
Matka water can help your digestion because the water absorbs minerals from the clay as it sits. Drinking this type of water every day gives your body the minerals it needs. The minerals help your body break down and absorb nutrients from food. This improves digestion. As per the National Library of Medicine, the minerals also help your metabolism work better. Your metabolism is the process your body uses to convert food and drinks into energy.
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Safe to Drink
Clay pots are made from natural materials that have tiny holes throughout. These tiny holes work like filters to trap dirt and germs in water. When water sits in a clay pot, the holes catch the impurities, like germs, microorganisms, so the water comes out cleaner. People used to store water in clay pots because the pots would make the water safer to drink. The water is not perfectly clean, but letting it sit in clay pots removes a lot of the impurities. As per the National Library of Medicine, they are biological impurities which are caused by the presence of living organisms like algae, bacteria, microbes, and colloidal impurities, which include organic waste products and amino acids.
