Watering Wisely: Let’s Get Real About Water, Chemicals, and the Bottles We Drink From

Toxins are everywhere. While you shouldn’t panic, you should know about toxic transgressors that surreptitiously tiptoe into your home and sooner or later, into your body.

You let them in because, quite frankly, your baby needs diapers! The dog needs a flea collar! You need your favorite lipstick because it looks amazing on you. There are toxins present in all of these things.

What about your favorite bottled water? What about your favorite water bottle? You might be surprised.

Toxins exist in everyday household items, many of which you can avoid. But toxins can also be found in a critical nutrient for which there is no alternative: water. Your body is made up of 50 to 60 percent of it, you need a lot to stay properly hydrated (between 2.7 and 3.7 liters), and you can’t survive without it.

Between toxins in water and the receptacles from which we drink the water, it’s important to know the facts and make an informed decision about what’s going into your body. Avoiding toxins altogether might be difficult and seem like a lot of work, but you owe your body the best. Because you drink water every day, it’s important to bear these things in mind:

What’s in the Water?

According to a recent report by NPR, health problems from drinking water remain rare in the U.S. In most areas of the country, you can still have faith that your tap water is safe to drink. BUT you should consider using some sort of water filter because a recent study found that water contamination does happen at the local level, and often goes unreported.

What’s in the Bottle?

Don’t buy into the falsehood that bottled water is always purer than tap water. In fact, sometimes the bottled water you pay for IS tap water. One study found that “an estimated 25% of bottled water is really just tap water in a bottle—sometimes further treated, sometimes not.”

Another Reason to Ditch The Disposable Bottles

While we’re on the path of taking care of ourselves, let’s take care of Mother Earth, too. Plastic bottle waste is an epidemic. Yes, sometimes the disposable plastic water bottle is the most convenient water source. And sometimes those fancy labels are appealing and hard to resist, but is that worth the environmental damage? Stop spending on glorified tap water and get a bottle you can carry with you and refill or buy water in a glass.

Don’t Just Grab Any Bottle

Disposable plastic bottles are unquestionably the worst for the environment. Reusable bottles are meant to be sustainable but they aren’t completely without flaw. Let’s break them down:

Reusable Plastic
•       Reusable plastic bottles can contain BPA (Bisphenol A) and other toxins. Any plastic bottle will leach a little, but the main concern is inconclusive research regarding the toxicity of BPAs found in plastic water bottles.
•       BPA free water bottles are generally labeled as such and easy to find—look for the “BPA-free” label.
•       Many reusable plastic bottles are inexpensive, but aren’t high quality, don’t last long and find their way into landfills anyway.
Stainless Steel:
•       Stainless steel water bottles are durable, easy to clean, recyclable and can hold both hot and cold liquids.
•       Stainless steel water bottles can be pricey but they typically last longer than other reusable bottles.
•       Some brands offer fun colors and designs.
Glass:
•       Glass bottles do not affect the taste of the water or beverage and they do not leach chemicals.
•       They’re often the most expensive option and have the shortest lifespan (surprise, surprise). Because they’re breakable, glass containers are often disallowed in public spaces.
•       Some glass bottles are encased in break-resistant exteriors, extending their lifespan without chemically compromising the bottle’s interior.

Make a Healthier Choice

Did all that make you thirsty? We feel that, too! Keeping toxins out of your life and home is a daunting task. It requires vigilance, determination and a constant battle against complacency. Whatever choice you make, water is the most important nutrient. Awareness is key. Do your research, ask questions, be informed, and stay healthfully hydrated.

This article was originally published on NaturallySavvy.com