In 2009, Americans purchased over 8 billion gallons of bottled water and spent over 10 billion dollars to do so.

It seems cheap to buy bottled water when a pack of 24 is priced the same as one vending machine beverage, but what a lot of people don’t know is that bottled water is 10,000 times more expensive than tap water.

The reason this product is so cheap is because you are buying complete garbage! Ever heard of a chemical called bisphenol A? Well, this chemical is present in a lot of plastic and synthetic materials on the market, including food and beverage containers.

The water in disposable plastic water bottles comes in contact with its container, which causes particles from the container to mix with the water itself. In other words, when you drink bottled water, you are unwillingly ingesting bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A has been proven to effect countless bodily functions, such as the following:

• Brain function
• Prostate function
• Liver function
• Kidney function
• Breast milk production

For some bizarre reason, there is a rumor that bottled water is much more safe than tap water, but this is completely false!

Did you know that in America, tap water actually undergoes more strict regulations and has to pass more federal safety inspections than bottled water? In fact, in 2008 a study focused on 10 different American bottled water brands found that there were 38 contaminants present in the so-called purified, fresh water.

So, on top of the contaminants already present in your bottled water, there are additional toxins leaking from the bottles themselves!

I would love to tell you that buying bisphenol A free water bottles would help, but unfortunately, even those water bottle brands are finding new, unrecognizable chemicals instead!

If you can’t escape bottled water, here are a few tips to lower your risk:

Know when and when not to reuse: When you’re buying cheap plastic water bottles, do not reuse the bottles! As the bottle breaks down, more chemicals will be released into your water. While we’re on the subject of reusing; DO buy safe reusable, chemical-free water bottles made of safe plastics, stainless steel, and glass!

Don’t heat: Never heat your disposable plastic water bottles; this includes leaving them in the sun for prolonged periods of time and putting them in the dishwasher. When the plastic is heated, it breaks down and releases more bisphenol A.

The ultimate escape from this horrible scam is to drink purified tap water! It truly is the most healthy, cost effective, and environmentally friendly option.

Not only are you hurting yourself when you drink bottled water; you’re also harming the beautiful world we live in.

Ask yourself, why would you purchase an overpriced, toxin-filled version of nature, when you have access to the beautiful, natural, and healthy resource for a fraction of the price?

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/bisphenol.htm

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/bottled-water-bad-for-people-and-the-environment/

Image Source: The Power of Pink