Another on the best bottled waters

  1. smartwater

The story: The folks at Glacéau have their heads in the clouds. Their vapor-distilled water is pulled from the sky, then given electrolytes for taste. On the bottle they trash-talk spring water by making fun of people who like the taste of stuff that comes from under the ground. Snarky!

Tasting notes: Tangy. Tart. Reminds us of water that went through a Brita multiple times.

COLE SALADINO/THRILLIST

  1. Aquafina

The story: Aquafina is purified water that goes through a seven-step HydRO-7 filtration process that it claims takes out way more solids than other filtration methods, making for the purest water possible. Foreshadowing!

Tasting notes: Starts off good, but the aftertaste wasn’t to our liking. It’s a voluptuous water. Very full-bodied. The cabernet of water. This tastes like American excess.

COLE SALADINO/THRILLIST

  1. Dasani

The story: The soda titans over at Coca-Cola own this purified-water imprint, which is remineralized with magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt.

Tasting notes: It feels buoyant in your mouth, which our tasters didn’t fully embrace. Very clean and fruity. Hints of unchanged Brita filter.

COLE SALADINO/THRILLIST

  1. Evian

The story: Evian is “naive” spelled backwards, but it’s also the name of a town in the French Alps that was founded way before people learned about spelling things backwards to create secret messages. The company claims its water is a geological miracle because it passed through a few very scientifically unlikely permeable layers. Over the course of 15 years, rain and snow make their way into an underground spring where the water is harvested already full of electrolytes and minerals.

Tasting notes: Whoa, that’s a lot of minerals. The electrolyte levels are on overdrive. There is worry among the group about over-hydration. The texture is a little on the thin side. If this were a pair of jeans, it would be skinny, not apple-bottomed.

 

COLE SALADINO/THRILLIST

  1. Fiji Natural Artesian Water

The story: Tropical rainfall on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji is naturally filtered through volcanic rock where it picks up minerals and electrolytes, then wells up in an underground aquifer.

Tasting notes: It’s got the most lab-created flavor, but by a meticulous scientist from an exotic land, not one of our sloppy, disheveled American brainiacs. There’s no aftertaste or lingering mouthfeel. So many minerals it’d pair well with rocks.

DAN GENTILE/THRILLIST

  1. Nestle Pure Life

The story: Nestle owns 64 different brands of water, from Perrier to Poland Spring, but we tested its most popular: Pure Life. It’s classified as purified water, which means it comes from a well or municipal source and is then carbon filtered, softened, demineralized, re-mineralized, and disinfected with ultraviolet light and ozone.

Tasting notes: A clean taste, with no trace of minerals at all. Neutral in flavor. If you’re a marathon runner, this would be a great choice. It quenches in a very direct and pleasing way.

COLE SALADINO/THRILLIST

  1. Voss

The story: Found in an artesian well in Norway and also in fancy hotel rooms, Voss ties Mountain Spring for the most expensive water on the list.

Tasting notes: This has a lot of character. It’s expressive. Gravelly, but we liked it — it’s the Jack Palance of water. There’s a roughness around the edges. It seems like there’s a ton of minerals in there.

COLE SALADINO/THRILLIST

  1. Mountain Valley Spring Water

The story: This Arkansas-sourced spring water has been quenching thirsts since 1871 and has been a favorite of everyone from presidents Coolidge and Eisenhower to Elvis Presley to Secretariat, who stands alone as both the first horse to take home a Triple Crown and first to have an opinion on water flavors. It takes 3,500 years for rain water to make its way to the aquifer and its naturally high pH supposedly works well to neutralize highly acidic food.

Tasting notes: Sweet flavors. Incredibly high drinkability. Rejuvenating. Buttermilk flavors, but not so sour. Tastes like it’s been filtered through a geological treasure. Rich and luxurious mouthfeel.

Dan Gentile is a contributor to Thrillist who has taste-tested everything from the Big Mac to the Big King. He also enjoys hating mustard. Follow him to pots of gold/Twitter@Dannosphere.

 

The best and worst bottled waters

 

BOTTLED WATER EXPOSED (NOT GOOD) & A LIST OF BRANDS TO AVOID REVEALED BY EXPERTS

COLLECTIVE EVOLUTIONSEPTEMBER 15, 2016

 

Back in 1945, government officials began including fluoride in our tap water to improve our dental health.

Found in many name brand toothpastes, it’s thought to help prevent tooth decay. But recent studies have revealed that the chemical can actually do more harm than good, like causing fluorosis — permanent deformation of the teeth.

Overexposure to fluoride, leading to fluorosis, is typically seen in children during the first eight years of their life, when their permanent teeth are beginning to form. The physical deformities caused include yellow to dark brown staining of the teeth, irregularities in the surface of the teeth, and large, noticeable pits that can form holes in the teeth.

Fluoride can also negatively impact their cognitive development. In fact, a study conducted in China found that children who grew up in areas with high levels of fluoride in their drinking water scored, on average, significantly less on IQ tests than children in lower-fluoride areas.

Senior study author Philippe Grandjean attributed the lower IQ scores to the toxic effect that fluoride has on the developing brain. “Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury, and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain,” Grandjean explained. “The effect of each toxicant may seem small, but the combined damage on a population scale can be serious, especially because the brain power of the next generation is crucial to all of us.”

Nearly 75 percent of the U.S. population receives drinking water that contains 0.7-1.2 parts per million (ppm) fluoride to prevent tooth decay. These levels are based on recommendations from the federal government made more than four decades ago.

“Just because we did studies over the last 70 years, it doesn’t mean that we did everything that is necessary to know for sure that fluoridation is not toxic to some processes in the body or development of the brain. Those studies have actually not been done,” noted Grandjean, who is also an adjunct professor of environmental health and the head of the Research Unit at the University of Southern Denmark, and author of Only One Chance: How Environmental Pollution Impairs Brain Development – and How to Protect the Brains of the Next Generation.

In light of these revelations, you’d think bottled water would be the safe bet, right? That’s why we make sure to skip filling up from the tap and invest our money in brands that claim to have the best quality water for our health. Unfortunately, it seems that bottled versions aren’t always as pure as we’ve been led to believe.

advertisement – learn more

Many brands actually use municipal tap water and could contain fluoride, while certain spring water is reported to also contain the chemical, according to the Arab Tribune.

A study published in the Journal of Epidemiological & Community Health discovered that those who consume fluoridated water are more likely to suffer from thyroid issues.

“In many areas of the world, hypothyroidism is a major health concern and in addition to other factors—such as iodine deficiency—fluoride exposure should be considered as a contributing factor. The findings of the study raise particular concerns about the validity of community fluoridation as a safe public health measure,” the study authors concluded.

To avoid buying a bottled water brand that contains fluoride, do not purchase the following brands:

Alhambra, Sierra Springs, Sparkletts, Arrowhead, Mount Olympus, Belmont Springs, Poland Spring, Crystal Rock, Crystal Springs, Shenandoah, Deer Park, Diamond Springs, Nursery Water, Hindley Spri, Ice Mountain, Kandiyohi, Puritan Springs, Kentwood Springs, Mayer Bros., Ozarka, Pure Flo, and Zephyrhills.

Safer bets for water bottle brands that do not contain fluoride include:

Aquafina, Crystal Point, Dannon, Deja Blue, Evian, Fresh Market, Great Value, Smart Water, Summit Mountains, and Summit Springs.

Top 10 bottled waters

Published March 21, 2014

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This Saturday, March 22 is National Water Day, so why not break out a bottle of H2O to celebrate? Whether you enjoy bubbly or flat water, it can be difficult to choose between all of the thousands of bottled water brands available.  Try flat water from Fiji, sparkling water from France, or the water enjoyed by both Elvis Presley and the racehorse Secretariat.

We’ve created this primer on the top brands to take the guesswork out of your next trip down the grocery store aisle. Next time you’re thirsty, why not try reaching for one of the ten best bottled waters around?

  • Voss Artesian Water

Voss Water

Two Norwegian entrepreneurs created Voss, a classy, designer-savvy tube of water from the crisp, frigid aquifers of their Nordic homeland. Shielded for hundreds of years from pollutants by thick layers of rock and sand, Voss water is bottled in Southern Norway, “naturally unfiltered” and served both still and sparkling. But its rugged purity is not Voss’ only selling point. The company’s designers painstakingly developed the bottle’s look and feel to reflect a brand that embodies both health and high fashion. Voss first became available mostly in upscale hotels and in health spas in Europe and in the United States but has since seen much wider distribution in gourmet food and retail stores on both continents.

  • Saint Geron Mineral Water

Gayot.com

Saint Géron, known as “the queen of mineral waters,” stems from an ancient spring in the Auvergne region of France. The light, sparkling mineral water in a bottle of Saint Géron is the product of an 1,100-year filtration process. This results in the water being cleansed of all bacteria and nitrates, which show up at less than .1 milligrams per liter. Unusually rich in calcium and magnesium, Saint Géron has long been used as a treatment for digestive problems, diabetes, anemia and even gout. Although the water was not bottled until the nineteenth century, the Romans patronized the spring long before — ancient coins from the Gallo-roman period (50 BC–486 AD) have been found scattered all around the source. The water comes in a modern, elegant glass bottle created by painter and designer Alberto Bali.

  • Hildon Natural Mineral Water

Gayot.com

One of the UK’s most prestigious bottled waters, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is served at the House of Commons and the Royal Opera House (and is rumored to be the water of choice at Buckingham Palace). Hildon begins as rainfall, which percolates through the chalk hills of the Hampshire countryside. After a period of 50 years the water emerges at an underground aquifer beneath the nineteenth-century Hildon Estate. The chalk acts as a unique natural filtration system, protecting the water from pollution and endowing it with high levels of calcium. Once it reaches the source it is immediately bottled without chemical treatment. Naturally low in sodium, the water is prized for its purity and well-balanced taste. Hildon, which produces both still and sparkling varieties, was the first company in the world to sell a natural mineral water with a carbonation level below 2.9. This low level of carbonation makes their “Gently Sparkling” water ideal for sipping alongside fine wines and subtly flavored dishes, which risk being overwhelmed by more robust bubbles.

  • Evian Natural Spring Water

Evian

Discovered by a French nobleman during the French Revolution, Evian stems from a source that was thought to hold curative and restorative powers from the start. Evian begins as water that emerges from the Source Cache in France in a mountain tunnel at 52.88 degrees Fahrenheit. The source is fed from the melted snow and rain that filters through glacial sand from the Vinzier Plateau over a period of fifteen years. The glacial sand is surrounded by clay, which protects the water from pollution and gives it its mineral composition and taste. The water is bottled at a nearby bottling plant, which is highly automated and exceptionally hygienic.

  • Fiji Natural Artesian Water

Gayot.com

FIJI Water, natural artesian water, began being bottled in 1996 at the source in the Yaqara Valley of Viti Levu, one of Fiji’s two principal islands, and is now the number one imported bottled water in the United States. FIJI’s natural artesian origins provide the water with a unique mineral profile, including its high silica concentration. FIJI Water is known for its iconic square bottle and its signature soft, smooth taste, which comes from the natural silica content and trace amounts of calcium and magnesium. As part of that strict commitment to quality, no human hands are allowed to touch it. Perfectly protected from outside air and external elements, FIJI Water is untouched until you unscrew the cap.

  • Gerolsteiner Mineral Water

Gayot.com

Founded in 1888, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water is the number one water export in Germany. In the German style of stringent purity and cleanliness, Gerolsteiner’s production follows strict purity protocols. Originating in springs from the area of Volcanic Eifel, Gerolsteiner flows from ancient, rocky volcanic reservoirs 200 feet beneath the earth’s surface. Minerals and carbonic acid leach into the water as it percolates up through the volcanic rocks, giving Gerolsteiner its exceptionally high amount of calcium, bicarbonate and magnesium. Gerolsteiner is a great source of essential nutrients that our bodies need daily and its natural carbonation gives Gerolsteiner its refreshing, neutral taste.

  • Ferrarelle Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water

Gayot.com

Relatively unknown in America, Italy’s number one brand of sparkling mineral water was established in 1893, though Italians have been drinking from its source for hundreds of years. This naturally effervescent water is bottled directly at a spring located in the protected Sorgeto di Riardo Park near the extinct Roccamonfina volcano in Italy’s Campania region. Ferrarelle is extremely mindful of the quality of its products, testing them more than 600 times each day. Care is also taken to safeguard the habitat surrounding the spring, and the company’s bottling plants are powered by solar energy.

Ferrarelle water, both sparkling and still, is bottled in glass containers rather than plastic, which protects its taste and purity and lessens the impact on the environment. Ferrarelle water begins as rainfall, which trickles through layers of rock in the ground, soaking up valuable minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and fluoride. Nevertheless, it has no mineral taste and no unpleasant saltiness. It does have the thirst-quenching, pure taste of simple water, with a pleasant amount of fizziness.

  • Perrier Mineral Water

Perrier

Perrier is a naturally sparkling mineral water sourced from a spring in Vergèze, France. Originally called Les Bouillens, the spring has been used as a spa resort since Roman times. The distinctive bottle shape is said to have been inspired by Indian clubs used for exercise by spring owner Sir Saint-John Harmsworth. The water and carbonation are captured separately and recombined in the bottling process to preserve the natural sparkling flavor of the original water from the spring. Today, Perrier is marketed as a healthy alternative to soda drinks and cocktails and is available in a variety of flavors, ranging from pink grapefruit to lemon and lime.

  • Mountain Valley Spring Water

Gayot.com

Since 1871, Mountain Valley Spring Water has been praised by U.S. presidents, world-class athletes and even Hollywood stars for its refreshing taste and potent health benefits. Bottled at its source in the hills between the Glazypeau and Cedar Mountains in Arkansas, Mountain Valley Spring Water has a unique mineral composition that is believed to have medicinal properties that can help alleviate chronic disorders.

Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Joe Lewis were firm believers in the restorative powers of this water, and they weren’t the only ones. Thirteen presidents (from Coolidge to Clinton) had Mountain Valley regularly served to their guests while they were in office, and the water is currently being served in the United States Senate. In fact, President Dwight Eisenhower drank the water medicinally following a heart attack. It was also served to a number of famous racehorses, including Nashua, Sunday Silence and the great Secretariat. This sparkling water is light and clean, with a delicate pH balance for premier taste.

  • Volvic Natural Spring Water

Gayot.com

Volvic is bottled exclusively at its unique source in France and available in more than 60 countries. The basin supplying the Volvic spring source is located in the Regional Park of the Old Auvergne Volcanoes, a volcanic region that has been dormant for 10,000 years. The name Volvic refers to the town as well as a type of gray volcanic rock. The source of the water, the Clairvic Spring, was discovered in 1927. In 1965, the French Ministry of Health authorized the bottling of Volvic water. Volvic emerges year-round from its protected source at the constant temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius.

TRENDING

BOTTLED WATER EXPOSED (NOT GOOD) & A LIST OF BRANDS TO AVOID REVEALED BY EXPERTS

COLLECTIVE EVOLUTIONSEPTEMBER 15, 2016

  Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

 

IBack in 1945, government officials began including fluoride in our tap water to improve our dental health.

Found in many name brand toothpastes, it’s thought to help prevent tooth decay. But recent studies have revealed that the chemical can actually do more harm than good, like causing fluorosis — permanent deformation of the teeth.

Overexposure to fluoride, leading to fluorosis, is typically seen in children during the first eight years of their life, when their permanent teeth are beginning to form. The physical deformities caused include yellow to dark brown staining of the teeth, irregularities in the surface of the teeth, and large, noticeable pits that can form holes in the teeth.

Fluoride can also negatively impact their cognitive development. In fact, a study conducted in China found that children who grew up in areas with high levels of fluoride in their drinking water scored, on average, significantly less on IQ tests than children in lower-fluoride areas.

Senior study author Philippe Grandjean attributed the lower IQ scores to the toxic effect that fluoride has on the developing brain. “Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury, and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain,” Grandjean explained. “The effect of each toxicant may seem small, but the combined damage on a population scale can be serious, especially because the brain power of the next generation is crucial to all of us.”

Nearly 75 percent of the U.S. population receives drinking water that contains 0.7-1.2 parts per million (ppm) fluoride to prevent tooth decay. These levels are based on recommendations from the federal government made more than four decades ago.

“Just because we did studies over the last 70 years, it doesn’t mean that we did everything that is necessary to know for sure that fluoridation is not toxic to some processes in the body or development of the brain. Those studies have actually not been done,” noted Grandjean, who is also an adjunct professor of environmental health and the head of the Research Unit at the University of Southern Denmark, and author of Only One Chance: How Environmental Pollution Impairs Brain Development – and How to Protect the Brains of the Next Generation.

In light of these revelations, you’d think bottled water would be the safe bet, right? That’s why we make sure to skip filling up from the tap and invest our money in brands that claim to have the best quality water for our health. Unfortunately, it seems that bottled versions aren’t always as pure as we’ve been led to believe.

advertisement – learn more

Many brands actually use municipal tap water and could contain fluoride, while certain spring water is reported to also contain the chemical, according to the Arab Tribune.

A study published in the Journal of Epidemiological & Community Health discovered that those who consume fluoridated water are more likely to suffer from thyroid issues.

“In many areas of the world, hypothyroidism is a major health concern and in addition to other factors—such as iodine deficiency—fluoride exposure should be considered as a contributing factor. The findings of the study raise particular concerns about the validity of community fluoridation as a safe public health measure,” the study authors concluded.

To avoid buying a bottled water brand that contains fluoride, do not purchase the following brands:

Alhambra, Sierra Springs, Sparkletts, Arrowhead, Mount Olympus, Belmont Springs, Poland Spring, Crystal Rock, Crystal Springs, Shenandoah, Deer Park, Diamond Springs, Nursery Water, Hindley Spri, Ice Mountain, Kandiyohi, Puritan Springs, Kentwood Springs, Mayer Bros., Ozarka, Pure Flo, and Zephyrhills.

Safer bets for water bottle brands that do not contain fluoride include:

Aquafina, Crystal Point, Dannon, Deja Blue, Evian, Fresh Market, Great Value, Smart Water, Summit Mountains, and Summit Springs.

Top 10 bottled waters

Published March 21, 2014

This Saturday, March 22 is National Water Day, so why not break out a bottle of H2O to celebrate? Whether you enjoy bubbly or flat water, it can be difficult to choose between all of the thousands of bottled water brands available.  Try flat water from Fiji, sparkling water from France, or the water enjoyed by both Elvis Presley and the racehorse Secretariat.

We’ve created this primer on the top brands to take the guesswork out of your next trip down the grocery store aisle. Next time you’re thirsty, why not try reaching for one of the ten best bottled waters around?

  • Voss Artesian Water

Voss Water

Two Norwegian entrepreneurs created Voss, a classy, designer-savvy tube of water from the crisp, frigid aquifers of their Nordic homeland. Shielded for hundreds of years from pollutants by thick layers of rock and sand, Voss water is bottled in Southern Norway, “naturally unfiltered” and served both still and sparkling. But its rugged purity is not Voss’ only selling point. The company’s designers painstakingly developed the bottle’s look and feel to reflect a brand that embodies both health and high fashion. Voss first became available mostly in upscale hotels and in health spas in Europe and in the United States but has since seen much wider distribution in gourmet food and retail stores on both continents.

  • Saint Geron Mineral Water

Gayot.com

Saint Géron, known as “the queen of mineral waters,” stems from an ancient spring in the Auvergne region of France. The light, sparkling mineral water in a bottle of Saint Géron is the product of an 1,100-year filtration process. This results in the water being cleansed of all bacteria and nitrates, which show up at less than .1 milligrams per liter. Unusually rich in calcium and magnesium, Saint Géron has long been used as a treatment for digestive problems, diabetes, anemia and even gout. Although the water was not bottled until the nineteenth century, the Romans patronized the spring long before — ancient coins from the Gallo-roman period (50 BC–486 AD) have been found scattered all around the source. The water comes in a modern, elegant glass bottle created by painter and designer Alberto Bali.

  • Hildon Natural Mineral Water

Gayot.com

One of the UK’s most prestigious bottled waters, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is served at the House of Commons and the Royal Opera House (and is rumored to be the water of choice at Buckingham Palace). Hildon begins as rainfall, which percolates through the chalk hills of the Hampshire countryside. After a period of 50 years the water emerges at an underground aquifer beneath the nineteenth-century Hildon Estate. The chalk acts as a unique natural filtration system, protecting the water from pollution and endowing it with high levels of calcium. Once it reaches the source it is immediately bottled without chemical treatment. Naturally low in sodium, the water is prized for its purity and well-balanced taste. Hildon, which produces both still and sparkling varieties, was the first company in the world to sell a natural mineral water with a carbonation level below 2.9. This low level of carbonation makes their “Gently Sparkling” water ideal for sipping alongside fine wines and subtly flavored dishes, which risk being overwhelmed by more robust bubbles.

  • Evian Natural Spring Water

Evian

Discovered by a French nobleman during the French Revolution, Evian stems from a source that was thought to hold curative and restorative powers from the start. Evian begins as water that emerges from the Source Cache in France in a mountain tunnel at 52.88 degrees Fahrenheit. The source is fed from the melted snow and rain that filters through glacial sand from the Vinzier Plateau over a period of fifteen years. The glacial sand is surrounded by clay, which protects the water from pollution and gives it its mineral composition and taste. The water is bottled at a nearby bottling plant, which is highly automated and exceptionally hygienic.

  • Fiji Natural Artesian Water

Gayot.com

FIJI Water, natural artesian water, began being bottled in 1996 at the source in the Yaqara Valley of Viti Levu, one of Fiji’s two principal islands, and is now the number one imported bottled water in the United States. FIJI’s natural artesian origins provide the water with a unique mineral profile, including its high silica concentration. FIJI Water is known for its iconic square bottle and its signature soft, smooth taste, which comes from the natural silica content and trace amounts of calcium and magnesium. As part of that strict commitment to quality, no human hands are allowed to touch it. Perfectly protected from outside air and external elements, FIJI Water is untouched until you unscrew the cap.

  • Gerolsteiner Mineral Water

Gayot.com

Founded in 1888, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water is the number one water export in Germany. In the German style of stringent purity and cleanliness, Gerolsteiner’s production follows strict purity protocols. Originating in springs from the area of Volcanic Eifel, Gerolsteiner flows from ancient, rocky volcanic reservoirs 200 feet beneath the earth’s surface. Minerals and carbonic acid leach into the water as it percolates up through the volcanic rocks, giving Gerolsteiner its exceptionally high amount of calcium, bicarbonate and magnesium. Gerolsteiner is a great source of essential nutrients that our bodies need daily and its natural carbonation gives Gerolsteiner its refreshing, neutral taste.

  • Ferrarelle Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water

Gayot.com

Relatively unknown in America, Italy’s number one brand of sparkling mineral water was established in 1893, though Italians have been drinking from its source for hundreds of years. This naturally effervescent water is bottled directly at a spring located in the protected Sorgeto di Riardo Park near the extinct Roccamonfina volcano in Italy’s Campania region. Ferrarelle is extremely mindful of the quality of its products, testing them more than 600 times each day. Care is also taken to safeguard the habitat surrounding the spring, and the company’s bottling plants are powered by solar energy.

Ferrarelle water, both sparkling and still, is bottled in glass containers rather than plastic, which protects its taste and purity and lessens the impact on the environment. Ferrarelle water begins as rainfall, which trickles through layers of rock in the ground, soaking up valuable minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and fluoride. Nevertheless, it has no mineral taste and no unpleasant saltiness. It does have the thirst-quenching, pure taste of simple water, with a pleasant amount of fizziness.

  • Perrier Mineral Water

Perrier

Perrier is a naturally sparkling mineral water sourced from a spring in Vergèze, France. Originally called Les Bouillens, the spring has been used as a spa resort since Roman times. The distinctive bottle shape is said to have been inspired by Indian clubs used for exercise by spring owner Sir Saint-John Harmsworth. The water and carbonation are captured separately and recombined in the bottling process to preserve the natural sparkling flavor of the original water from the spring. Today, Perrier is marketed as a healthy alternative to soda drinks and cocktails and is available in a variety of flavors, ranging from pink grapefruit to lemon and lime.

  • Mountain Valley Spring Water

Gayot.com

Since 1871, Mountain Valley Spring Water has been praised by U.S. presidents, world-class athletes and even Hollywood stars for its refreshing taste and potent health benefits. Bottled at its source in the hills between the Glazypeau and Cedar Mountains in Arkansas, Mountain Valley Spring Water has a unique mineral composition that is believed to have medicinal properties that can help alleviate chronic disorders.

Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Joe Lewis were firm believers in the restorative powers of this water, and they weren’t the only ones. Thirteen presidents (from Coolidge to Clinton) had Mountain Valley regularly served to their guests while they were in office, and the water is currently being served in the United States Senate. In fact, President Dwight Eisenhower drank the water medicinally following a heart attack. It was also served to a number of famous racehorses, including Nashua, Sunday Silence and the great Secretariat. This sparkling water is light and clean, with a delicate pH balance for premier taste.

  • Volvic Natural Spring Water

Gayot.com

Volvic is bottled exclusively at its unique source in France and available in more than 60 countries. The basin supplying the Volvic spring source is located in the Regional Park of the Old Auvergne Volcanoes, a volcanic region that has been dormant for 10,000 years. The name Volvic refers to the town as well as a type of gray volcanic rock. The source of the water, the Clairvic Spring, was discovered in 1927. In 1965, the French Ministry of Health authorized the bottling of Volvic water. Volvic emerges year-round from its protected source at the constant temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius.

Best BPA portable water bottles on the market.

Best BPA-free water bottles

Published April 28, 2013

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Good news! Americans are finally drinking more water than the sugary drinks, like soda, we’ve grown accustomed to. We can’t argue with more people drinking water, but as more and more consumers are finding alternatives to pricey, not-so-eco-friendly bottled water, there’s a caveat — your reusable water bottle may be filled with more than crystal-clear H2O.

It’s been a few years since news of BPA swept the nation. Exposure to BPA, or the chemical bisphenol A, is “widespread,” thanks to the containers we’re eating and drinking out of — and it could have serious consequences, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Services. Studies have linked BPA to some serious health effects, like certain cancers, reproductive problems, and behavioral problems in children to name just a few. And one Environmental Working Group (EWG) study found that BPA can be found in umbilical cords — so BPA can begin affecting children even in the womb.

Once everyone began to realize that water bottles, canned goods, and food containers could leach chemicals into the food and drink they’re holding, companies sought to make BPA-free containers. And in 2012, the FDA banned BPA from children’s cups and baby bottles, but that doesn’t mean your water bottles are always safe. BPA comes from polycarbonate bottles, so some of your old Nalgene bottles (arguably the biggest name brand to change its plastics to BPA-free materials in 2008) may still be BPA offenders. (How to know if your old water bottles or food containers are made from polycarbonate? Look for a “PC” marker, or #7 on recycling labels, the EWG advises).

To help you steer clear of the harmful chemical, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite, BPA-free water bottles — ones you will feel uber cool carrying around. You’ll find that most of the bottles are made from stainless steel or glass; while the price tags may seem shocking at first, it sure beats paying for bottled water all the time. And the one plastic bottle on our list, Bobble, is made from BPA-free plastics, like recycled PET. You’ll drink safe knowing that your water bottle is chemical-free. Look ahead to find our picks.

  • Bobble BPA-Free Water Bottle

Bobble

Bobble water bottles do the work for you: they filter your water with a carbon-based filter that eliminates chlorine and other organic contaminants from the water as you sip. According to the company, one filter in a Bobble bottle equals about 300 bottled waters — imagine the money you’ll save. Best of all? It’s BPA-free, PVC-free, and free of phthalates. Plus, we love the fun colors and design.

18.5 ounces, $9.99, waterbobble.com.

  • KOR Vida Hydration Vessel

KOR

This stainless steel water bottle features a “perfect” spout that makes drinking on the go easy-peasy, plus it has a tapered design and an ergonomic handle.

25.3ounces, $24.95, korwater.com.

  • Nathan Sports Steel BPA-Free Water Bottle

Nathan Sports

This stainless-steel water bottle is complete with an easy-to-use steel flip straw and a “quick clip” to attach it to your camping gear, belt, or whatever you need it to hang on.

23.7 ounces, $21.95, campbound.com.

See more water bottles at The Daily Meal

5 EVERYDAY FOOD CHEMICALS THAT COULD BE MAKING YOU GAIN WEIGHT

MAY 12, 2015
caution foods

 

Tired of struggling to lose weight and making zero progress—despite eating a relatively healthy diet? Join the club. Yet before pure frustration inspires you trade that big salad for a bacon cheeseburger, check this out: New research shows that certain chemicals in our food—even seemingly healthy picks, such as lean meats, fish, fruits and veggies—could be encouraging your body to hang on to fat.

“These toxins—known as obesogens—disrupt the function of our hormones and others alter our gut biome, causing an imbalance of good and bad bacteria,” says Patricia Salber, MD, a board certified internist and author of the blog The Doctor Weighs In. The imbalance can lead to confused hunger cues, a sleepy metabolism, and an increase in fat cells and fat storage—all of which can lead to weight gain. “Worse, these obesogens have also been shown to increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol,” says Salber.

Obesogen No. 1: Bisphenol-A (BPA)

bpa( Photograph by soraluk/Getty Images )

Over the last few years, our increasing understanding of the dangers of this synthetic compound (found predominantly in plastic food and drink containers) has launched a new market for BPA-free bottles. That’s great, but BPA is still found in virtually all people tested nationwide. In a new study published in the journal Nature, Harvard and Brown University epidemiologists compared levels of BPA in the urine of almost 1,000 U.S. women to their self-reported weight gain over a 10-year period, and the women with the highest levels of BPA reported gaining about half a pound more per year than women with the lowest levels. Other studies show that BPA may accelerate fat-cell differentiation, disrupt pancreatic functioning, and cause insulin resistance, all of which can lead to obesity.Steer clear: In addition to buying those BPA-free baby bottles and food storage containers, avoid plastics marked with the #7 in the recycling triangle (a surefire sign it contains BPA) and canned foods, such as canned tomatoes and tuna fish. In fact, canned tuna is one of the most BPA-laden foods on store shelves. (Also be wary of BPA-free plastic; learn more here.)

Obesogen No. 2: Triflumizole

caution foods( Photograph by andrea sperling/Getty Images )

If you tend to choose conventional over organic produce due to availability and affordability, here’s some news that may inspire you to make a different choice: A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives has linked triflumizole—a fungicide commonly used on many food crops, especially leafy greens—to weight gain. When pregnant mice ingested tiny doses of triflumizole, they gave birth to babies that were more prone to obesity, and the researchers chalked it up to the fungicide acting as obesogen in the body. “Almost all of the common chemicals used on our crops are endocrine-disrupting,” says Salber, “which means they promote fat storage and undermine our body’s ability to build lean muscle.”Steer clear: Opt for organic fruits and veggies. Yes, they can be more expensive and tougher to find than conventional produce, but here’s some more evidence that could make the extra effort and expense worth your while: Research published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives shows that it takes just five days of eating organic fruits and veggies—or avoiding the most contaminated conventional ones—to reduce pesticide-based obesogens to undetectable levels. For a list of produce with the most pesticide residues, take a look at “The 14 Kinds of Produce With the Highest Levels of Pesticides.”

MORE: The Skinny On 2 New FDA-Approved Weight Loss Treatments

Obesogen No. 3: Emulsifiers
These chemicals are added to processed foods to improve texture and prevent separation (think of mayonnaise and salad dressings), but a new study published in the journal Nature found they negatively impact your gut biome, creating a bacterial imbalance that can lead to metabolic syndrome. Researchers at Georgia State University fed mice emulsifiers at levels that are present in our food, and not only did it trigger obesity in the animals, but also gut diseases, such as colitis (an inflammation of the lining of the colon that can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea).

Steer clear: Since emulsifiers are found in many processed foods (and hide out as “polysorbates” and “sorbitan monostearate” on food labels), try to avoid them and load your diet with whole foods instead. “Emulsifiers are everywhere,” says Salber, “which means you can take a really great food like artichokes, which benefits your microbiome, and dip it in a mayo-based sauce that totally undoes all of the benefits,” she says. (Learn more about emulsifiers and how you can avoid them with The Sneaky Food Ingredient That Could Be Making You Fat.)

Obesogen No. 4: Antibiotics and Hormones

( Photograph by Jupiter Images/Getty Images )

When cattle and other livestock are treated with antibiotics and hormones, you get a dose when eat the meat from these animals—and research shows these substances can lead to weight gain. In one study, New York University researchers found that mice exposed to comparable amounts of antibiotics had decreased levels of T-cells, which not only impairs immune function but has also been associated with obesity. Another study in the International Journal of Obesityfound that the use of steroid hormones in conventional dairy farming and meat production could be a contributor to the obesity epidemic.Steer clear: Choose antibiotic- and hormone-free meats and dairy products (look for “organic,” “free range” and “grass-fed” on the label) and choose leaner cuts of meat: Many obesogens are fat soluable, which means they’re more likely to accumulate in fatty tissues.

MORE: 13 Vegetarian Dinners That Are Anything But Boring

Obesogen No. 5: Perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA)
Found in non-stick cookware (and sometimes referred to as Teflon), PFOA has been linked to obesity. When Danish researchers measured levels of PFOA in pregnant mothers and then compared those with their children’s body weights 20 years later, the moms who’d had the highest levels of the chemical in their blood were three times as likely to have overweight or obese daughters than mothers with the lowest levels. (The same weight gain didn’t occur in sons.) And here’s a surprise: PFOA is also found in greaseproof food wrappers and microwavable popcorn bags, which means you may be ingesting some of this chemical even if you’re a cast iron skillet devotee.

MORE: 5 Ways To Drink Green Tea For Weight Loss

Steer clear: There’s no need to ditch your set of (expensive!) non-stick cookware. However, when you start to see chips or scratches, replace the pan—preferably with untreated stainless steel or cast iron (which has the added benefit of giving your food an boost of iron).

Is the U.S. facing Civil War?

Obama was President for eight years and Clinton another eight. Trump looks to be trying to undo 16 years of Democratic  presidency in one year. Is this moving way too fast for the American public? In particular the Democrats? Probably. Article from Wall Street Journal.

Historian Allen Guelzo says the nation is more bitterly split than ever—with the exception of the Civil War era.

Philadelphia

If there’s one thing Americans of all political stripes can agree on, it’s that the country is divided—bitterly, dangerously, perhaps irreconcilably riven. “It shows up in very cinematic fashion, in things like the Scalise shooting,” says historian Allen Guelzo. “So we jump to the conclusion: Oh my goodness, does it mean we’re on the brink of civil war?”

No, answers Mr. Guelzo, director of the Civil War Era Studies Program at Gettysburg College. The Civil War was singular and is almost certain to remain so. But he does see continuities, some of them surprising, between then and now. And he thinks today’s divisions are worse than those of any time in American history except the 1850s and ’60s.

Today “there are a lot of unhappy personalities, and there are divisions of cultural values,” Mr. Guelzo tells me over dinner at the Union League of Philadelphia, where he’s been a member since 1983. That was also true when the country was young, “between Jefferson and Adams, and between Jefferson and Hamilton,” and later with “all kinds of acidulous political and cultural divisions—over Masons, Catholics, John Calhoun, nullification, tariffs, Andrew Jackson. You go down the list, and it’s one thing after another. But it didn’t drive us to civil war.”

What did was the combination of slavery and secession, “and the two of them are really bound together.” Both are “very absolute questions,” Mr. Guelzo says. Lincoln’s observation in 1858 that “this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free” was born of the failure of repeated efforts at compromise—most recently the Supreme Court decision that made Chief Justice Roger Taney infamous.

“When Taney wrote Dred Scott in 1857, it wasn’t because Taney was the most vile pro-slavery ideologue in the country,” Mr. Guelzo says. “He wasn’t—I mean, the man had actually emancipated his own slaves. And while he certainly wasn’t friendly to abolitionists, that’s not why he wrote Dred Scott the way he did. He did it because the situation in 1857 seemed to have demonstrated that neither the legislative branch nor the executive branch was capable of arriving at a solution for the slavery question. So who steps up into the batter’s box? The judiciary—we will settle this.”

ILLUSTRATION: ZINA SAUNDERS

But even slavery was not a sufficient condition for war. “If slavery had been legal in, let’s say, Minnesota, Maine, Florida and Louisiana, there would never have been a Civil War,” Mr. Guelzo says. What gave the question “political mass” was geography: Slavery had been outlawed throughout the North by the early 19th century, leaving 15 states where it was legal. “Because these slave states were all contiguous, they could look at a map and see themselves as a political unit.” Eleven did in 1860-61.

*******

George Bush, Sr. was Vice-President for eight years and President four years. He is quoted as saying: In crucial matters – unity, in important things – diversity and in all things – generosity. Apparently this is a quote from one of the saints. So, slow down Mr. President, you’re going too fast. Let the people catch up.

Opioid Epidemic May Be Keeping Prime-Age Americans Out of the Workforce – WSJ

 

Opioid Epidemic May Be Keeping Prime-Age Americans Out of the Workforce

New research from Princeton’s Alan Krueger suggests link between falling workforce participation and rising painkiller prescriptions

New research from Princeton University economist Alan Krueger links a decline in U.S. labor-force participation and a jump in opioid usage. Here, a firefighter treats an overdose victim as she is transported to a hospital in Rockford, Ill., in July.
New research from Princeton University economist Alan Krueger links a decline in U.S. labor-force participation and a jump in opioid usage. Here, a firefighter treats an overdose victim as she is transported to a hospital in Rockford, Ill., in July. PHOTO:SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES

New research suggests a significant portion of the post-1990s decline in labor-force participation among Americans in their prime working years could be linked to the opioid epidemic.

Conducted by Princeton University economist Alan Kruegerthe study found that a national increase in opioid painkiller prescriptions between 1999 and 2015 may have accounted for about 20% of the decline in workforce participation among men ages 25 to 54, and roughly 25% of the drop in prime-age female workforce participation.

“The opioid epidemic and labor-force participation are now intertwined,” Mr. Krueger said. “If we are to bring a large number of people back into the labor force who have left the labor force, I think it’s important that we take serious steps to address the opioid crisis.”

Prime-Age WorkersShare of the prime-age (25-54-year-old) population that is…THE WALL STREET JOURNALSource: Labor DepartmentNote: Seasonally adjusted
%RecessionIn the labor forceEmployed1996’982000’02’04’06’08’10’12’14’16707274767880828486

Mr. Krueger, who was the top White House economist for several years under President Barack Obama, described the research as provocative and speculative, and said he couldn’t prove cause and effect due to limitations in the available data. But, he added: “It’s certainly something that deserves serious attention.”

He will present his findings Thursday at the Brookings Institution in Washington. An earlier version of the paper was presented at a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston conference last fall, showing that nearly half of prime-age American men not in the labor force were taking pain medication.

Mr. Krueger says that one of the long-term forces pushing down U.S. labor-force participation is the rise in opioid painkiller prescriptions like oxycodone, pictured.
Mr. Krueger says that one of the long-term forces pushing down U.S. labor-force participation is the rise in opioid painkiller prescriptions like oxycodone, pictured.PHOTO: JOHN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES

His analysis more broadly attributes the postrecession decline in the U.S. labor-force participation rate—which stood at 62.9% in August, according to the Labor Department, down from 66% in December 2007 and a peak of 67.3% in early 2000—to an aging population and other trends that predate the 2007-09 downturn.

That’s in line with other research that has assigned primary responsibility for the decline in participation to demographics and other structural forces, though some economists argue that lingering weakness in the economy has continued to depress labor-force participation.

The participation rate for prime-age men in the U.S. has been fallingsince 1954 for various reasons, including diminished opportunities for less-educated workers.

Female prime-age participation, meanwhile, rose for decades as women entered the job market in ever-larger numbers. But that began to edge lower after the 1990s.

Labor ForceShare of the population that is…THE WALL STREET JOURNALSource: Labor DepartmentNote: Seasonally adjusted
%RecessionIn the labor forceEmployed1996’982000’02’04’06’08’10’12’14’16575859606162636465666768EmployedxMarch 1997×63.6%

One of the long-term forces pushing down participation, Mr. Krueger said, is the rise in opioid painkiller prescriptions.

President Donald Trump last month called the opioid crisis a national emergency, and Mr. Krueger’s latest findings suggest that a surging addiction to painkillers may be affecting the economy in a meaningful way.

“Labor-force participation is lower in areas of the U.S. with a high rate of opioid prescriptions, and labor-force participation fell more over this 15-year period in areas with a high rate of opioid prescriptions,” he wrote in the paper.

U.S. COLLEGE SLIP IN GLOBAL RANKINGS – WSJ

U.S. Colleges Slip in Global Rankings

American schools are still dominant, but lose luster as China, U.K. shine

Graduates gather outside the Sheldonian Theatre after a graduation ceremony at Oxford University in July.
Graduates gather outside the Sheldonian Theatre after a graduation ceremony at Oxford University in July. PHOTO: HANNAH MCKAY/REUTERS

The U.S. continues to lay claim to more elite research universities than any other country in the world, but that dominance is beginning to fray.

Oxford and Cambridge, the intellectual one-two punch of the U.K., took the first and second spots in the 2018 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Their showing marked the first year schools outside the U.S. seized the two top positions in the 14-year history of the list.

The U.S., led by California Institute of Technology and Stanford University, took seven of the top 11 spots.

But this also marked the fifth year of consecutive decline in the overall showing of the U.S. This ranking listed 62 U.S. schools in the top 200. In 2014, 77 U.S. universities ranked in the top 200.

By contrast, the cumulative reputation of Chinese research institutions is swelling. In the latest ranking, seven Chinese schools cracked the top 200. In 2014, there were just two. Peking University and Tsinghua University topped Chinese schools, ranking 27th and 30th, respectively. That placed them ahead of the Georgia Institute of Technology (No. 33), Brown University (No. 51) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (No. 56).

THE TOP 20

  • 1. University of Oxford (U.K.)
  • 2. University of Cambridge (U.K.)
  • T-3. California Institute of Technology (U.S.)
  • T-3. Stanford University (U.S.)
  • 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (U.S.)
  • 6. Harvard University (U.S.)
  • 7. Princeton University (U.S.)
  • 8. Imperial College London (U.K.)
  • 9. University of Chicago (U.S.)
  • T-10. ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (Switzerland)
  • T-10. University of Pennsylvania (U.S.)
  • 12. Yale University (U.S.)
  • 13. Johns Hopkins University (U.S.)
  • 14. Columbia University (U.S.)
  • 15. University of California, Los Angeles (U.S.)
  • 16. University College London (U.K.)
  • 17. Duke University (U.S.)
  • 18. University of California, Berkeley (U.S.)
  • 19. Cornell University (U.S.)
  • 20. Northwestern University (U.S.)

“It’s not doom and gloom, the U.S. still dominates the list, but there are clear warning signs and fairly significant flashing red lights that the U.S. is under threat from increasing competition,” said Phil Baty, rankings editor at Times Higher Education. “Asia is rising. It’s a worrying time for stagnation for the U.S.”

The World University Ranking awards about a third of its score to the research generated by a university’s scholars, in part by culling 62 million citations and 12.4 million research publications. Research funding also plays a role.

Institutional income—the money generated by the university—and research reputation dinged U.S. schools, while it pulled up the scores of Chinese schools.

 A quirk of timing may have also hurt the U.S. numbers this year, Mr. Baty said. A survey of 20,000 scholars that aims to distill reputation of schools as seen by experts in the field took place in January, February and March, just as President Donald Trump was assuming office and attempting to limit access to the U.S. by citizens from six Muslim countries. Academics, who frequently collaborate globally, by and large reacted poorly to Mr. Trump’s plans, he said.

By contrast, Britain’s vote to leave the European Union preceded the survey by half a year and may not have been top of mind, Mr. Baty said.

Using A Tens Unit for Pain

 

7 Reasons to Buy a Tens Machine

 
 , JULY 16, 2014 / 9185 8

truMedic TENS Unit Electronic Pulse MassagerTens machines were once only found in medical institutes because they were simply too expensive for home use. Now, these machines can be purchased and utilized for a slew of therapy situations.

From pain to nerve retraining, a Tens unit is a vital tool that can help users along their journey to wellness. Using electric impulses, there are a slew of benefits to using these tools regularly.

The following 7 points will demonstrate just why you should consider a Tens machine for your home.

1. Pain Relief

The electric impulses sent to a muscle will be able to alleviate pain. From back to arm pain, a Tens unit will be able to provide immense relief naturally. This is done by the body itself.

The impulses will stimulate the release of endorphins in the body. This is the body’s natural way of relieving pain and acts as a pain killer that is void of any side effects.

2. Nerve Retraining

Nerve damage can often lead to pain or loss in movement. When the nerves are not able to receive or send signals correctly, pain or difficulty to move will follow. By using a machine, you can retrain your nerves to work properly.

Often seen being used by physical therapists, the electric impulse will trigger a user’s muscle retraining the brain and nerve patterns. This impulse is often enough to let the nerve follow the correct path to the muscle. With enough time, this may allow you to regain lost mobility due to an injury or accident.

You might want to read: The Complete Guide to TENS Units

3. Easy to Use

HealthmateForever Hands Free TensTens units are advanced medical tools, but they are very easy to use at home. Users can place the included pads on the muscle that needs stimulation and the machine will do the rest.

Unlike complicated units of the past, newer units are simple to use and adjust.Users merely have to change a dial or choose the right program setting to allow for correct usage.

The hardest part is actually finding the right muscle to stimulate.

You might want to read: 7 Most Popular Tens Units on the Market

4. Massage Benefits

Many manufacturers are offering Tens units that act as massagers. These units will follow a different pulse pattern to provide a massage to the user. For instance, the intensity levels may rise, lower and rise even higher to massage the muscle internally. Even standard units now come with programmable settings that allow users to essentially massage themselves with a unit.

Anyone suffering from back or elbow pain will find these massage benefits to be great.

5. Reduce Inflammation

Omron electroTHERAPY Pain Relief Device PM3030Inflammation can further lead to discomfort and pain. When muscles are inflamed, using one of these units can help greatly.

A study done by the University of Washington demonstrated that the use of proper stimulation using a Tens machine actually reduced inflammation found deep within muscle fibers.

The same study went on to show that this reduction of inflammation provided immense pain relief for:

  • Pinched nerves
  • Degeneration of discs
  • Sciatica

Users that suffer from immense back pain often find the relief they need to finally function normally instead of being hunched over in pain all day.

6. Affordable Pain Relief

Oftentimes, pain medications can lead to dependency or they can cost an immense amount of money. Some users have also grown an immunity to pain medications and trying to find any form of relief is almost impossible.

These machines have shown to help with pain so greatly that they have replaced certain medications altogether. However, most users do not experience this. Instead, users are typically able to reduce the amount of medication used by following a routine of electric impulse stimulation.

With medication costs, side effects and dependency issues on the rise, a Tens Machine can be a very safe and affordable mean of pain reduction.

7. Quicker Rehabilitation and Reduced Fear

Pain can easily lead to a drastic change in lifestyle. With pain, fear often follows when doing the most mundane tasks. This leads to rehabilitation taking even longer, or it can lead to a person growing a phobia that causes them not to perform certain movements that may cause an increase in pain.

Through the use of these machines, users are able to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain so that they can maintain their regular level of activity. This not only helps eliminate phobias, but it also helps a person fully maintain their normal level of strength and not have to worry about atrophy of the muscles. This equates to a much faster rehabilitation time, especially with advanced knee and back pain.

It is important to note that these electric impulses are not safe to use near your heart or on your neck, head or face. The impulse may cause severe injury if used in these areas and may even cause death in severe cases.

Never attempt to use a Tens Unit on any of the areas of the body previously mentioned, and always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Wall Street Journal – Political Divisions in U.S. are Widening

 

Divisions in America reach far beyond Washington into the nation’s culture, economy and social fabric, and the polarization began long before the rise of President Donald Trump, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey of social trends has found.

The findings help explain why political divisions are now especially hard to bridge. People who identify with either party increasingly disagree not just on policy; they inhabit separate worlds of differing social and cultural values and even see their economic outlook through a partisan lens.

The wide gulf is visible in an array of issues and attitudes: Democrats are twice as likely to say they never go to church as are Republicans, and they are eight times as likely to favor action on climate change. One-third of Republicans say they support the National Rifle Association, while just 4% of Democrats do. More than three-quarters of Democrats, but less than one-third of Republicans, said they felt comfortable with societal changes that have made the U.S. more diverse.

What is more, Americans’ view of the economy, the direction of the nation and the future has even come to be closely aligned with their feelings about the current president, the survey found.

“Our political compass is totally dominating our economic and world views about the country,” said GOP pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Fred Yang. “Political polarization is not a new thing. The level under Trump is the logical outcome of a generation-long trend.”

The poll found deep splits along geographic and educational lines. Rural Americans and people without a four-year college degree are notably more pessimistic about the economy and more conservative on social issues. Those groups make up an increasingly large share of the GOP.

  •  A measure of how much more polarized the electorate is than a generation ago can be found in views of the president. Eight months into the 1950s presidency of Republican Dwight Eisenhower, 60% of Democrats approved of the job he was doing. That level of cross-party support for a new president remained above 40% until Bill Clinton, when only 20% of Republicans approved of his performance after eight months in 1993. For Barack Obama, Republican support dropped to 16% at this point in his presidency in 2009.

Under Mr. Trump, that trend has continued and intensified. His job-approval rating among Americans overall has remained in recent months at about 40%, but just 8% of Democrats approve of the job he is doing, the survey found. By contrast, 80% of Republicans approve.

Shrinking SupportJob approval of the president among members of the opposing party abouteight months into each presidencyTHE WALL STREET JOURNALSource: Gallup (Eisenhower through George H.W. Bush); WSJ/NBC News telephone polls
EisenhowerKennedyNixonCarterReaganG.H.W. BushClintonG.W. BushObamaTrump0%10203040506070

Mr. Trump’s election has brought a sharp mood swing among Republicans. In August 2014, 88% of Republicans said they weren’t confident that life for their children’s generation would be better than their own, a gloomy view of a central element of the American dream. Eight months into the Trump presidency, just 46% of Republicans say they lack confidence in their children’s future—a 42-point swing that is more dramatic than improvements in the economy would seem to justify.

The survey found changes over the years in attitudes on cultural and economic issues, such as gun control, immigration and globalization, that were key issues of Mr. Trump’s campaign.

Views of gun rights used to be less partisan: Asked if they were concerned that the government would go too far in restricting gun-ownership rights or, alternatively, that the government wouldn’t do enough, Republicans in 1995 were about evenly split. Democrats were divided 26% to 67%.

 

ABC’S – THE VIEW HATES TRUMP

ABC’S – THE VIEW

Hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar make it their daily business to denounce not only Trump but his presidency and every Republican walking. ABC studios are paying them a lot of money to do so.

Background:

http://frostsnow.com/whoopi-goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg full name Caryn Elaine Johnson is a multi-talented personality. She is known as an actress, comedian and writer from America. She is also renowned as social critic and television host. Whoopi Goldberg was born on 13 November 1955 in Manhattan, New York City, New York of United States to Emma Johnson and Robert James Johnson Jr. Clyde Goldberg is her brother who died in 2015. She is a drop out student of Washington Irving High School.

She has the mouth watering total net worth of $45 million dollars. Her annual salary from the show The View is two million dollars.

Ms. Goldberg spends a lot of time talking about how the Have Nots will rise up and take what is rightly theirs from the Haves.  I certainly hope she is including herself in the Haves group; a two million dollar salary, I believe, puts her in that category.

Joy Behar. Born on the 7th of October, 1942 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Joy Behar has made her presence known among the numerous TV personalities of today. She is one of the most popular TV personalities in any channels. Overnight has spent more than her half of age in this sector. At this age, she is actively making her presence known.

She has an estimated net worth of $8 million dollars including an annual salary of $500 thousand dollars. wikipicky.com/tv-celebrity/joy-behar-husband-divorce-salary-and-net-worth.html

Ms. Behar advocates the conspiracy theory that all fortunes involve some kind of fraud or deceit; does she include herself in that group? She doesn’t have as much money as Whoopi, but she is still a millionaire.

Joy Behar apologizes for calling Clinton accusers ‘tramps’

BY JOE CONCHA – 10/11/16 11:47 AM EDT 198

Joy Behar, a co-host of ABC’s “The View,” on Tuesday apologized for calling the women who have accused former President Bill Clinton of rape and sexual assault “tramps.”

“I want to apologize,” Behar said Tuesday on the show. “I never, ever intend to belittle sexual assault and the women who are victims of it ever. … I made a joke. … I’m sorry.”

During Monday’s episode of the show, Behar interjected when co-host Sunny Hostin said Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton“missed the opportunity” during Sunday night’s presidential debate with GOP nominee Donald Trump to address the allegations from Juanita Broaddrick, Paula Jones and Kathleen Willey.

“I would like to apologize to those tramps who have slept with my husband. Maybe should could have said that,” Behar said.

Broaddrick, 73, accused Bill Clinton of raping her while he was Arkansas attorney general in 1978. He never faced charges.

Jones and Willey accused Clinton of sexual harassment in the 1990s.

Jones sued and then settled with Clinton out of court for $850,000. Wiley, who says Clinton groped her, was subpoenaed to testify in the case.