The U.S. water supply is an absolute MESS. So I don’t blame people for turning to bottled water.
It certainly SEEMS like it would be a cleaner, safer, and better choice.
But there’s a downside to bottled water. And it’s not just those hernia-inducing cases you’ve got to lug from your car to your kitchen.
The truth is bottled water may NOT be nearly as clean and safe as you think it is.
I’ve shared research in the past that found an alarming number of nightmare chemicals turning up in common bottled water brands. Now, the latest research confirms some popular types of bottled water contain one of the worst contaminants of all.
And I’ve got to warn you, what this research uncovered isn’t pretty. When something we think of as clean and pure… well, isn’t… it’s upsetting.
Creepy chemical found lurking in bottled water
Of 100 bottled water products tested, 39 contained high levels of PFAS. Known as a “forever” chemical, PFAS can accumulate inside the body, setting the stage for cancer, immune dysfunction, hormone disruption, and chronic health problems.
Those levels were all within federal limits. But get this, it’s not because they were low. It’s because the federal government doesn’t have a “safe” limit.
And yes, I’m deadly serious. Can you believe that?
Sadly, after years of researching this topic, I CAN. In fact, I’m not surprised in the least. The feds have been nowhere to be found on this crucial issue. They routinely allow dangerous chemicals to slip into both tap water and bottled water.
There are renewed calls from scientists, consumer groups, and citizens for the government to get tough, set limits, and regulate chemicals in the water. For PFAS, experts are pushing for a cutoff of 1 part per trillion.
Under THAT basic suggested guideline, 19 of the bottled water samples in the new study would’ve flunked. When you do the math, that means you would have a 1 in 5 chance of getting poisoned slowly by your own bottled water.
The researchers found that brands listed as “spring water” were much more likely to have PFAS than brands simply listed as “filtered.” But they didn’t name names.
And honestly, they don’t have to. Because there have been enough alarming reports about bottled water that you shouldn’t touch the stuff except in a pinch.
Last year, for example, Consumer Reports found PFAS in 43 of the 47 different bottled waters they tested. And in 2018, researchers found that bottled water can contain thousands of plastic “microparticles.”
How to get SAFER and CLEANER water
Of course, your tap water isn’t better. If anything, it’s worse than bottled water.
Tests have found dozens of poorly regulated and completely unregulated chemicals in U.S. drinking water, from lead to drugs to hormones to jet fuel.
And then there’s the stuff they dump into our drinking water on purpose, like fluoride and chlorine. Are we SERIOUSLY expected to drink this sludge?
Your safest bet is to filter your own water. There IS an investment involved, but you have to do it the right way if you want truly clean and safe drinking water. Your best bets are to use either a reverse-osmosis system or a distiller.
Reverse osmosis will require an installation, often under the kitchen sink, but some folks filter the water right where it enters the home. A distiller sits on your countertop and needs to be filled regularly, and some people notice a difference in taste.
Either one will set you back a little coin… often a couple hundred bucks. But since you’ll never have to pay for bottled water again, you’ll save money on the deal in the long run and get safer water to boot.
Oh, and unlike those cases of bottled water you won’t get a hernia using it.
Latest posts by Alice Jacob (see all)
- BEFORE you pop that weight-loss pill read THIS - August 15, 2022
- Shut down “zombie cells” to slow aging to a crawl - August 14, 2022
- Diabetic? THIS number is key [NOT daily blood sugar] - August 13, 2022
