Disposable water bottles are a concern when it comes to the number one tip to stay fit, healthy and radiant. Water detoxifies the body, plumps up the skin and prevents dehydration. The problem is that not all water bottles are created equal, and while disposable water bottles are perfect for once off use in a controlled environment; and not for re-use. Many disposable water bottles contain a plasticising agent known as bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA. Recent studies show that this may be wreaking havoc with your hormones. So while drinking water is not a bad thing, it is time to put greater consideration into your container.

Disposable water bottles and BPA’S

BPA is a plasticiser. It is a chemical used to make your water bottle more flexible and less brittle. The reality, however, is that it is also a proven endocrine disruptor. The endocrine system works hand in hand with your body to produce hormones which are responsible for everything from metabolism, reproduction, sleep and even your mood. Endocrine disruptors like BPA can mimic the hormones in our bodies. With normal functioning, hormones bind to receptors in our cells, but chemicals like BPA can bind to these receptors and instead cause various problems.

BPA has been linked to PCOS, an endocrine disorder amongst women. Symptoms include acne, excessive hair growth, and excruciating menstrual cramps. A 2014 study found that women with PCOS had “higher levels of BPA in biological fluids.” Going on to add, “It seems that mother’s exposure to BPA during pregnancy may also lead to the development of PCOS in the female offspring.”

The One-Use Rule

Many water bottles sold in retail outlets are in plastic bottles containing BPA; this is not a problem if you drink the water and dispose of the bottle after one use. The trouble occurs when you start to reuse that plastic water bottle because the plastic is no longer in a controlled environment, any external heat can cause the BPA to leach out of the bottle into the water. (Scott Belcher, Ph.D., pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati)

BPA’S are not limited to water bottles

Heat, as well as dishwashing detergents, cause BPA to leach out and into whatever food or liquid is in the container. This means that it is not just water bottles that are a problem. If you have a tendency to reheat food in the microwave in plastic containers, ensure that they are BPA-free or, better yet, choose glass.

How to do you know it’s BPA-Free

Most brands advertise that they are BPA-free, but if it’s not clear, look underneath the bottle at the triangular recycling mark. In conclusion, if there is a number 1, 2, 4 or 5 inside the triangle, it is BPA-free. See a 3 or a 7? It contains BPA. It’s that simple.