Aluminum Versus Stainless Steel Water Bottles
More than ever before, people are turning to water as a healthful alternative to soft drinks, sugary juices, and even diet drinks and sodas. Bottled water can be expensive to continually purchase, so many consumers are buying aluminum or stainless steel water bottles instead.
Metal bottles of any sort should not be used for acidic drinks. However, most people correctly use them only for water. When you are purchasing a water bottle, which is the right choice? Is one better than the other? These are questions to evaluate before you buy.
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Why Reusable Water Bottles
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Reusable water bottles make it possible for you to save money and use your own filtered or plain tap water to drink rather than constantly having to purchase bottled water. A 2001 study cited in USA Today showed that commercially bottled water was no healthier than regular tap water. Therefore it would make sense to get a reusable water bottle and fill it up with your own tap water.
Reusable Bottle Options
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There are several options you should consider when purchasing a reusable water bottle. First, some people purchase the plastic types because they are less expensive. The problem with this is that many plastic bottles can release BPA, a potentially harmful chemical, according to a 2008 article in Science Daily.
Other options would be either an aluminum or a stainless steel water bottle in order to avoid having BPA potentially released into your drinking water.
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Aluminum Water Bottles
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Aluminum bottles have the advantage of being lighter than stainless steel bottles. They are manufactured by well-known companies such as SIGG, and available in many attractive designs. Aluminum bottles are more expensive than stainless steel bottles.
As for safety, aluminum bottles must be lined in order to prevent the metal from leaching into the water, which can be harmful and also cause a metallic taste. Whatever company is manufacturing the bottles should be testing them to see if the lining is effective.
Stainless Steel Water Bottles
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Stainless steel water bottles are less expensive than the aluminum option. They are heavier, and are not available in as many stylish designs. However, stainless steel is very safe as evidenced by the fact that most daily-usage tableware and cookware is manufactured of steel. Steel water bottles do not have to be lined to prevent metal leaching into the water because stainless steel does not leach.
What Option is Best
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Both are good options. If you are looking for lightweight water bottles or cute designs for your children, you will probably prefer the aluminum water bottles. On the other hand, if you are seeking the utmost in chemical-free safety, you might want to purchase a stainless steel water bottle. Whatever you choose, it is advisable to buy a few so that you always have a water bottle clean and available.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt
