By now most of us have heard the controversy over bottled water and the likelyhood consumers are ingesting nothing better than filtered tap water. Mercy, we’ve fallen for another trend. And the word is that this highly profitable and somewhat deceptive practice of marketing tap water in easy-to-use disposable plastic bottles has another unwanted downside in that elements from the commercial plastic bottles can leach into the water you are drinking.
So if we can safely consume our own tap water from our own sources, then we need to look at what kind of container is reusable and not potentially detrimental to our health. The following is one alternative water container type that uses BPA-free Tritan™ plastic and stainless steel in the new CamelBak Better Bottle products involved in a study at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
Taken at face value (there’s a slight sense of bias towards the new product) — the study does open the doors to the potential for consumers to break away from the costly ruse of paying premium prices for bottled water that comes straight from the tap at the back of the warehouse.
This study conducted at Pepperdine University revealed that participants drank up to 24 percent more water with CamelBak reusable water bottles than with other reusable and disposable bottles tested. Dr. Holden MacRae, professor of sports medicine at Pepperdine University, conducted the first-of-its-kind study to test the effects of water bottle design on personal fluid consumption.
More study subjects preferred the CamelBak Better Bottle, saying it was easier to use, easier to drink from, didn’t spill even when open, and that the bottle’s Big BiteTMValve mouthpiece was more fun to drink from. One participant noted, “The CamelBak is quick to open and easy to drink from without distracting myself from whatever else I’m doing.”
Study subjects used each of the following four bottles for a two-week period:
– Reusable screw-cap plastic bottle
– Reusable screw-cap metal bottle
– Disposable screw-cap PET bottle
– CamelBak Better Bottle with the Big Bite Valve mouthpiece
With the CamelBak Better Bottle, participants drank 24 percent more water than with the disposable bottle, 18 percent more water than with the reusable metal bottle and 15 percent more than with the reusable plastic bottle.
“Drinking water is one of the greatest gifts you can give your body – it’s essential for everything from heart health and fat metabolism to complex brain functions,” said Dr. MacRae. “The results of this study were quite surprising in that a simple difference in design enabled people to do something that’s good for their bodies without any extra effort.”
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Pepperdine University. Dr. MacRae earned his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and is on the editorial review board of the Journal of Sports Science and Coaching. Dr. MacRae expects to publish his report on the study in late 2009 or 2010.
Dehydration is a significant health concern, especially in the summer, as temperatures rise and outdoor activity levels increase. The benefits of hydration include body temperature regulation, fat metabolism, cardiovascular support and improved focus, concentration and alertness. Even mild dehydration can affect physical and mental performance.
About the CamelBak Better Bottle
CamelBak Better Bottles are made from BPA-free TritanTMplastic and Stainless Steel, featuring single-walled and insulated options. Adult and Kids’ versions of the Tritan bottles are available now starting at $12 (MSRP). Adult Stainless Steel bottles start at $24 (MSRP); Kids’ Stainless Steel bottles will be available beginning in July at $20 (MSRP). All CamelBak Better Bottles feature the exclusive Big Bite Valve, which offers non-tip sipping and won’t spill, even when open.