K for Kansa : Alkalize your Gut

Overhauling your kitchen ware alone can have benefits that will last generations. The 4000 year old art of metallurgy in India, has given us beautiful craft and also long-lasting health benefits.

‘Rasratnasamucchaya’, describes the medicinal properties of Kansa kitchenware amongst others. Whether you’re looking to detox your body or environment, a great place to start is your vessels and cooking range. So, there are a lot of options. How do you choose?

1. Clay or Terra-cotta : The beauty of investing in this is that it enhances the flavour of the food, keeps the food moist, uses limited oil as well as infuses the food with minerals. It naturally neutralizes the acidity of whatever is being cooked and alkalizes it. It is believed to provide the required minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and sulphur that benefits our health.

   What to invest in : Cooking pots, water containers, tawa for breads and roti

2. Kansa : Bell-metal is the most therapeutic to have food. It keeps the temperature of the food stable while you consume it. It has alkalizing and cooling properties and is beneficial for all ages. While you can’t use it to cook, it is great for serving.

   What to invest in : Plates, cutlery, bowls and storage containers

3. Brass : This is the best for cooking rice and is said to awaken the “panchpran” or the 5 vital energies. Scientifically though, it has essential properties that allows the food to be cooked well and leaves a wonderful flavour. Although it requires a bit o maintenance every now and then, it will serve you long.

   What to invest in : Vessels for cooking rice, glasses, water bottles, kadhai for cooking

4. Copper : This is best for storing water - when kept overnight, it can turn the water alkaline, infuse it with copper which is an essential mineral for strong bones, immunity and metabolism.

   What to invest in : Lota, water bottles, bowls to serve food

5. Silver : Young kids are exposed to food in silver bowls and spoon at a young age because Silver has cooling properties that help calm the gut, boost skin health and cool ‘pitta’ in Ayurveda. It helps to charge water when kept overnight, and can be a great way to have sherbats especially in summer.

   What to invest in : Bowls for desserts, glasses, cutlery

6. Banana Leaf : Well, not just the leaf of the plantain, but also of the banyan tree, areca nut tree are used or steaming, cooking, turning into plates and bowls. They are excellent for packing food and keeping it moist, and preserved. You can easily say bye bye to plastic and never miss it. The leaf plate stitching is a livelihood activity for tribal people in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana states of India. The leaves and leaf plates are used for offering naivedyam to god during worship and distribution of prasadam to devotees. They are extensively used for serving food during marriages, religious festivals, community feasts, etc. The leaves from a vast variety of plants are used as dining plates, food wraps during steam cooking, grilling and frying of various dishes, and food packing material in India.

   In some cultures, dishes are cooked and served in fruit shells like coconut, pomegranate and pineapple amongst others. These again are a great way to use them and be sustainable.

   What to invest in : Plant a tree and enjoy evergreen supply of disposable packaging material

7. Gold : Fit for Kings and popularized by them, it is a beautiful metal to add, however it is definitely not the most pocket-friendly. That aside, gold cutlery can be extremely beneficial to boost brain power, and add trace metal to enhance your health.

   What to invest in : Dinnerware

8. Iron : The most common and the most important - this is a sure-shot winner if you’re looking to bridge deficiencies and cooking anything in it is a great idea. A natural source for supplementation, it is excellent to replace your horrid teflons and non-stick cookware.

   What to invest in : Cookware for stir-frys, meat, appams

Have you made the switch? What was your experience?

I’ve seen this little change do wonders, and highly recommend the investment that will last you decades.