For those of you who would like a reusable bottle that not only functions well and is safe, but also has a little more elegance and class, Sarah sent in a picture of the beautiful water bottle she uses. It’s made of stainless steel, so there are no problems with BPA contamination.

Sarah got her bottle from Bright and Bold.  They carry a collection of BPA-free reusable bottles from SIGG, Safe Sippy, Klean Kanteen and Earthlust, along with a number of other items like tote bags, reusable bags, eco fashions and home accessories.

Being the curious sort, I decided to check out the supplier of the Earthlust bottles. It didn’t take long to find their website and take a look at all the different bottles available there. I emailed for more information, and Allison was quick to reply and send the requested information and pictures.

Allison explained their bottles are made in China, saying ”We would have preferred to produce them domestically but could not find any factory that did similar manufacturing in the U.S. Instead, we found a fantastic factory that has ethical work practices and safe materials. We have someone based in China who oversees each order as well, and we’re 100% confident in what they produce.”

click on the picture to see more detail of the pictures on these beautiful bottles.

They carry stainless steel bottles in 13, 20 and 33 ounce sizes, costing $16, $18 and $21 respectively. These gems are made of double walled food grade stainless steel, and the pictures are made with non-toxic paints.

The bottles come with a screw top lid, but you can buy a Sports Top for the bottles for only $1.

It’s recommended to hand wash the bottles to extend the life of the imprint, and really, most of the time you probably just need to rinse them out. When a bottle needs a little heavier cleaning, they recommend a baking soda or white vinegar wash.

What could be better than sipping your healthy drink from such a classy looking bottle?

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Drink to Your Health with Style – Earthlust Bottles

Since bottled water usually isn’t any better than tap water, and since it’s not good to reuse the bottles because they leach unsafe chemicals into the water, what can you do for portable water? Glad you asked.

The first part of the answer is to buy a water filter as discussed in an earlier post, then use that water to fill up some reusable water bottles that do not leach any bad chemicals into your water.

All the following bottles are 100% BPA-free:

The CamelBak This company has sold clear plastic bottles made with polycarbonate for a long time, however, they are now also producing bottles made from a new copolyester polymer called Tristan™ that is 100% BPA free. Comes if 5 sizes, from 12 to 33 ounces.

Pros: Dishwasher safe, no residual taste of plastic in stored liquids.

Cons: Need to look for the BPA-free logo on the bottle to be sure you’re getting the newer type bottle guaranteed not to leach BPA, instead of a polycarbonate the company will also continue to market.

Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel: These containers are made from electropolished, non-leaching stainless steel and come as a 12 oz sippy cup, plus 4 regular bottle sizes ranging from 12 – 40 ounces.

Pros: Dishwasher safe. large-mouth design allows you to pour in big stuff like ice cubes.

Cons: Cannot be frozen or filled with very hot liquid. Made in China.

Nalgene Plastic: This company is now producing non-leaching HDPE (#2) and LDPE (#4) plastic reusable bottles that come in 12, 16, 20 and 32 ounce sizes.

Pros: Economical and dent proof.

Cons: Nalgene is currently phasing out the old polycarbonate bottles that will leach BPA into your liquid, but some are still on the market, so be careful which kind you buy.

Platypus Company: This collapsible bottle is made with a durable, multi-layer laminate of urethane and food-grade, taste-free polyethylene film. It comes in 3 sizes: 17oz, 34oz, and 80 oz.

Pros: Takes up very little room when empty. Stylish in a funky sort of way. Bottles are tough enough to be frozen or boiled. Weighs 80% less than conventional plastic bottles.

Cons: Prone to spills when half-full. Must be washed by hand.  Looks a lot like an IV bottle.

Sigg Aluminum: These bottles are made it Switzerland. They have a special liner that prevents any leaching of the metal into the liquid and come in at least 6 different sizes: 13.5, 16.9, 20.4, 24.75, 33, and 50.7 ounces.

Pros: Dishwasher safe (though repeated washings may dull the finish). Can hold carbonated drinks. Taste neutral (doesn’t impart any plastic or other taste no matter how long liquid stored).

Cons: Availability shortage due to high demand. Cannot be frozen.

I’m sure there are more bottles on the market besides the above that are BPA free, and with more and more people looking for them, companies will label them as such.

A lot of outdoor shops carry these water bottles, Lands End, REI, and other places.  I just placed an order with ReusableBags.com to try one of the Nalgene water bottles and a Sigg bottle.  I’ve heard good things about this company.  I’ll let you know how it works out! Stay safe, stay healthy – buy reusable water bottles that are BPA-free!

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Safe Water Bottles

Take Your Water Bottle With You When You Leave Your Car
By James B. LaValle, RPh, MS, ND, CCN

You know that water bottle you carry with you everywhere? Or the bottles you use to feed your baby? If they’re plastic, they could be making you or your baby very sick. Fortunately, there’s one easy step you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones from the “toxic” effects of plastic.

The bottles you use may contain bisphenol A (BPA), an “endocrine disrupter” used to add strength to clear plastics. BPA can mimic, mask, or interfere with the effects of the body’s natural hormones. It’s been linked to prostate and breast cancer, and to neurological disorders in children.

The growing body of evidence was sufficient for the U.S. government to issue a warning: “the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed.” The Canadian government went further, listing BPA as a toxic substance, and banning the use of polycarbonate baby bottles. Children are exceptionally vulnerable to BPA because they are still growing and developing, but adults are also at risk.

But there’s one simple thing you can do right now to safeguard your family’s health. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found high temperatures from exposure to boiling water produced a 40-fold increase in the rate of BPA release, regardless of the bottle’s age.

So don’t heat that plastic. Microwave your beverages and food in glass or ceramic dishes. Never heat plastic baby bottles, and wash your plastic containers by hand to avoid the high temperatures in your dishwasher.
And take that water bottle with you when you leave your car in the hot sun.

(This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, the Internet’s most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com )

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Water Bottle Safety