Is bottled drinking water the biggest con going or are there really magical and medicinal benefits to water in a bottle. God only knows they charge enough for it. Take my Mum for example. She's 82 years old and as strong as an ox, yet the only water she's ever drank is that straight from the tap. You should have seen my wife's face when Mum tuned down a glass of her Bling H2O. Now you might want to be seated before you read the next sentence. Bling H2O is available in 750 ml bottles which will set you back a whopping $40 US bucks, and the 350 ml versions a mere snip at just $24.
My wife, who's a bit of a snob bless her, says you can tell a lot about a person by the bottled water they carry. Well at forty bucks a time I think the only thing it portrays is what an idiot the person is for wasting good money on such bottled bunkum! I mean, c'mon $40 to quench your thirst! My mother asked my wife if there was any mind altering substances in the fluid as no sober person could be so daft as to pay for such a rip off, surely. Good on ya Mam.
In fact, such is the debate about drinking bottled water over tap water, that it's actually been proven in the UK that tap water in certain areas of the county is actually better quality than any of the bottled brands for sale. But whether you agree or disagree with the sale of water in pretty bottles, one thing is certain, and that is bottled drinking water has become very big business in recent years.
Of course, there are certain options that bottle water does have over tap water in that it comes as carbonated, mineral, or enhanced etc, whereas our tap water is always still and purified. Research also shows that European brands of bottled water are generally cleaner and purer than U.S. brands, but my argument here is who really knows? Certainly not we the consumer! As far as we're concerned it's all hearsay, but despite that, many of us, like my wife, fall for it hook line and sinker every single time.
So if some bottled water companies really do make false claims on their labels about the source of their water (and I believe some of them may do), how on earth are we to know? I guess the internet is a good resource for research but if one is going to be looking into the authenticity of the product, then what the heck's the point in the first place? Why not just enjoy a chilled glass of your favorite tap water and save all the hassle?
Until I get hard evidence that folks are popping their socks prematurely or getting real sick as a result of drinking water from the home faucet, I'm going to spend my hard earned buck on better things. If my wife and her cronies want to blow their dough on such rubbish, then let them, but it won't be coming out of my pocket! Enough said!
But is it, really? Recently, per a study conducted by the National Toxicology program, plastic drinking water containers were found to contain an element that could migrate into the water (or other liquid) and precipitate potential health hazards. The compound, Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component of polycarbonate and other polymers used to make bottles for beverages.
BPA is often chosen for a drinking water container because it is strong, but not heavy, like glass. However, research has shown that individuals, who consume Bisphenol A, tend to have a greater risk of certain types of cancers. Additionally, BPA can potentially interfere with hormone levels.
Many families also re-use their bottled drinking water containers after washing them in hot water, either by hand or in the dishwasher. Leaching of BPA into the liquid actually increases with re-use.
Now, to be fair, the increased risk of developing health problems from consuming the substance comes from being exposed to high levels of the compound. Unfortunately, BPA contamination doesn't just come from drinking water containers. The lining of canned goods also contains it.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control)found trace amounts of the toxin in the urine samples of every person who underwent testing during a controlled experiment. Infrequent usage of drinking water containers made with BPA may not be harmful but why chance it?
The market for bottled water remains largely free of federal regulation. The is translates to the possibility that you may be ingesting hazardous toxins that have made it into the public water system through either artificial or natural means. Why jeopardize your health even more by using a plastic drinking water container?
In addition to having health consequences, regular use of bottled waters produces an environmental danger. While most plastic is recyclable, a consumer has to make the choice to simply not toss their drinking water containers into their regular garbage.
By far, the best choice for drinking water containers is glass. Not only do you eliminate any potential health risks by no chemical contaminants, you also help to save the environment. A glass drinking water container can be reused repeatedly without degrading the material.
I consume my eight glasses of water per day and consider myself very eco-aware. After doing my research on drinking water containers and learning about the danger of plastic, my eyes were certainly opened. I had always assumed that the plastic drinking water container I carried around all day and constantly re-used was the best and safest way to consume my daily intake of water.
Now that I understand the potential dangers of the main compound used in those drinking water containers, I can take steps to reduce my exposure to a dangerous chemical by switching to a glass. I am told that it tastes better, anyway.
Both Gary Tooth & Rich Eng are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gary Tooth has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Appliances, Aging Problems and Pregnancy Problems. Gary Tooth is a proficient writer and webmaster for Drinkingdrinks.com where he has pieces on and. Gary Tooth's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
Rich Eng has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Water Filters and Family. Rich Eng serves as the leader of a high growth healthcare services business for a Fortune 500 company. A 20 year industry veteran and "holistic health and fitness" coach, he constantly researches better ways to improve one's mind, body and spirit. Follo. Rich Eng's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.