Drink purer water

At home: First, assess the quality of your tap water. If you’re on a municipal system, your utility should mail you an annual Consumer Confidence Report; you could also test your water through a certified lab (find one at epa.gov). If you have good-quality water, a simple carafe filter can improve taste and remove lead. Consumer Reports named the Tersano Lotus, Clear20, and Brita Smart Pitcher as its top three picks for 2010. If your H20 requires more filtration, try a faucet-mounted filter, which removes additional contaminants such as arsenic. CR’s top picks: Culligan, Pur Vertical, and the Brita OPFF-100.

On the go: Tote filtered tap water in a reusable stainless steel (not plastic-lined) bottle that’s BPA free. The chemical, found in certain plastics, can pose health problems.