It’s summer. It’s hot. Staying hydrated is important, and no matter the occasion, water is the best choice you can make. But beware—with some water bottles, you may end up downing more than just water.
My personal water “bottle” of choice isn’t a bottle at all. There’s nothing better than a wide-mouthed, quart-size canning jar, right? Right. Water, like most other beverages, simply tastes better out of glass, so I almost always remember to keep a jar on the seat next to me when I head out. Even when I get razzed about it looking like moonshine, I don’t let that stop me from enjoying the simple pleasure of twisting off the lid and taking a sip.
My kids prefer the freebie plastic bottles they receive as pleasant reminders of some school event or sports camp. I try not to stress and let my boys drink out of them a few times, but after that I make them disappear—BPA is not exactly good for the body. Granted, these souvenir bottles occasionally come advertised as BPA-free, but after reading this article from Mother Jones, I realize that isn’t always enough. In some cases, once these “healthier” BPA-free water bottles get exposed to the sun’s UV rays, they aren’t any better than others on the market.
This proves once again that you need to be your own health-advocate in all areas of your life, and you need to educate yourself with unbiased resources. It isn’t just food labels that can make us look foolish at times.
Everyone in my family drinks out of glass jars at home, but these aren’t always the best option for classrooms or sports bags. So what are the safest alternatives? Here are my favorites:
- Glass water bottles with a protective sleeve: This option gives you the beauty of drinking from a glass, without the worry of it slipping from your hand. Obviously, the silicone sleeve can’t protect the hidden glass bottle from every scenario, but I’ve found them to be surprisingly durable. Plus you can pick from several types of lids.
- Stainless steel: These are lighter than glass, which makes them a nice option for activities such as hiking. But stainless steel containers are not all created equal—some hide a plastic lining on the inside. Be sure to look for 100% food-grade stainless steel on the interior of the bottle. And it should be BPA-free, of course.
Nothing is more frustrating than finding out the choices you’ve made aren’t as healthy as you thought. What’s your bottle of choice for clean, healthy water on the go?
Photo from iStock/twilightproductions
Paula Widish, author of Trophia: Simple Steps to Everyday Self-Health, is a freelance writer and self-healther. She loves nothing more than sharing tidbits of information she discovers with others. (Actually, she loves her family more than that—and probably bacon too.) Paula has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Public Relations and is a Certified Professional Life Coach through International Coach Academy.
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I think stainless steel bottle are best for party, it is use many time and better than glass bottle….
http://www.mansuri.co.uk/
Ariana Watson
Thanks for commenting, Ariana! I would agree that stainless steel is the most versatile of the water bottles, without a doubt!! Cheers! :)
@paulawidish:disqus
thanks for kind reply!
You are quite welcome, Ariana! Happy Monday to you!!