Wellness Wednesday - Choosing the Right Water Bottle

As you know drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water a day is so very important for all your bodily functions. Equally important is what container you choose to drink your water from. Not all water bottles are created equally…. lets take a look at some of the good and bad options below:

The Best:

Glass bottles

Glass is probably the best option when it comes to water bottles. If your using glass water bottles you don’t have to worry about BPA chemicals like you find in plastic water bottles or other chemicals leaching into your water. And you don’t have to worry about a “tinny” taste in the water that you might find from using a stainless steal water bottle! As long as you take care of and clean your glass water bottles you won’t have to worry about bacteria either! Glass is also a much better option for the environment because they can be recycled! If your afraid you might break your water bottle just know that most glass water bottles come with a heavy duty silicone cover to protect them.

Note: Its also a good idea to look for water bottles without a plastic straw or spout because they may also contain BPA, phthalates, lead or other toxic materials!

The Good:

Aluminum Bottles

Aluminum bottles are another option. However these bottles may cause a chemical reaction if your putting acidic liquids in them. In order to prevent this they have to be lined with enamel or epoxy material that might contain BPA! Not only that but some studies have shown that Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s Disease and can also be toxic to the body! So personally I would steer away from this kind of water bottle.

Stainless Steel Bottles

As long as stainless steel bottles don’t contain lead or plastic liners (because again most contain BPA) they are generally safe to use. However, when I use mine I tend to notice a “tinny” taste to my water which has turned me off of my stainless steel water bottle. When purchasing a Stainless steel water bottle you have to make sure the label reads “food grade stainless steel” and doesn’t contain an aluminum or plastic liner.

The Okay:

Reusable Plastic bottles

This is a slightly better option then disposable plastic water bottles. If you choose a reusable plastic water bottle make sure they are BPA free because BPA is an endocrine disruptor, most water bottles nowadays are. Remember to replace these bottles frequently because eventually the plastic can break down and you can start ingesting the plastic itself. They can also harbor harmful bacteria as the plastic begins to age and scratch. Also don't wash them in the dishwasher because the heat from the dishwasher can cause the plastic to breakdown faster.

The Bad:

Disposable Plastic Bottles

Disposable plastic water bottles are a great convenience... you can buy them anywhere, however disposable plastic water bottles are not good for the you or the environment! There is a ton of these bottles just sitting in landfills and they are not biodegradable! Also they are not durable and most people try to reuse them again and again! If you are using disposable plastic water bottles don’t reuse them! The plastic breaks down and harmful bacteria can grow there! These types of bottles can also contain BPA which can be harmful to your health. If you are choosing these bottles please only use them once and then toss them. Its also a good idea to try and keep them out of the sun. The sun kind of has a similar effect to the dishwasher... it can break down the plastic and then you are at risk of ingesting chemicals!

Choose which bottle is appropriate for your purpose, of course I use and now recommend glass water bottles. Also be sure to drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. You can refresh your memory about some of the benefits of drinking water here!

Cheers to your health!!!!

Simply Truly Jenny...