Best Bottled Water

What does one look for when determining which are the best bottled water choices for them and their family? The most important factor in shaping an informed decision on the best bottled water is reading labels and doing research into these companies that are selling the water. There have been many tests done on different bottled waters and it has been determined that even bottled water companies claiming their water came from a mountain spring are sometimes bottled in the midst of a large city and mostly just purified tap water. However, that is if you are lucky; some tests proved that many large water brands contained alarming levels of arsenic, E. coli and other dangerous chemicals and bacteria. So, what is the best bottled water? The answer is there is no perfect bottle of water out there for any one person, you have to do much research into your water to be sure that it is the best bottled water for you.

Most people do not realize that once they feel thirsty they are already in serious need for some water. Our bodies are composed of two-thirds liquid, and it is very easy for us to lose some of that hydration throughout our busy day. Constantly moving, shaking, working, and drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages; all of which are drying out the sensitive cells in our bodies. The average American is said to be chronically dehydrated and lacking knowledge to properly nourish themselves from within. It is a fact that alcohol, caffeine and sugar are major dehydrators and they literally suck the moisture from your body when being processed. The number one reason for fatigue, headaches and lower back pain throughout the day is said to be caused by dehydration and researchers say that it is important to keep your water intake balanced throughout the day to maintain health. The best bottled water is just plain, pure water that will keep your body feeling good. Regardless of the source, drink more water to feel better!

It is no secret that the world is facing serious economic and environmental impacts due to the rising carbon levels in our atmosphere, the rising garbage problems from plastics and not enough people recycling their used goods. Many argue that there is no such thing as a "best" bottled water because the major influence plastic waste has on our planet. Plastics that are not recycled often end up in oceans, and will eventually hurt our delicate underwater ecosystem if no changes are made. These plastic particles also end up in landfills and in some countries end up getting burned with other trash, which release alarming amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere and can hurt our environment and economy in the long run. To ensure that the best bottled water is available to us and our children, please do your part and recycle.

It is very hard to read past the hype of these bottled water companies to find the best possible bottled water for you. There is mineral, spring, artesian, sparkling, just plain purified waters and then there is BLING H20. I was fortunate enough to come across this "blingin" water while doing research for best bottled water brands and was completely shocked to find that these simple bottles of water are $20 to $480 in price! These are simple glass bottles, decorated with crystals and just contain regular purified tap water. It is absolutely asinine to charge even ten dollars for a plain bottle of water, yet some individuals are paying as much as a new laptop computer to drink the water from this decorated glass. We have a country that is obsessed with excess, whether its food and our growing problem with obesity, to our massive consumption of drugs, illegal or otherwise, even our fixation with celebrities and our need for the best of material possessions. The best bottled water is clean, crisp, pure and will work to help your body sustain its hydration and mental/physical alertness. There is nothing in this world worth more than your health and well-being, and if you aren't going to take care of yourself, no one else will.

In the midst of hundreds of bottled water brands, it seems that there is no such thing as a unique, unsurpassed brand of bottled water. Most bottled water companies market their waters as spring water, although this is not always the case; there are many waters that are just tap water purified and bottled in a large city. The FDA does not currently require bottled water companies to adhere to strict standards regarding purification systems; meaning that there are many contaminants able to pass through into your water bottles. Most would agree that the best tasting bottled waters are often the most natural, such as mineral or artesian waters. They have a crisp, clean taste to them and mineral waters contain daily minerals essential for the human body. Although, others would argue that there is no best bottled water out there and drinking filtered tap water is the only way to ensure you are consuming pure, refreshing water. Yet, there are always issues with filters clearing out only a fraction of contaminants and this argument will most likely be on-going for years to come.

The bottled water industry, I.B.W.A., denies any allegations that bottled water has caused an outbreak of illness; however, epidemics from tainted bottled water have indeed taken place and are well acknowledged by the C.D.C. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In 1996, the CDC reported a 1994 outbreak of cholera linked with bottled water that occurred in Saipan, a U.S. territory in the Marianas Islands in the Pacific Ocean; where FDA standards on bottled water still apply and are practiced. Although there was no full study of those who drank the proposed water, the CDC reported that at least 11 individuals became ill and 4 needed hospitalization due to life-threatening cases of cholera. According to unpublished Waterborne Disease Outbreak (WDO) report on this case, thousands may have been exposed; although the total number of citizens that were harmed because of this bottled water is unknown. Around the mid 70's, Portugal experienced another well documented cholera outbreak because of the use of bottled water from a polluted source. According to a study of the affected, there were over 2,000 people confirmed hospitalized patients and 48 who died due to infection. It is claimed that bottled water was not the only cause of the outbreak; however, over 80 patients had a history of drinking water from the contaminated company's bottled water. To add, other cases of illness such as typhoid and travelers disease has been reported in the past believed to be because of a certain bottled water company. The bottled water brand was not uncovered in these reports; however, a 4-year study performed by the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) shows that MOST bottled water brands are not safe to consume. Check out their report at http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/bwinx.asp and be in the "know" about what you are putting inside your body!