The Alternative To Bottled Water

We have become accustom to the idea of having bottled water whenever and wherever we want it, but this was not always the case. It used to be, if you wanted to buy a bottled drink at the convenience store, your options were likely soda or beer. There are, of course, many advantages to having bottled water on hand; staying hydrated is extremely important for health. Particularly in emergencies, bottled water can be a life saver. But in recent years, we have seen that there are many unintended consequences of the plastics we have come to be so reliant upon for convenience’s sake. 

First, plastic might carry with it some health problems. Plastic is known to leach chemicals into whatever product it contains, whether it is water or food or anything else. Some of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors, similar to the mycotoxins the Kaufmann Diet works so hard to eliminate from our diet. BPA, or bisphenol A, is a classic example of these toxins. When plastics become overheated, or exposed to extreme cold, or become scratched or otherwise damaged, this increases the likelihood that these chemicals will make it into your water. 

The second problem has become that of plastic pollution. The world consumes so much plastic that plastic waste has become ubiquitous, even being found at the deepest parts of the ocean. All of this waste––largely coming from single use plastics––has the potential to significantly disrupt our environment, and subsequently our health. 

You do not have to be interested in environmentalism to realize that if plastic contaminates the ocean, it will easily find its way into the food chain, impacting the quality of seafood that provides protein to so many people. Plastic contamination can find its way into our water supply, and many other avenues that wind up contaminating our own bodies once it enters the ecosystem. We simply do not know what the long-term consequences for our ecosystem and our health will be yet. However, knowing that plastics contain chemicals that can potentially disrupt human health, we can assume the consequences won’t be good. 

We can all do our part and try to reduce our use of single use plastics, recycle when possible, and opt for more sustainable materials. One of the easiest ways to do this is by carrying your own stainless steel water bottle. 

There are a few benefits to using a product like this in lieu of plastic:

• • You can easily monitor your daily water intake. It is recommended to drink half your weight in ounces per day. 
  • Stainless steel does not leach chemicals into your water.
  • If you filter your own water at home, you will know you are getting extremely high water. 
  • You will automatically reduce your plastic consumption. 

Bottled water was a revolutionary idea, but its unintended consequences have been more profound than we could have imagined. Ditch single use plastic for something more sustainable and better for the health of your body and your planet.

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