Choosing Water Bottles – Plastic No, Metal Yes

Eco-friendly Containers for the New Green World

Mar 31, 2010
Karla Beatty

Aluminum or Stainless Steel Bottles - Karla Beatty

Bottled spring water is a popular choice of healthy beverage. Turns out that drinking tap water is safer and more ecologically sound than drinking from plastic bottles.

In the not-too-distant past people drank from water fountains. These public drinking founts were a common courtesy provided almost anywhere the public went. When spring water was introduced, it quickly became a more trusted source. Soon it became trendy to carry water in plastic bottles tucked into a pack or hooked onto a belt. Next plastic bottles were seen as wasteful. Now, it seems, drinking from plastic bottles may be dangerous.

The Problem with Plastics

Studies have shown that water and other beverages in plastic containers may not be safe or desirable. Chemicals in the plastics can leak out into the water. These chemicals may cause a variety of health problems such as cancers, an increased risk of miscarriage, and interference with the body’s hormonal system. The manufacture of plastic bottles uses large amounts of energy and generates toxic pollutants. Plus, although these plastics may be recycled, millions of plastic bottles end up in landfills each year.

Metal Water Bottles Are a Better Choice

A healthy goal is to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. It’s still a good plan to carry water with you as you travel, play sports, or go to the gym. In this era of green practices, the new focus is on staying hydrated in the most eco-friendly way.

Instead of buying spring water, use filtered tap water.
Replace those plastic bottles with portable metal water bottles.
Aluminum bottles, such as those made by Sigg, are safe to use and can be reused repeatedly. They can also be recycled eventually
Stainless steel bottles, such as those made by Klean Kanteen, are easy to clean and maintain. They can also fit into bicycle water bottle cages.

There are many sources for buying the new metal water bottles. Look in health food and natural food markets. Check out camping and backpacking supply stores. Some coffee shops carry both hot and cold bottles. And, of course, there are many online sources. As metal bottles become more popular, there are many new brands popping up. Be sure to choose bottles that have non-toxic and non-leaching liners. Metal bottles come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and patterns. Ideally they should be both durable and lightweight. A wise consumer always researches brands and product quality before buying.

Tips

You can carry drinking water in those metal travel coffee mugs, also.
Recycle your old plastic Nalgene bottles.
Rinse your water bottles frequently and thoroughly.
Cut in lemon or lime slices for extra flavor.
Add electrolyte powder mixes for that sports drink boost.
Get a bottle that can clip on to your belt or tote for easy transport.

Karla Beatty---Sweet!, Kathy Renee Beatty

Karla Beatty - "People often ask me, how long have I been an artist? There is only one answer to that--All My Life." Karla Beatty is a life-long ...

Comments

Feb 25, 2011 12:19 AM

Guest :

I am not as concerned about what is in the water as what is in the bottle. The chemicals in the bottles are making it very likely that there will be many fewer males in the future. Some even see a future with no males. You see, one of the greatest cons in history has been that the males are the superior and stronger sex but in reality women are much stronger than we males are (yes I am a male) and there is a large amount of evidence that women are the superior gender by far. Now that women are getting an equal chance we males took for granted, women are surpassing most males in almost every area. That saying, whatever a male can do, a woman can do better and faster is so true. Most women work circles around us males and they do a much better job.

Now for the chemicals.

A CNN report states that BPA can increase testosterone. From everything I have read, BPA and other chemicals have adversely effected males much more often girls. The fact that the male is actually by far the weaker sex is revealed in that in all but two of the major categories of birth defects (nervous system defects and endocrine system defects) had a higher prevalence among males.
Further evidence that the male is the weaker sex and that they are so by a great amount is the documentary film entitled “The Disappearing Male” was first shown on CBC in June, 2009.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=1122
“Where have all the boys gone?”
“Millions of males are disappearing.”
“We’re on the Titanic and we see the iceberg but we just can’t turn the ship.”
“It may be a threat to the survival of the species.”
The claims behind the rhetoric are that male to female sex ratios at birth are decreasing, sperm quality and fertility are decreasing, and genitourinary birth defects like hypospadias
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypospadias
are becoming more common. The film blames environmental chemicals, especially endocrine disruptors, and it claims they are causing “the most rapid period of evolution our species has ever seen” and that this may lead to our extinction.
95% of us have elevated levels of it in our bodies, and the younger you are the higher the level is likely to be. The problem is, even very low doses of bisphenol-A have been repeatedly linked to increased incidence of low sperm counts, the earlier onset of puberty, insulin resistance and diabetes, prostate and testicular abnormalities, among other effects.
Notice again, almost all of those affected are male.
Research that shows that boys born to mothers exposed to phthalates had smaller penises, and a whole host of problems which are now referred to as "testicular dysgenesis syndrome". These include reproductive abnormalities that are strongly linked to the later development of testicular and prostate cancer.
Mother nature knew the weakness of the male as compared to the female and that is why 106 males use to be born for every 100 girls. Males die more often at every age and even before birth, it has been found 150 males are conceived for every 100 girls so 45 die even before birth.
However, in the past several years, more girls are being born than males. In one area of Canada that is heavily polluted, 3 girls are being born for every male.
End result, I find it hard to believe that BPA is helping males. If anything, it is showing that males are the weaker sex and if anyone doubts the superiority of women, one has only to watch the males disappear. Don't worry however, before that happens, women will find a way to reproduce without males. I am also sure women would than come up with a solution to bring males back since most of us do want the males around. So males admit your weakness compared to women and seek help in these areas even if they are so many.

As much evidence that we have to show women are superior, I find it odd that many males brag about having to put it bluntly, a pair of balls and they brag about having big balls.

It is my understanding that a man's balls actually makes males weaker., If he did not have them males would live almost as long as women so guys the next time you brag about your nuts, you are nuts.