There have been debates to the necessity of using straws for our drinks, but one thing everyone can agree on is that plastic straws are an abomination to the planet. (If you do not agree on that, please take the time to watch this plastic straw being pulled out from a sea turtle’s nostril.) These fun, colorful, weightless, readily available plastic drinking straws have a 30-minute lifespan with a lifetime impact on the environment. A simple conscious effort of saying no when presented with plastic straws, or even before they are offered, make a world of difference. Why not pluck out a bamboo straw from your bag, and imagine the sun, sand, and sea as you put the bamboo straw to your lips?
If you are a fan of drinking straws (because why not? To each his own), or not really concerned with them, here are a few benefits you could find useful when using bamboo straws with your favorite drink:
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Bamboo straws are completely natural, biodegradable and compostable, and plastic-free. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world. They rarely need to be irrigated; pesticides and fertilizers are not needed because bamboo has antibacterial traits. So aside from reducing your own carbon footprint, the support and profit you could give to the Filipino farmers who plant and create these bamboo straws will go a long way. Win-win! Bamboo straws are available at our store, get yours today!
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Save yourself a trip from the dentist! Now, this actually is an exaggeration, but in general, straws could actually help with your dental health. Not to mention all the potential germs you have avoided from direct contact with publicly used glasses, drinking through a straw will lessen the contact between your teeth and your drink. Diverting dark-colored or extra sugary liquids away from your teeth and straight into your throat could lessen the risk for teeth stains, enamel erosion, and cavities. One tip to remember: Drink water after consuming any of your favorite colorful flavored liquids, be it an uplifting green smoothie or an emboldening glass of red wine. Another pro-tip: If you want whiter teeth without the pain and chemicals of bleaching, try our activated charcoal teeth whitening products.
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Help your child be more articulate. Speech pathologist Debra C. Lowsky wrote that drinking from straws is an efficient way to improve anyone’s oral motor skills.[1] It prevents children from forming habits of open-mouth breathing and lisping. To top it all off, Ms. Lowsky noted that sucking could also be used as a form of therapy.
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Let’s face it. Straws are so convenient - for on the go people, for disabled people, for children. We do not have to ban all straws, just single-use plastic straws. Some may consider that regular use of straws contribute to “smoker’s lips,” wrinkles that form on your upper lips, but many factors are responsible for that too: sun damage, dehydration, nicotine, genes, and what do you know, age! Smile lines won’t stop you from smiling or laughing, would it…?
In the end, it is just a matter of preference - a preference embedded with a consciousness and compassion of your surroundings. One plastic straw could be the pain of a sea turtle. One bamboo straw could mean a hundred less plastic straws in the ocean. The littlest things make a big difference, and you can start with a bamboo straw.
1. C. Lowsky - https://www.arktherapeutic.com/blog/the-oral-motor-benefits-of-straws
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With love and compassion,
Team Karunaki