Skip the Straw and Save a Turtle

Skip the straw and save a turtle? Keeping one single straw from making it to the ocean won’t fix the problem, but imagine if everyone said “No straw, please”! 

The problem has been highlighted recently by a video of scientists pulling a straw from the nose of an unfortunate sea turtle. The video is hard to watch, but you can view it here: The Story of the Sea Turtle with a Straw in its Nostril.

I’m sure you’ve heard some of the facts on plastics, including plastic straws, and how plastics are impacting our oceans and marine life.

1. Of the 260 million tons of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the Ocean, according to a Greenpeace report (Plastic Debris in the World’s Oceans, 2006).

2. Research has found that 70 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of sea turtles have some amount of plastic in their systems. (NBC News)

3. As plastic debris floats in the seawater, it absorbs dangerous pollutants like PCBs, DDT and PAH. When animals eat these plastic pieces, the toxins are absorbed into their body and passed up the food chain. (Center for Biological Diversity: Ocean’s Plastic Pollution)

4. Plastic straws and stirrers can take up to 200 years to decompose. (https://4ocean.com/blogs/blog/how-long-does-it-take-trash-to-biodegrade)

5. Americans use 500 million drinking straws every day. (National Park Service –  The Be Straw Free Campaign)

What can we do to limit the amount of plastic that makes its way into the ocean? Well, a lot actually. Much of it takes a conscious change in our routine or preferences, but given that plastic can do so much damage to marine life and our oceans in general, it’s really worth making the change.

In an effort to do our little part, we’re asking our readers to consider enjoying your beach beverages without a straw, and if possible, without a plastic cup. Glass containers are usually not allowed on beaches, so plastic cups may be necessary while enjoying the sun and sand, but we can make sure they get into a trash or recycle bin after finishing them. Some establishments are already forgoing the use of straws in an effort to curb the number that end up in the ocean and hopefully more will get on the “no straws” bandwagon soon.

(Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.)

Are you one that just needs (or wants) to use a straw? There are some safer options such as Stainless Steel Metal Drinking Straws, Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws (BPA free), Wheat Stem Straws (gluten free), Biodegradable Paper Straws,  and Pasta Straws! We’ll be testing different ocean safe straws out in upcoming cocktail recipes and will let you know which ones work best for us.

In the meantime, won’t you join us in saying, “We’d like our cocktail without a straw, please!”

Cheers to less plastic – and more turtles, in our oceans!

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

Health Benefits of Spending Time in or Near the Ocean

If you are followers of our blog, you probably feel the same way we do; saltwater can soothe your soul. But did you know that in addition to it’s soothing qualities, spending time in or near the ocean can also provide other health benefits? Let’s explore a few reasons why we usually come home from a beach vacation feeling invigorated and renewed.

Lets start with the senses. The blues and greens of the ocean and the tropics are cool and relaxing colors. It is even said that certain hues of blue (especially light blues) can cause physical reactions such as a decrease in respiration and blood pressure.

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The nose and ears can also identify and respond with a feeling of tranquility to the smell of saltwater and the gentle sound of the waves lapping the shore…

And what about the effect of saltwater on the body and its organs? I’ve seen several articles report that seawater has a similar composition to our blood plasma. Our bodies can easily assimilate the bounties of the water of the ocean such as vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, amino acids and living microorganisms which secrete antibiotic, bacteriostatic and hormonal substances with biological balancing effects. (The Health Benefits of Sea Water) 

Bathing or swimming in warm seawater activates the body’s healing mechanisms to fight conditions such as asthma, arthritis, bronchitis and inflammatory diseases, as well as common aches and pains. Magnesium-rich seawater purportedly can also relax your muscles, reduce stress and help induce sleep. (What are the Health Benefits of Swimming in Sea Water – Livestrong)

ManJack-Cay - copyright Rum Therapy
And even if you don’t get in the water, getting misted by sea spray can give your skin a dose of iodine (good for the thyroid gland) and negative ions which can strengthen the body’s immunological defense mechanisms.

We weren’t just imagining our response to our tropical escapes – there are actual benefits and physiological responses to the sea. So, next time you’re feeling your batteries  running low – let the ocean be your medication and head south for some sun, warm water and a little salt water therapy!

Find more Tropical Tips here:
Tropical Tips & More

To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory

 Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC