Why I Stopped Buying Water Bottles...for good.

The title of this post is pretty dumb. Yes, water bottles are bad. Duh. There's no doubt that plastic is bad for the environment. I realize that this has been discussed, but I am going to discuss it again because the issue is still relevant.  


 They're destroying the ocean

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According to Integrated Waste Management Authority, it is estimated that over 86% of the ocean's debris is plastic. 

Eighty.. Six... Percent... Let that sink in... 

It is absolutely terrifying to realize just how much we are directly affecting our environment with the waste we produce. Right now, there are 46,000 of plastic per square kilometer of the World's oceans. This in turn kills over a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals per year. That is a lot of animals that never got to live out their lives, or one might say a lot of food lost to plastic.

They never go away

Every second there are 1,500 water bottles being consumed in the US alone. (source) Every single one of those plastic water bottles will stay on the earth forever. 80% of water bottles are NOT recycled. Plastics do not biodegrade, they only break down smaller from exposure to the elements. These smaller plastic pieces are unfortunately mistaken for food to our marine life. This is not only a tragedy to their life, but ours as well. As our food chain becomes poisoned by the plastic pollution in their environment, they come back to us in the form of toxic food. Scary.


They're bad for our body

Bottled water (and all other plastics) contain BPA and/or phthalates, endocrine disrupting chemicals that interfere with the hormones are body naturally produces. These disruptions can be linked with irregular hormone function, reproductive problems, neurological difficulties, low sperm count, and even several forms of cancer. 22% of water bottle brands have chemical containtments that are at levels above state guidelines. Not only that, but they're not required to provide a source, be tested for e. coli, or are required to produce quality reports like tap water is. So in all honesty, we don't know what potential harmful chemicals are within plastic water bottles or plastic in general.
 

They're costing us 
  
50 billion water bottles are purchased in the US alone. Worldwide, more than $100 billion dollars are spent towards bottled water. (Source) Bottled water is 2000x MORE expensive than tap water. 



 Recap 

• Water bottles (and all other plastics) are destroying the ocean 
• Water bottles (and all other plastics) do not ever go away, they just become smaller. 
• Water bottles (and all other plastics) contain hormone-disrupting chemcials that cause a host of issues.  
• Water bottles (and all other plastics) are costing us A LOT of money.      

What can we do?  

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Instead of using water bottles, tote around a stainless steel water bottle or a mason jar. Mason jars have water-tight lids so you can be sure they won't spill, if you're afraid of them breaking don't worry. They are stronger than you think, I have been carrying my 32-ounce mason jar in my backpack for two years, hasn't even cracked. Take baby steps and remember that the less plastic you use the better!

Works Cited

"Education Database Online." Online Education Blog. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. <http://www.onlineeducation.net/bottled_water>.

"Plastic Free - 21 Ways to Reduce Plastic in Your Home." DIY Natural. 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. <http://www.diynatural.com/plastic-free-home/>.

Tsiattalos, George. "Plastic Pollution." Everything Connects. N.p., n.d. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everythingconnects.org%2Fplastic-pollution.html>.

Schriever, Norm. "Plastic Water Bottles Causing Flood of Harm to Our Environment." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norm-schriever/post_5218_b_3613577.html>.

"The Plastic Water Bottle Effect - Homegrown & Healthy." Homegrown & Healthy. 28 May 2013. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. <http://homegrownandhealthy.com/the-plastic-water-bottle-effect/>.

An Introduction

I wanted to take this post to introduce myself to the blogging world! My name is Emily, I'm 17. I have two younger brothers, and live in a small town in California with my mum. I'm passionate about wellness and all of the different aspects of it. I also love to play music and create my own music. Yoga is the only "sport" I will ever participate in, and I love being barefoot. I hope to share with you recipes, tips on how to live healthier, and general advice on simplifying life! 

Nut Free Granola

 

 So.. who doesn't like granola? I know a lot of people that love granola, and pay a premium price to acquire it for their taste buds. Others pay even more because of the allergens that limit them, such as nuts.

 

Perhaps you have wanted to make your own, but don't feel like you have the time or know-how?  Well, look no further, I present you.. Nut-Free Granola that you can make in 20 minutes or LESS! Did I mention that you don't have to bake it? Forget that expensive store-bought granola! Make yourself some of this yumminess, and enjoy it!

 MMMM.. Nut-free Granola.

 

 

 

 

 

Author: Emily Ward

Recipe type: Breakfast

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  10 mins

Total time:  20 mins

Serves: 5 cups

 

A tasty, no-bake, allergen free granola everyone can love!

Ingredients

• 3 cups of oats (GF oats if desired)
• 2 cups of puffed rice
• ½ of hulled sunflower seeds
• ½ (or less) agave nectar (or other liquid sweetener: honey, maple syrup, etc.)
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of hemp seed
• 1 tablespoon of chia seed
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa nibs
• a handful of cranberries

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, throw all your ingredients in and mix. Once the ingredients are thoroughly combined it should be a kind of sticky consistency. You can either just put your bowl in the fridge and wait for your peanut-allergen child/friend eat it right up; or you can press it into a greased 8x8 pan and make granola bars! Boom, that's it!

Notes

It may be a bit crumbly for granola bars, just be warned! You can mix in any ingredients you have on hand, this is just what I had. :)

 

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 cup Calories: 437 Fat: 24 Saturated fat: 12 Carbohydrates: 44 Fiber: 8.4 Protein: 11