Natural Health Newsletter Randall Neustaedter OMD Plastic dangers Water bottles Bottled water is here to stay, a booming industry that grosses more than $7 billion dollars a year in the US. Water is good, hydration is essential, especially when exercising, which is also good. But the bottle you drink from may be dangerous to your health. Polycarbonate water bottles (labeled #7) contain bisphenol A (BPA), which leaches from the plastic even at room temperature and has been linked to chromosome damage and hormone disruption. These are the types of plastic Nalgene water bottles found in sports stores. #1 PET or PETE bottles (polyethylene terephthalate) may leach DEHA, a known carcinogen, if used more than once. Additionally, your water bottle that has been refilled is likely to contain potentially harmful bacteria that grow on saliva, food particles, and fecal material from unwashed hands. Many people have reported getting diarrhea from their reused water bottles. Washing bottles with hot water and detergent or a rinse with bleach will sanitize them, but also leaches harmful chemicals out of the plastic. What to do? Use metal bottles. A Swiss company, SIGG, makes colorful and safe aluminum drinking bottles lined with an impermeable alloy. They can be found on the Internet. The best price and the greatest variety of choices I have found in the US is at www.momovelo.com in the sundries/liquids section. They offer both children's and adult's sizes and designs. Many other sites carry SIGG bottles as well. Thermos makes stainless steel bottles for both hot and cold drinks or soups at www.thermos.com. Wash these bottles and their tops with hot water by hand after use. Dishwashers may not get into the narrow mouths of water bottles to clean their interiors. Safer plastic containers are polyethylene #2 and #4 (High density HDPE #2 and Low density LDPE #4). HDPE is used for milk, water, juice, and yogurt containers. LDPE is used for squeezable bottles (honey, mustard, etc.). Buy food products packaged in glass whenever possible. Use glass containers for storing leftovers. Relatively safe #1 polyethylene terephalate (PET) used only once #2 and #4 polyethylene Unsafe # 5 polypropylene (catsup bottles, yogurt containers) #6 polystyrene (Styrofoam) #7 polycarbonate (Nalgene) water bottles Never use Food or drinks heated in plastic containers in a microwave. Styrofoam cups (polystyrene #6), especially for hot liquids. #7 polycarbonate (Nalgene) water bottles Plastic baby bottles. If you must use bottles, use only glass baby bottles with silicone, not latex, nipples. Do not reuse plastic water bottles. And don't forget to have children wash their hands after using the bathroom. Spread the Word Please refer your friends and patients to this free email newsletter, and encourage them to subscribe with an email to [log in to unmask] And don't forget that you can view all past newsletter articles at www.cure-guide.com. Randall Neustaedter OMD, LAc Classical Medicine Center 1779 Woodside Rd., Suite 201C Redwood City, CA 94061 650 299-9170 Author of The Vaccine Guide, North Atlantic Books, 2002 "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein " Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead "When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government, you have tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~