
Facts About the Water Itself
Buyers of bottled-water may think they are purchasing a pristine, safe product, but there are some loop holes you should be aware of:
- Many of the words used on such products (like pure, disinfected, or filtered) are ambiguous and confusing, and companies can get around this because of few regulations and because up to 40% of bottled-water is taken directly from public drinking water systems (which are technically "disinfected" or "filtered." It's all a game with words, and the manufacturers know how to play it well.
- Certain labels are completely unregulated including sparkling soda water, seltzer water, and others. These can be, and most likely are, simply tap water with carbonation added (which is an additional health risk).
- All bottled-water that is processed, packaged, and sold within a single state is exempt from federal (FDA) regulations. It is estimated that this accounts for about 60-70% of all bottled-water sales (because the manufacturers know this and take advantage of it.) In addition, about 20% of states have no regulations for bottled water.
- Sales that do fall under FDA regulation are subject to much less regulation that what the EPA imposes on public drinking water. In other words, bottled-water is allowed to have higher levels of bacteria, chemicals, and other contaminants than tap water (and we all know how hazardous that can be).
Facts About the Bottles
Plastics of all types are very toxic to us and to our environment, and many consumer products and their packaging are dangerous. Let's take a look at some of the hazards specifically related to plastic water bottles.
- The vast majority of water and other beverage bottles are made of a plastic called polycarbonate. The worst chemical offender in this type of plastic is called Bisphenol-A (BPA).
- BPA is a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen in the body, and studies have shown that BPA leeches into the water, especially if it has been sitting for extended amounts of time or if the product has been exposed to heat or there is any damage to the bottles. When you buy bottled water you have no way of knowing under what conditions or for how long it has been stored.
- Many of the water companies that deliver allow the water to sit in plastic bottles during the very hot summer months. This makes conditions very ripe for leeching to occur from the plastic.
- Unfortunately the plastic companies do not have a good track record for telling the truth. For this reason, I do not believe there is a plastic that does not leech chemicals.
How bad is BPA?
This toxin has been linked to a variety of serious health risks in both adults and children including:
- Breast and other reproductive cancers
- Brain damage
- Liver disease
- Pancreatic disease
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Early onset of puberty
- Genital deformities
- Obesity
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Enlarged prostate
- Hyperactivity
- Down's syndrome
Safer Alternatives to Bottled-Water
Using a home water filtration system is the best option for a steady supply of safe water. The good ones usually are an investment, but it is an investment in your health and that of your family. It is also an investment that will pay for itself, dollar-wise and health-wise. Drinking pure, filtered or distilled water that is free of bacterial, viral, and chemical hazards is one of the key foundations of wellness, and its importance should never be underestimated. I personally recommend the Wellness Water Filters and have used them in our home for many years. The Wellness Filter whole-house filtration system gives a great return on investment and peace of mind in knowing that no matter what faucet is turned on in the house, clean water comes out.
For water "to go," consider filling up reusable glass containers from your filtered water at home that have been washed thoroughly after each use. You may also want to consider purchasing a refillable water bottle made of safe materials that has its own filtration system. That way you have access to clean drinking water wherever you are.
Water is important to every cell in your body. We live in a society that consumes huge amounts of coffee, tea, soda and sugary drinks and thus most people actually suffer from dehydration.
There are many illnesses that can take hold in a body that is chronically dehydrated. I recommend drinking either distilled water or Wellness Filtered water and adding a capful of organic apple cider vinegar to every 16-ounce glass or 3-4 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar to one gallon of water. A bit of agave nectar or Stevia can be added if desired. This water will help to hydrate the body and also put minerals into the body. Drinking 1/2 of one's body weight in ounces of water is a good place to begin the hydration process. Do this daily and soon you will prefer the apple cider vinegar water. The best part is that you will also begin to see some positive results regarding your health and well-being.
I know of only one company that offers distilled water in glass 5-gallon containers and that is Mountain Valley Spring. Yes, they will deliver right to your front door.
Don't buy into Madison Avenue's lies with their misleading words and pictures on bottles of water. Your health and that of your family is too precious to skimp on the quality of water you consume. Stay hydrated with your own filtered water and your pocketbook and the environment will benefit as well. One of the most tragic things about the bottled-water scam is that it masks itself as a healthfy choice, deceiving and endangering millions of people every day.
Other Resources
Bottled water contains disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue, and pain medication
Prevention and Healing with Water
Thank you for this wonderful article. It's time we all Think Outside the Bottle for a change: bottled water jeopardizes public health and the environment. To help change big corporations' exploitation of our earth's resources, check out
ReplyDeletehttp://stopcorporateabuse.org/category/sitecategories/water to break the habit!
Thanks for giving us such good information, Dr. Lanphier. The body needs and wants water and unfortunately in order to get clean water we must spend money on extra filtration in order to make sure it really is clean. Sixty years ago, who would have ever thought it would come to this!
ReplyDeleteThe information in the article is very eye-opening. I am wondering if there is any method we can use at home to test the purity of the water that we buy?
ReplyDeleteProbably the best thing to do is not "buy" any type of bottled water. Filtering your own with a good filtration system will be cheaper in the long run and will most likely provide better water. I bought a Wellness Carafe to use at home and at work. We even take it with us on vacation and weekend trips. Much better than the water in hotels and we don't have to stock up on bottled water. It works out well and the water tastes great. The Wellness shower filter is next on my list to purchase. OAW offers both plus replacement filters.
ReplyDelete