nalgene bottes get even uglier

I've always hated nalgene bottles; they're so ugly, and they always get gross. In my efforts to reduce my contribution to environmental decay while staving off thirst, I've occasionally gotten past appearance and tried one out, but it never stuck. Learning that they are made mostly of the plastic BPA, a known estrogen (exposure to which can be linked with estrogen-based cancers, especially breast cancer), and that there were indicators the plastic could leak into the stored water, I swore off nalgenes completely. So I'm glad the results of a longitudinal study looking at BPA exposure in humans got enough press to provoke the first class-action lawsuit filed against nalgene (asserting they understated the health risks to consumers), to get bottles pulled off the shelves, and to incite nalgene to phase out BPA. So while they'll still be hideous, at least they won't cause cancer anymore.

I'm still in the market for a refillable bottle that is relatively stylish. I usually refill old bottles, but glass is to fragile and I'm temporarily ignoring the horror stories I head about refilling disposable plastic bottles because I don't really have any other option.

If you have any suggestions for attractive reusable water bottles, post in the comments!

tame overwhelm with guided meditation

When I have too much work and not enough time, I find myself going into a state of manic overdrive in order to get everything done. While I'm in it, it feel like this state of frenzy helps me get things accomplished, but in actuality it leads me to get distracted, burned out, make mistakes, or simply give up.

So this week I'm trying something new, and when I feel overwhelmed I am trying to take a moment to slow down. I'm on day two of this strategy, and I must admit its still a bit uncomfortable (how can I take 5 minutes to sit quietly and breathe with all these deadlines looming?), but I really think if I stick with it this strategy will save me time in the long run.

Since sitting still on my own volition seems impossible, I've been doing these guided meditations available from the Meditation Room. They range from 3-10 minutes in length, and there's even one specifically for taking a workplace break.

water myth washed up

Whenever I go home to visit my dad I give him a hard time about his beverage choices, which he typically limits to diet iced tea, alcohol, and black coffee. When I'd nag him to drink more water, he'd rebut that (in addition to his distaste for the stuff) there was no scientific evidence proving water improved health. Well Dad, I hate to admit it, but you were right!

In a new report, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania analyzed over 30 years of data concerning the effect of water and could not confirm its supposed health benefits. They evaluated water's ability to flush our toxins, help organ functioning, help with weight loss, clear skin, and ward off headaches, and found little sound evidence supporting or negating any of these claims. Read more here.

Despite the cold hard science in my face, I still have a hard time accepting this, as I often think I can observe the benefits of water in my body. I guess its the old placebo effect in action again. Still, I am not going to cease drinking copious amounts of water, but I will lay off my dad.