According to our understanding of the world, our sole purpose to drink water is to quench thirst and hydrate our bodies. Hence, the type of water we consume also matters. Not only does it have an impact on our health, but also suggests the kind of world we wish to live in. On that note, here are four reasons why you should avoid using plastic water bottles in order to protect the planet and your health.
Everything Is Not What It Seems
One of the biggest reasons why a lot of consumers purchase bottled water is because they believe bottled water is of much higher quality. The more pristine your water is, the bigger the chances of misconception. Many ads these days water being sourced from mountain springs. But honestly speaking, that is not the case. Many popular brands, including Aquafina, have also asserted that their water is sourced from public sources. Not just that, in a few cases, your bottled water will be much less pure when it comes out of a tap.
Not All Water Is Filtered
We all know that bottled water is given more importance than tap water, but the reality is that bottled water is nothing but a glorified version of tap water. While several manufacturers add extra filtering to water before they bottle it up, many do not and that leads you extra costs for the packaging. Some studies also say that bottled water is much less safe compared to tap water in various cases. Hence, assuming drinking bottled water to be as safe as public tap water may not be the best way to go about it. Not just that, bottled water has very little regulation and recent studies have also said that plenty of arsenic, microbes, mold, and phthalates in such contaminated water. Hence, they should be considered safe and pure.
Leads To Fertility Issues
No doubt there are multiple people around the whole who choose to sell water bottles that are free of plastic, but the question is, are they safe? The answer is no. Most plastic water bottles contain type 7 plastic which, if consumed in abundance could lead to many chromosomal abnormalities and birth developmental issues or disabilities in children. Exposing yourself to estrogen will also lead to decreased fertility in women and men. Hence, it is highly advisable for women to avoid drinking bottled water.
Can Cause Weight Gain
Now, this may sound a bit ridiculous, especially coming from the perspective of a zero-calorie drink like water, but bottled water is a prime factor behind unnecessary weight gain. Both BHPF and BPA can disrupt the hormones inside our bodies. Its compounds can have a massive effect on the estrogen levels in both women and men and it has also been tied with weight management issues. Exposing yourself to plastic water bottles could also influence the rate at which the fat is stored inside your body. This also leads to weight gain as well as difficulty losing weight.
So what is the alternative?
If you ever wish to reuse plastic water bottles, ensure that you wash them properly. A lot of plastic water bottles don’t need easy cleaning; hence it can be a bit tricky. That’s why you should always reuse one. Regardless of whether you wish to reuse bottles for convenience or even to help the environment, you should use stainless steel or even glass bottles instead. They are also quite clean to use and there is no need for you to worry about chemicals or bacterial growth or anything of that sort.
