Four reasons to stop using straws

Do you like to drink from a straw? From environmental concerns to wrinkles, here are four very good reasons to stop using them.

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1. You're harming the environment
Around 500 million straws are used in America per day. Straws are too small to be recycled, so lots of energy is wasted on making an item that is designed for only one use. Many of these straws end up in the ocean, where they break down into small particles that whales and other marine life mistake for food. At the very least, switch to paper straws.

2. You're getting smoker's lips
You don't have to be a smoker to get fine-lines around your lips. With the use of just two straws per day you can get the same smoker's mouth look over time. The movement of the mouth will cause the breakdown of collagen and elasticity more quickly, causing fine lines and wrinkles.

3. They don't protect your teeth from stains
Straws don't prevent your teeth from getting stained - unless you place the tip of the straw behind your teeth and tongue so the liquid goes straight to your throat (which isn't pleasant!)

4. They make you gassy
Drinking through a straw can cause excess air in the stomach, leading to wind and bloating. A good enough reason to stop using them!