Why I Don’t Use Plastic Water Bottles
Smart people use metal water bottles and you should too! Just kidding, but read this article for my view on how you can help your health and the health of the planet by making the switch from plastic to metal.
I went on a hike this past weekend and was asked the same question I received in an email a few weeks ago. The discussion on the hike was whether it was “safe” to drink water out of a plastic bottle. This came up because of the Sigg bottles
In the discussion of why I choose the metal bottles, I referred to my article indicating that we do need to be concerned about the effects long term exposure to chemicals in plastic may have on our health. What I was asked was, why I should worry about using plastic water bottles when I am unavoidably exposed to plastic from many other sources. One person on the hike even pointed out that many of the pipes that bring the tap water to my house are lined with plastic. While all that is true, I use non-plastic bottles simply because that is one exposure I can control. This is the same reason I do not cook in Teflon coated pans. In addition, by using a metal bottle, I feel I am making a small contribution to the reduction in overall use of petroleum based plastics. Your mileage may vary, make your own decision, but……
I feel strongly we should take a common sense, simple approach to our health. Control what we can without great inconvenience, and don’t lose sleep over the rest that we can’t control. If you take this approach to both your diet and your lifestyle, you may be surprised at all the positive changes you can make. If you figure that because you can’t control everything, there is no point in making healthy changes, then guess what…. the changes will be slow and difficult in coming.
So, try a stainless steel or Sigg water bottle. Not only do you avoid the immediate exposure to the chemicals from a cheap plastic bottle, you get a virtually indestructible water bottle that you can use over and over again.
And a big thank you to the people who purchased products from Amazon last month using either text or image links like the three for the bottles above or by using this link for anything else you might buy from Amazon. The price of your purchases are exactly the same for you, and Amazon pays me a tiny commission. Over the course of a year, if I am fortunate, I can earn back the cost of hosting and maintaining this site. It really is a painless contribution by you to help spread the “healthy living” message and I appreciate it very much!
Choose from box
Hi Will,
I, too, have stopped using plastic water bottles, and have stopped storing foods in plastic containers.
I understand that some plastic food storage containers now have built-in anti-bacterial stuff, and I don’t want that in my food, either.
Storing food in glass bowls or jars isn’t inconvenient, and I think they wash up better and easier than plastic anyway. I cook in glass pots and pans, too, and they are much easier to clean than metals.
Comment by Michelle — March 25, 2008 @ 8:17 am
Wow, Michelle! I did not know anything about the antibacterial chemicals in plastic food storage containers. I’ll have to check that out. Has anyone seen advertisements for these?
Do you use glass on the stove top also, Michelle? I did not know there were glass pans that were safe to use on burners.
Comment by Will — March 25, 2008 @ 9:36 am
Hi Will,
Supposedly, a company called The Sharper Image uses these anti-bacterial chemicals in their plastic food storage containers, but that is not speifically stated on their website. They just say that their “specially treated polypropylene containers” help retard spoilage. They call it their “Fresher Longer Miracle Food Storage” containers.
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__ZN024
I posted a story about it a while ago…..this stuff is in the washing machines, clothing, food containers…quite a lot of things.
I put the link to my post on it….just click my name, and especially check out the third paragraph from the bottom of the story.
As for class cooking pots, Corning Glassworks makes them; they’re called Corning Visions cookware; there are small, medium and large pots with lids, a couple sizes of frying pans (the large one has a lid), and a 5-quart Dutch oven, all for stove-top use.
My set is amber color, but I think it comes in cranberry color, too. I use a lot of the other Corning ware on the stove as well. Anything Pyrex (also a Corning label) is save to use on the stove as well.
I’ve been using them for years, and I just love them.
Comment by Michelle — March 25, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
Aha! I have both Corning and Pyrex pots, but did not know they were gas burner safe. Thanks, I have just used them in the oven. I use stainless steel pots and pans on the surface now. It is good to know I can use the others if I need to.
Comment by Will — March 25, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Great!
Stainless steel is good, but of course aluminum has been moved to the “do not use” list along with Teflon coated items.
I’m sure you know this, but for readers who may not, don’t put glass or ceramic cookware over the fire if they have just come from the refrigerator and are cold. Applying flame may make them crack or break.
Happy cooking!
Comment by Michelle — March 26, 2008 @ 8:14 am
Namaste’ Will I just started buying these a bit ago so thank you for posting this GREAT post, I do a ton of hiking and biking. I do hope people follow the link to purchase them here if they haven’t, not to mention for those fashion conscious hahaha hey some people are, especially teens, they are funky looking to boot so you not only reduce water bottles being thrown into landfills due to becoming icky, you get something that looks really good ! YAY YAY for writing a blog about them. :0)
sky
Comment by sky — April 1, 2008 @ 1:47 pm