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Drinking From Plastic Bottles is Not a Wise Health Move
May 6th, 2010 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
Drinking From Plastic Bottles is Not a Wise Health Move
When drinking bottled water you need to think not only about the water but also about the bottle itself. Plastic is not an inert substance as its manufacturers would like you to believe. It contains chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic hormones in your body.
Even tiny concentrations can cause problems such as:
Structural damage to your brain
Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning
Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
Altered immune function
Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual behavior
Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production
Anytime you drink from a plastic bottle you risk exposure, but if you leave your bottle of water in a hot car or reuse it, your exposure is magnified because heat and stress increase the amount of chemicals that leach out of the plastic.
via ’Tapped’ – A Movie About Water You Need to See.
’Tapped’ – A Movie About Water You Need to See
May 6th, 2010 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
The next time someone offers you a bottle of water, take a stand and say something clever like, “No thank you, I don’t believe in it.” This simple move will open up a conversation about the massive swindle that is bottled water … and possibly persuade one more person to give it up entirely.Please also make a point to see this fantastic new movie, “Tapped”, which is playing in select theaters in the United States and is available on DVD.Even beyond the issues of your health and the environment, bottled water represents a novel form of privatization, in which private corporations have succeeded, and quite successfully I might add, at making water a commodity.I would say, and I suspect you would agree, that water is more a “right” than it is a commodity. And private corporations should have no more control over the selling of water than they do the selling of our air supplies. Well, this is already occurring to some extent as corporations make a profit selling water — which at times even makes water less available to the people living in the area.Even public water supplies are being increasingly taken over by private corporations, and in some areas of the world are up for grabs by the highest bidder.This has been publicized in countries such as Bolivia, where residents battled police and the military to protect their water rights from the US-based Bechtel Corporation, but you should know water privatization initiatives are being pushed all over the world … including in the United States.
via ’Tapped’ – A Movie About Water You Need to See.
An Array of Water Filters for Your Home – WSJ.com
March 10th, 2010 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
The war for your tap—and shower, ice maker and water bottle—is on.Manufacturers are pitching a bevy of new products that filter water in the home promising to deliver everything from safer sipping and bathing, to more youthful skin.Shower filters touting “softer skin & hair in 1 week” are now the biggest seller for Fort Worth, Texas-based Sun Water Systems Inc.s Aquasana brand. Wellness Enterprises LLC, Gainesville, Fla., launched last summer a portable water bottle with a filter built into the straw that claims to remove chlorine and lead, among other things. And Atmospheric Water Systems Inc. of San Luis Obispo, Calif., recently introduced a $1,595 dehumidifier/purification unit that bypasses water pipes altogether, pulling moisture from the air and sending it through a multi-step filtration process to produce drinking water.The economic downturn has whetted consumers appetite for tap water. The average per capita consumption of bottled water slipped an estimated 3.5% last year from 2008, according to Beverage Marketing Corp.”What turned the tide for us was the huge negative PR effort behind bottled water from a green standpoint, and then the economy hit the skids and people were looking for a way to save money,” says Doug Kellam, chief executive of Zero Technologies LLC. His company makes a pitcher that promises to remove 100% of detectable dissolved solids minerals, salts, metals and comes with a meter to prove it.Many consumers dont want their tap water au naturel, however. According to a Gallup poll released last year, pollution of drinking water is Americans No. 1 environmental concern. Many express worries about the risk of diseases, including cancer, that can be associated with contaminants such as arsenic, chlorine and pharmaceuticals sometimes found in drinking water.
via An Array of Water Filters for Your Home – WSJ.com.
Greater Regulation Urged for Bottled Water – WSJ.com
July 8th, 2009 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
WASHINGTON—Federal regulation hasn’t caught up with Americans’ taste for bottled water.
The Food and Drug Administration, which oversees the $11.2 billion industry, doesn’t keep track of companies that produce bottled water and doesn’t require companies to report positive tests for contaminants, federal officials told a House hearing Wednesday. Consumer advocates testified before the Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight and investigations panel that bottlers should be required to disclose more information to consumers.
In a report released at the hearing, the Government Accountability Office urged the FDA to require bottlers to use labels that would, at the least, tell consumers how to get comprehensive information.
FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Joshua M. Sharfstein testified that the agency regulates bottled water as a food and doesn’t know which companies among registered food firms make bottled water. Moreover, he said, the FDA has limited power to require more information on labels, and he put in a pitch for legislation that would boost the FDA’s funding and authority for food safety.
Still, Dr. Sharfstein said, the FDA has been tightening rules for bottled water. As early as September, he said, bottlers must report test results that show a serious health threat, and by December, bottlers must eliminate E. coli in their products.
In the past several years, bottlers have recalled water contaminated with bacteria, arsenic and cleaning compounds, said Rep. Bart Stupak, chairman of the oversight panel. “Many Americans believe that water they drink from a bottle is healthier than water that comes from their faucets,” the Michigan Democrat said. “Consumers may not realize that many regulations that apply to municipalities responsible for tap water do not apply to companies that produce bottled water.”
Consumption of bottled water last year totaled 28.5 gallons per person in the U.S., nearly double the amount in 1998. Sales slipped a bit last year due to the recession and concerns about the environment.
The industry, which includes PepsiCo Inc.’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola Co.’s Dasani, currently isn’t required to report tests that turned up contamination. By contrast, municipal water authorities must report dangerous contaminants within 24 hours.
The FDA considers bottled water low-risk, assigning only two or three employees to inspect bottling facilities, according to the GAO, Congress’s investigations arm. Even when the agency and its contracted inspectors found violations, it said, the agency took little action.
A PepsiCo spokesman said Aquafina already states its source—purified municipal water—and testing process on the bottle. A spokeswoman for Coca-Cola said its Dasani water also comes from purified municipal sources and undergoes rigorous safety measures.
Joseph K. Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association, said bottled water is a “safe, convenient, healthful, regulated” product. “Bottled water is frequently tested throughout its production,” he said. Consumers interested in what’s in the bottle can get information directly from the company, he added.
The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group, conducted a survey showing that all but a few bottled-water products don’t list where their bottled water comes from and how it was treated, and publish quality-test reports on their Web sites. “Instead, they simply make claims of purity and health benefits not backed by public data,” Jane Houlihan, the group’s senior vice president for research, told the panel.
Regulation of bottled water exposes the FDA’s limits in regulating food in general: stagnant funding and limited authority. Congress is considering legislation that would give the FDA more power and funding for food safety, and the White House also signaled willingness to support the FDA’s food activities.
Bottled-water companies have also been beset by criticism about environmental waste created by bottling a drink people can readily get from the tap. Only about a quarter of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, plastic bottles used for water and other products are recycled in the U.S., according to the National Association for PET Container Resources, an industry group.
Also Wednesday, Mr. Stupak and Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D., Calif.) sent letters to 13 companies, including PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, seeking information on where they get their water and how they test bottled water.
—Valerie Bauerlein contributed to this article.
via Wall Street Journal Greater Regulation Urged for Bottled Water – WSJ.com.
Health problems caused by acidosis
May 11th, 2009 by admin
Health problems caused by acidosis
If you have a health problem, most likely you are suffering from acidosis. Research shows that unless the body's pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. So no matter what means you choose to take care of your health, it won't be effective until the pH level is balanced. If your body's pH is not balanced, for example, you cannot effectively assimilate vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Your body pH affects everything.
Acidosis will decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decrease the energy production in the cells, decrease it's ability to repair damaged cells, decrease it's ability to detoxify heavy metals, make tumor cells thrive, and make it more susceptible to fatigue and illness.
An acidic pH can occur from an acid-forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to compensate for acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If the diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, a build up of acids in the cells will occur. Acidosis can cause such problems as:
Cardiovascular damage.
Weight gain, obesity and diabetes.
Bladder conditions.
Kidney stones.
Immune deficiency.
Acceleration of free radical damage.
Hormonal problems.
Premature aging.
Osteoporosis and joint pain.
Aching muscles and lactic acid buildup.
Low energy and chronic fatigue. Slow digestion and elimination.
Yeast/fungal overgrowth.
Lack of energy and fatigue.
Lower body temperature.
Tendency to get infections.
Loss of drive, joy, and enthusiasm.
Depressive tendencies.
Easily stressed.
Pale complexion.
Headaches.
Inflammation of the corneas and eyelids. Loose and painful teeth.
Inflamed, sensitive gums.
Mouth and stomach ulcers.
Cracks at the corners of the lips.
Excess stomach acid.
Gastritis.
Nails are thin and split easily.
Hair looks dull, has split ends, and falls out.
Dry skin.
Skin easily irritated.
Leg cramps and spasms.
via Food pH List – Balancing Acid/Alkaline Foods.
FOR YOUR SAFETY | Green Ideas
May 7th, 2009 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
Do not turn on A/C immediately as soon as you enter the car. Open the windows after you enter your car and turn ON the air-conditioning after a couple of minutes. According to a research done, the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emits Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen – take note of the
Heated plastic Smell in your car). In addition to causing cancer, it poisons your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer. May also cause miscarriage. Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft… A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level…. & the people inside the car will inevitably inhale an excess amount of the toxins.
It is recommended that you open the windows and door to give time for the interior to air out before you enter. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver, and is very difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.
via FOR YOUR SAFETY | Green Ideas.
Antioxidants and the Battle Against Free Radicals
June 5th, 2008 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
It seems that advertising companies are crazy about antioxidants these days. Is it another advertising buzzword or should you actually pay attention to your diet apropos antioxidants? You probably should consider adding more antioxidants to your diet. Antioxidants are chemical compounds that bind together to release oxygen radicals and keep them from damaging healthy cells. Our bodies generate toxic molecules called free radicals as part of their natural process. A free radical is a damaged molecule that is missing an electron. This damaged molecule wants electrons and it interacts with other molecules, stealing electrons from them. Rogue molecules can lead to chronic heal problems.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) released data in 2004 stating that antioxidants were helpful in the prevention of cancer. They are also helpful to people who are undergoing cancer treatment as they decrease the side effects of chemotherapy. However, you need not worry too much about the free radicals because there are small things that you can do in your daily diet that will help your body maintain a healthy balance within its molecules.
Fruits and vegetables are a great way to get your daily-recommended dosage of antioxidants. These natural food sources are rich with vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A (beta-carotene), etc. and nutrients like selenium, lutein, and lycopene that aid in correcting free radicals. However, buying fruits and vegetables can be time consuming and costly, not to mention that we sometimes forget to eat them and they go bad in the refrigerator. Another solution is to take supplements. Many companies manufacture pills that provide you with more than your fair share of antioxidants. These pills can be quite expensive, so you should ask your local vitamin expert to help you find the best pill for the lowest price. Many drinks have the antioxidants you need to maintain a healthy body. Grape juice, for example, is a very good source for antioxidants. A glass of wine is good for your body as well. You may be concerned though that buying foods and drinks rich with antioxidants will prove to be a costly endeavor. There are other ways of getting antioxidants that are not as hard on the wallet.
A great way to add antioxidants to your diet is by buying an antioxidant water machine. If you pick a device like a Kagen water machine, you can simply turn a dial, pour yourself a glass of antioxidant water, and forget about the free radices floating around your body. This is an economically sound, environmentally friendly, and convenient way to get the antioxidants your body need and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Advertising companies inundate us with advertising ploys in an attempt to scare us into buying their products. Many of these scares are legitimate, but you can always find healthy and inexpensive alternatives to their products. When it comes to antioxidants, consider drinking healthy water instead of spending money on a variety of products everyday. Your body and your pocketbook will thank you in the end.
Drinking Your Way to a Healthier You: Antioxidant Drinks
May 6th, 2008 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
Antioxidants seem to be on the tip of the tongue for most people talking about healthy living these days. This is because antioxidants work to keep your body in shape by cleaning up the free-radicals, which are by-products of molecules splitting that cause damage to your DNA. Additionally, scientific research shows that antioxidants can help prevent cancer. One of the easiest ways to take advantage of the benefits of antioxidants is with what you drink.
Juice is a major part of a healthy diet for multiple reasons, including the ability to provide antioxidants. Acai juice is growing in popularity these days because of its extremely high antioxidant abilities and a taste that is a mixture of chocolate and berries. Pomegranate juice is also a great option since it is a healthy and beneficial choice for diabetics and can decrease bad cholesterol in the body in addition to being an antioxidant. The juice of goji berries is rich in minerals and amino acids, is a good antioxidant, and helps promote healthy digestion.
Even when you want to have a relaxing evening or a nice dinner out, you can boost your antioxidant levels. Sit back with a glass of red wine and you will be taking in antioxidants. Red wine can also create a healthier heart by reducing bad cholesterol and helping increase good cholesterol while decreasing dangerous blood clots.
Water is one of the most important aspects to a healthy body. Drinking enough water daily keeps your body running and functioning at its best, so why not get some antioxidants in your system while drinking your minimum of eight glasses every day. Kangen water machines produce antioxidant water that also creates an alkaline body and can super-hydrate and dexotify your body.
Tea, whether it is black, green, white, or oolong, is one of the healthiest things you can drink. Teas are considered to have one of the highest antioxidant levels out there, better than juice, fruits, and vegetables. This high level of antioxidants has shown tea to be great at helping the body defend against cancer and is often part of the plan to fight cancer once it appears. To further boost these benefits in tea, use Kangen water to brew it and make the antioxidant levels even higher. Some research has also shown tea to be beneficial in improving cardiovascular health and even weight loss.
Although coffee is not what most would call a healthy drink, it is something that most people could not live without. Well, here is at least a small bit of good news about coffee, it provides a great deal of antioxidants. So the next time you are filling your cup, you can at least know that it is not all bad.
The key to consumption of antioxidants is variety. There are many different types of antioxidants that deal with different types of free-radicals. The best way to get the best health for your body with antioxidants is to consume a variety of products with antioxidant benefits. For example: having some juice (or coffee) in the morning, teas at lunch, and a glass of red wine at dinner, while drinking antioxidizing water the whole day through.
Living Green in a Modern Age
April 22nd, 2008 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
We hear it all the time: try to conserve, preserve, and recycle. History has shown us that the earth is a limited resource and we are finding that generations of excess have taken an incredible toll on our ecosystem. It is easy to blame others or to blame ourselves for the situation, but that is not a productive use of our energy. It is time that we stop talking about the threat of environmental disaster and do something about it. To be honest, living green can be much easier than people make it out to be. There are small things we can do every day to make a positive impact on the world around us. Moreover, by living green, you will find that you might just save some green in the process.
How many lights do you have in your home, condo, or apartment? If you live in an average home, you will most likely have dozens of light sources. Consider changing your traditional light bulbs and replacing them with energy efficient lights. These lights tend to last longer and burn fewer kilowatt-hours, saving you money and leaving less of a footprint on your environment.
Look in your pantry and cabinets. How much of your food has excess packaging? Consider buying products that require less plastic and paper. Furthermore, when you go grocery shopping consider bringing your own bag. This contributes to less waste and conserved energy on behalf of the bag manufacturers and recycling plants. There is a multiplicity of ways to save money when we consider our shopping routines. Clean drinking water is another great example. When we go hiking or go to the park for exercise, we often swing by the store to buy a cold bottle of drinking water. This wastes plastic and gas. Consider buying your own water system, like an enagic water system that also provides antioxidant water, and bringing the water with you in a reusable container.
An alkaline water machine can actually be more of an earth friendly device than you may have imagined. Some products, like a Kangen Water™ machine, allow you to change alkaline and acidity levels of your drinking water. Instead of using harsh toxic cleaners that are harmful to your family and the environment, you can simply increase the acidity level of your water and use that to clean around the house. Acid water helps cut through grime and is great to use on countertops to aid in preventing food poisoning. It works wonders on removing stains and smudges!
If you have a large array of electronics in your household, you should unplug them. Many devices like televisions, computers, and stereophonic equipment, use power even when they are in a suspended state. Why suck away natural resources when you are not even enjoying your equipment? Unplug these devices until you need to use them. Moreover, consider buying a programmable thermostat. Reduce your heating and air conditioning when you are away. This helps save you money and requires less carbon-based fuels.
Looking around at your house and your work, you will most likely find a variety of ways to life a greener live and you will find that living a green lifestyle will actually help you save money.
Fighting Back: How to Tell a Cold Where to Go
April 18th, 2008 by phDrinkingWater.com Staff
Fighting Back: How to Tell a Cold Where to Go
It is lurking in classrooms, around the corners at hospitals, in the crevices of office buildings, and in the shadows of grocery stores. Plainly put, there is no escape: the common cold is bound to find you wherever you go. When it’s cold season, viruses are on the hunt.
Unlike its cousin, the flu, there is no immunization against the common cold: colds, it turns out, happen. You can work on keeping your immune system in top shape with an alkaline diet, which will help you be less affected. Still, getting a cold doesn’t mean you have to sit in bed for a week, feeling miserable and longing for crazy things, like to be back at work. Colds can be somewhat maintained by heeding the following tips.
Don’t be a Snot:
Ah, the common cold: the one time a year when our entire bodies feel packed with mucus. It kind of comes with the territory: colds attack our noses and our throats. When this happens, it might seem easy to simply sniff or swallow the mucus back into our system. It might seem easy, but it’ll end up hard in the long run. Instead of simply circulating the mucusy surprise, blow your nose or spit. Do it often and do it until your cold is completely gone.
Take it Easy:
It kind of goes without saying, but when you’re under the weather you should also be under the covers, resting as much as you can. Fighting a cold wears on your body: it takes energy and resources. One of the only ways to make up for this depletion is simply to rest. If you find it hard to actually sleep – as colds can make us feel too lousy to snooze soundly – then just lie down. Don’t work out or engage in any other arduous activity until you feel like you’re back to normal.
Use a lift:
Sleeping with a cold is a pain in the head. Our nose is clogged, our throat is sore, and we feel like we can hardly breathe. But, giving your head an extra lift might help. Placing one or two extra pillows under your head can help clear your sinuses. This might seem awkward, as if you are sleeping while sitting up, but you’ll thank yourself in the morning.
Use OTC Medicines:
Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that you can swallow to make your cold just disappear. Colds are smarter than that. However, there are pills you can take to help mask your symptoms and allow you to function or rest more easily. Over the counter medicines can often help clear up your nasal passages and calm aching muscles. Still, it’s important not to take too many medications. Doing so can make you immune to their effectiveness or leave you with an entirely different kind of sickness.
Drink water:
One of the most important things you can do when you have a cold is keep yourself hydrated. You may feel a need to drink tea, juice, or soda, but these will only leave you – and your body – thirsty for more. Drinking water, on the other hand, not only leaves you hydrated but it also helps flush out toxins from your system. Water will also give you an alkaline body, which gives you a better immune system, if you drink Kangen water. If you drink a ton of water, you just might find that your cold is escorted out before it was ready to leave.