Dear Cindy,

Lately I have been reading that drinking from plastic water bottles can be bad for our health. Is there any truth to this or is this just a marketing ploy to sell expensive re-usable water bottles? Pat

Dear Pat,

You read right - we've been swept up by a tidal wave of reports claiming our water is being packaged in unworthy containers. The jury is still out on this issue although there is adequate evidence for concern.

In our unquenchable thirst for health, we've bought into an entire entourage of portable packaging so our water could easily be tossed into our car cup holders, bags, desk drawers and backpacks for use and re-use.

 Unfortunately, many of these bottles including disposables and re-usables are said to be sleekly designed out of potentially hazardous materials. The culprit seems to be Bisphenol-A or BPA-a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies and no one likes the sound of that.

While there is still debate in the scientific community about the effects of the BPA, science suggests it is a health concern and claim this chemical, found to varying degrees in plastic bottles, makes them unsafe and possibly hazardous to the health of regular users. In fact, the Center for Disease Control says there are no safe levels of BPA in the body.

Studies continue to explore the risks of these plastic bottles containing BPA considering they have been linked to breast, uterine, ovarian and prostate cancer, as well as insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes and developmental problems in children. For me, it is an easy decision that when health alarms are sounded, I follow the sage advice "when in doubt-leave it out"-whether or not the health risks are substantiated.

Fortunately, bottle makers have acted quickly and offered a slew of alternatives to BPA-containing water bottles today. Still, many plastic bottles, including baby bottles, storage containers and sippy cups can still be found made from a substance commonly known as polycarbonate.

Now, polycarbonates are also used to make CDs, Ipods, sunglasses, computer shells and other common items but they are deemed safe because they are not used as drinking receptacles. The problem arises when this same plastic is used to hold things from which we eat or drink. These polycarbonates can leach BPA when heated - microwaved or left in sunlight - or when re-used.

So, how do you avoid bottles with BPA? One way is to turn the receptacle upside down and read the recycle number inside the triangle. (No easy task! You may need a magnifying glass to see this number)

If it is a 3, 6 or 7, the advice is not to buy it or drink from it. Those that claim they do not leach have a 2, 4, or 5 inside the recycle triangle. However, if it is a 1, it is said to be safe but should never be re-used.

 If these bottles are continually re-filled, you may notice they will become cloudy or scratched. In this condition, they can harbor germs and bacteria, which are obviously detrimental to your health. Not only that, but nearly 40 percent of all bottled water is simply tap water in disguise. That's right, plain old water, packaged in questionable containers that litter the earth.

It seems logical and healthy then to drink from a glass container. Not only is it healthy for you, it is healthy for the environment. If you don't want to tote a glass bottle around but want to be green, choose your re-usable water bottle wisely.

The best option is to look for ones lined with stainless steel or aluminum, which overall exhibit the fewest health concerns. These receptacles are durable and don't change the taste of the contents you pour into them. They are good looking also and easy to wash.

I won't tell you what you should be drinking from, but I will suggest you avoid BPA containing plastics and check out www.safewaterbottlereview.com so you can make a healthy choice for yourself.

Inexpensive disposable plastic bottles are an incredible waste of resources. Go green and you'll never go wrong.

Cindy Boggs, fitness presenter, author and Activate America director, has been an ACE-certified coordinator/instructor since 1989. Send your questions about fitness, training or health to YMCA of Kanawha Valley, 100 YMCA Drive, Charleston, WV 25311 or e-mail cindys...@aol.com. Look for her fitness advice book, "CindySays... "You Can Find Health in Your Hectic World" on her Web site www.cindysays.com or contact the YMCA at 340-3527.