As a kid, I hated drinking water. I loved soft drinks – the sweeter the better! And I could do with a hot tea or coffee at times. But I would only drink water if I was absolutely parched.
Unbeknownst to me, I suffered many ailments due to this chronic dehydration. Horrible skin – aggravated eczema. Lack of energy. Alcohol really killed me. Probably organ damage that I’ll pay for at some point.
When I reached my mid-twenties, I finally started listening to my doctors and my mother. I made quite a few lifestyle changes:
– eat more vegetables
– eat whole grains
– exercise regularly
None of these resulted in a noticeable change in my health. Until…
My sister, thank the gods for her inspiration, bought me a $50 BKR bottle for my birthday.
That’s mine, the 1L baby blue bottle in the middle there. For whatever reason, I fell in love with this bottle. And I instantly started drinking at least two of these (2 liters = 64 oz) a day. I brought it everywhere to avoid using plastic bottles. And I upgraded my Brita/Pur filtration systems to Berkey. All in the name of sustainability.
The effect on my health was equally instantaneous. My skin was healthier. I started sleeping better. Alcohol didn’t nearly affect me as much. It was amazing.
It’s actually amazing me to how much being a hydration fiend has changed my life. I wouldn’t be surprised if the gains are compound too. Seeing as I was lucky enough to begin this habit while I’m still young, I bet it will pay dividends for decades in the future.
Alas, BKR bottles are glamour bottles. They’re meant to be used in offices and at home, where their beauty may be admired. I took mine everywhere – on road trips, to the gym, on bar hops. Eventually it developed a horrible mold/mildew under the silicon sleeve that could not be washed out. At this point, I decided it was time to switch to a more practical bottle.
I’m convinced stainless steel is the way to go. Klean Kanteen makes an excellent 27 oz bottle that is made of only three materials: stainless steel, bamboo (for the cap), and silicon for the seal. As a bonus, I even mainly use their mirror-polished stainless steel which is extra resilient against rust and dirt build-up.
Only wish I made this change earlier.