It just makes sense -- you want to boil a pot of water so you fill the pan with hot water from the tap, right? Wrong, say health experts. That's because contaminants dissolve more quickly in hot water and that means that you could be serving up a side of lead with your meal.

Though lead is rarely found in source water, it can creep into your water supply from old pipes or corroded plumbing. By cooking, drinking, and preparing baby formula with cold water, you're reducing your risk of exposure to lead.

If you live in an older home, it's also a good idea to let your tap run every morning until the water runs its coldest, a minute or so. That way, you aren't drinking water that's been sitting in older pipes overnight. You can save this water to use on your plants, though, so that it doesn't just go down the drain.