Today, I’d like you to take ...]]> If you’re eating a bone healthy pH-balanced diet, exercising to strengthen your bones, and making lifestyle changes to reduce the acidifying effects of stress, you are doing the right thing! All these easy lifestyle changes will go a long way toward reversing osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Today, I’d like you to take a close look at the products you use to clean your home. Chances are, you are unknowingly exposing yourself to an excessive chemical load.

Toxic, acidifying chemicals are everywhere – in the air we breathe, in municipal water, and in auto exhaust. As if this were not enough, indoor air pollution is a also problem, especially in office and retail environments. Although some exposure is unavoidable, the good news is that as long as you’re following the Save Our Bones Program you’re greatly reducing the acidifying load that your body needs to “neutralize”.

But I still recommend detoxifying your system on a regular basis. I created Rapid Cleanse, the 7 Day Osteoporosis Drug Cleanse, to expedite the removal of the harmful osteoporosis prescription drugs from your bloodstream. Even if you never took the osteoporosis drugs, Rapid Cleanse also functions as an excellent general detoxifying program, and I personally use this easy method of cleansing my system at least twice a year.

In addition to cleansing a couple of times a year, it makes sense to minimize your exposure to toxins wherever possible, and the one place where you’re in control and can easily take steps to clean up your environment is inside your home.

What’s the Problem with Commercial Cleaning Products?

There’s no need to add to the toxic stew by using harmful chemical cleaning solutions, especially when there are safe alternatives that are easy to get or make at home.

Here are just a few of the toxic chemicals in common household cleaners – and remember, in addition to their individual characteristics, they are all acidifying:

Ammonia, found in a wide variety of cleaners, can cause kidney and liver damage. It’s also a neurotoxin and can inhibit the synthesis of critical neurotransmitters.

Butyl cellusolve (a.k.a. butyl glycol and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), found in general degreasers, oven cleaners, spot removers, and glass and carpet cleaners. It’s a neurotoxin and reproductive toxin that’s capable of rapidly penetrating skin and can also cause damage to the liver and kidneys.

Diethanolamine (DEA), used in a many cleaning products, has been classified by the State of California as a suspected carcinogen. It is toxic to the skin and respiratory system.

D-limonene is included in many “natural” products. Although it’s made from orange peels, the end product is a highly concentrated neurotoxin that can also cause respiratory issues.

Ortho phenylphenol, found in many all-purpose cleaners, can cause which is a severe eye and skin irritant.

Parabens are used as preservatives in a wide range of cleaning products and have been shown to disrupt the endocrine system.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a chemical that increases the lathering capability of cleaning products, is a known skin irritant. More importantly, it can exacerbate that action of other toxic chemicals.

Toluene is a solvent that California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has identified as a reproductive toxin that can damage the unborn.

Xylene, found in scuff and graffiti removers and adhesives, is a neurotoxin that can cause memory loss.

Do you want any of these chemicals touching your clothing or skin or polluting the air you and your family breathe inside your home?

So What’s a Person To Do?

Manufacturers are not required to list the ingredients in cleaning products because they are actually considered “trade secrets”. And even if all the ingredients were listed, the chemicals I described above are just a very small sampling of the toxins that are part of most commonly used household cleaning agents. You would have to be on the lookout for hundreds of chemicals.

Go Natural

The safest course is to avoid all commercial cleaning products except those that state on the label that they are non-toxic, fragrance free (or scented with 100% pure essential oils), and biodegradable.

Another option is to make your own cleaning products. That may sound daunting, but it really is quite simple, and can even save you quite a bit of money. A quick online search can provide you with easy, natural recipes for almost any cleaning need that you have.

Here are a few of my favorites made with common items that you probably already have in your cupboard:

Vinegar

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and voila! You have an all-purpose surface cleaner that will cut grease, remove mildew, disinfect and deodorize. Use it to clean your stovetop, bathtub, countertops, sinks, and floors.

Use undiluted vinegar to clean your toilet bowl. Just pour vinegar around the rim of the toilet bowl, scrub, and flush.

Vinegar’s also a great fabric softener – just add about ½ cup to your rinse cycle.

If you’re worried about your house smelling like a salad, don’t fret. The vinegar smell dissipates quickly, leaving behind only fresh, clean surfaces.

Caution: Make sure the vinegar is sufficiently diluted; otherwise, the acids can eat away at grout and similar surfaces. And never use vinegar on marble or other natural stones, such as granite.

Lemon juice

To freshen and deodorize your garbage disposal, run a whole lemon peel through the disposal.

Lemon juice is great for dissolving soap scum, removing hard water deposits. You can even use it for shining brass and copper.

Baking soda

Instead of using an abrasive surface cleaner, clean surfaces with baking soda. Simply make a paste by mixing it with water. It’s a great cleaner and stain remover.

And of course, baking soda is a great deodorizer – keep a box in your refrigerator, in a closet, or anywhere that needs a fresh scent.

Here’s another natural deodorizing tip: Simmer a few cinnamon sticks and cloves in water to make your whole house smell delicious!

And below’s my favorite recipe for an all-purpose cleaner – I always have some on hand in a spray bottle!

With these simple DIY ideas, along with the Save Our Bones Program and Rapid Cleanse, you’ll increase your bone-building success and your overall health. You’ll feel better, you’ll have more energy, and it’ll be easier for you to reach your alkalizing goals.

If you haven’t yet, I recommend you try Rapid Cleanse – even if, like I, you never took osteoporosis drugs. Rapid Cleanse incorporates six easy-to-follow steps in only 7 days, all backed by scientific studies, that make it the fastest and most effective way to eliminate osteoporosis drugs and other toxins from your body.

Rapid Cleanse also helps protect your liver and kidney function. Plus it accelerates your bone-building capacity by effectively balancing your body’s pH. You’ll also get mouth-watering recipes, including ingredients shopping lists, and best of all, clear, easy to understand step-by-step instructions that leave nothing to chance.

To your “clean” life!

And on this Thanksgiving day, I’d like to give special thanks for your being a part of it and for sticking by my side.

Our community is growing by leaps and bounds, and although much to the chagrin of some, ...]]> Every single day I am thankful for the Save Our Bones community.

And on this Thanksgiving day, I’d like to give special thanks for your being a part of it and for sticking by my side.

Our community is growing by leaps and bounds, and although much to the chagrin of some, it’s a a victory for those who believe that the truth must be spoken.

I thank you again from the bottom of my heart for being my companion on this eye-opening journey. May we continue to follow together the path to a healthy, happy, and peaceful life.

And as a small token of my appreciation, I am sharing with you today a handy e-book that I hope you’ll enjoy and use.

To end, I’d like to quote an inspiring Irish blessing.

“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Feel free to share the “Chef Secrets” e-book with friends and family.

Download Instructions:

1. Right-click on the button above.
2. Select “Save Target (or Link) As”
3. You will be prompted to save your file on your hard drive. Choose a location and click the “Save” button.

Note: If you don’t follow the instructions above, the file will not be saved to your hard drive.

The report is in PDF format. To open PDF files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. You probably already have it. If you don’t you can download a free copy here.

So you might be wondering what to ...]]> In the Save Our Bones Program I explain the bone health benefits of sea salt and recommend that you avoid regular table salt. In case you’re still using table salt, today you’ll get a brief summary of why you should make the switch.

So you might be wondering what to do with all your leftover salt. Should you just toss it away? Not so fast, because salt is a great non-toxic household cleaning and beauty product replacement.

You see, the carton of acidifying table salt can give you shinier pots and pans, cleaner and brighter clothes, softer skin, and a poison ivy-free garden.

In this post, I will also give you 12 creative ways to use your leftover table salt. But first, let’s go over…

A Brief Salt Primer

While all salts come from the sea, table salt is a highly processed product. It is bleached to make it look white (natural salt typically has a light gray color) and has additives to prevent caking. Since natural anti-caking agents like calcium and magnesium carbonate are more expensive, most table salt contains man-made chemical additives like sodium ferrocyanide decahydrate or sodium aluminosilicate.

Additionally, about half of all the table salt in the U.S. is supplemented with potassium iodide. In ‘Iodine, Your Thyroid, and Your Bone Health’, I explain why this is not a good idea for your bone health.

While salt in its natural state is alkalizing, processing and chemicals turn it into an acidifying substance. And that is why sun-dried sea salt without additives is alkalizing. It’s also naturally rich in calcium, potassium, sulphur, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, copper, iodine and zinc, many of which are Foundation Supplements.

I recommend that you use unprocessed sea salt on your food at home, in moderation. But when you’re eating out or having prepared food, simply sit back and enjoy your meal. A little bit of table salt won’t harm your bones if you’re following the Save Our Bones Program.

Don’t Throw it Out! 12 Money-Saving Uses for Table Salt

It’s been said that there are thousands of uses for salt. Here are my favorite ones:

1. Stain Remover Extraordinaire

Blood stain on that white shirt? No problem! Just sprinkle salt on the stain and blot with cold water. For stains that cover a larger area, soak the garment in a cold saltwater mixture for about an hour before washing in warm water. This works for gravy stains, too. For a fresh gravy stain, pour on the salt and let it absorb as much of the gravy as possible before washing.

2. Coffee Pot Magician

Do you have a stained coffee or tea pot that’s nearly impossible to clean? Just pour in enough salt to cover the bottom of the pot, then fill the pot with ice cubes and swirl the mixture around several times in each direction. If the pot is badly stained, you might need to repeat the process a few times, or let the salt and ice sit in the pot for about an hour before rinsing. A couple of cautions with this: If you have a glass coffee pot, make sure it’s at room temperature before you start – the glass could break if you add ice while it’s still hot. And be sure to rinse the pot well when you’re done – you don’t want your coffee or tea to taste like salt!

3. Bathroom Brilliance

You don’t need expensive and toxic chemical abrasives to clean yucky bathroom tubs and sinks. Table salt makes a great natural abrasive for removing all kinds of burnt-on or caked-on stuff.

4. Ant Deterrent

Ants can be pesky and persistent little creatures, but there’s no need to kill them. Once again, salt to the rescue. For a humane, pet safe, and inexpensive way to deal with an ant problem, first figure out where the ants are coming in (that’s usually pretty easy to do by following the trail back to a windowsill, doorway, or crack in a wall). Then sprinkle salt in those entryways. Ants can’t stand the crunchy feel of salt under their “feet,” so they won’t cross the salt barrier.

5. Bee Sting Soother

Sprinkle a bit of water on the sting, then add salt and cover with a Band-Aid so the salt can stay put and do its work.

6. Poison Ivy Destroyer

Have a patch of poison ivy growing in your yard? Get it before it gets you! Pour about a cup of salt into a gallon of water and spray the mixture on the poison ivy, making sure you spray both the leaves and the stem. Caution: This mixture will kill any plant, so be sure to spray only the poison ivy.

7. Copper Cleaner

Thought you needed a separate copper cleaner to get those copper-bottomed pots shiny? No way. Just sprinkle some salt on half a lemon (or a lemon slice) and use that to polish your copper.

8. Foot and Skin Care

There’s nothing better than a salt bath for getting your feet super clean. Soaking your feet in warm salt water is also a great stress reliever, so this remedy does double duty! And for a low-cost, natural exfoliant that will give you glowing skin, rub some salt on your face and body when you’re still damp after a bath or shower (then be sure to rinse it off!).

9. Canker Sore Cure

Canker sores can be extremely painful and hard to get rid of. The salt cure might sting a bit, but it’s very effective! Just make a warm salt water solution and swish it around in your mouth for at least ten seconds before rinsing. Do this around three times daily until the sore is gone.

10. Color Setter

Have you ever had a problem with bright colors bleeding in the wash? Not only do your lovely bright garments end up faded, but that one red blouse could turn your entire wash load pink. There’s an easy solution, and of course it involves… salt! Before you wash the item, soak it in a mixture of salt, water, and vinegar. Use about half a cup of each ingredient, and soak for about 30 minutes.

11. Ice and Snow Rescue

You might already know about using rock salt on icy driveways and steps. But if you don’t have a bag of rock salt on hand, table salt will do the trick.

12. Suds Stopper

Put a little bit too much soap in the washing machine, or too much bubble bath in the tub? Calm the bubbles with a sprinkle of salt.

I hope these tips make it easier for you to switch to sea salt.

Till next time,

An adequate supply of ...]]> Have you heard of melatonin? This naturally-occurring hormone has been in the news over the past few decades for its ability to help with jet lag and regulate sleep patterns. More recently, scientists are exploring melatonin’s positive impact on bone health and osteoporosis, yielding exciting results.

An adequate supply of melatonin can not only help you get that restful beauty sleep. It can also help you build your bones, with minimal effort. So today, you’ll discover a few simple steps you can follow to get a good night’s sleep so you can naturally maintain good melatonin levels that can maximize your bone-building success.

But first, I’d like to tell you a little more about this amazing hormone, in particular as it relates to bone remodeling. In the Save Our Bones Program, I explain how your bones continually remodel themselves. This vital mechanism that involves bone loss and subsequent new bone formation is the key to healthy bones and to the prevention of fractures. For a lighthearted look at the process, read my blog post about Oscar the Osteoclast, if you haven’t done so yet.

How Does Melatonin Help Your Bones?

Researchers noted that natural melatonin production begins to decline at around age 50, around the same time that osteoporosis is most often diagnosed. This observation led them to investigate whether reduced melatonin levels played a part in the development of osteoporosis.

Here’s a brief summary connecting the dots. In one of the earlier studies, newborn rats were exposed to fluorescent white light. The exposure to light showed lower melatonin synthesis, which was reversed by melatonin administration.¹ In another study, the same researchers inhibited melatonin production in rats and found that serum concentrations of calcium also diminished.²

More specifically relating to bone health, Z. Ostrowska et al. found a fascinating link: that exposure to varying lighting conditions has a direct effect on bone physiology. They looked at the biochemical markers of bone metabolism and determined that the levels of these markers increased on short days or days with less light.³

In terms of fracture risk, a study by Feskanich et al. looked at more than 38,000 postmenopausal women and found that those who had worked night shifts for long periods of time, disturbing optimal melatonin secretion patterns, were at increased risk of wrist and hip fractures.⁴

Indeed, maintaining adequate melatonin levels is increasingly becoming a necessary component in both bone formation and in the prevention of excessive bone resorption.

How to Make Your Own Melatonin

There have not yet been any clinical trials looking into supplemental melatonin as a therapeutic tool in osteoporosis treatment, and I don’t recommend supplementation. After all, it is a hormone, so taking melatonin – and especially long-term supplementation – could artificially offset the delicate balance that your system needs.

But there are simple steps you can take to naturally increase your body’s ability to synthesize this important hormone:

• Sleep in a dark room, because light disrupts melatonin production. If there are light sources you can’t control, you might consider wearing a sleep mask.
• Make sure you get at least seven full hours of sleep.
• “Power down” before bedtime. Try to turn off the computer and the television at least an hour before you turn in.
• Get regular exercise. One study found that an hour on a stationary bicycle could increase melatonin levels up to three times.5 This is just an example; it doesn’t mean you need to use an exercise bicycle – it just points up the value of exercise in melatonin production.⁵
• Meditate or do some form of deep relaxation before you go to bed. A study found that a period of meditation greatly increased night-time plasma melatonin levels.⁶
• Get some sun during the day. Sunlight inhibits melatonin production, so getting sun exposure during daylight hours gives your pineal gland (which produces the melatonin) a rest so it can spring into action at night.
• Try to eat foods that contain melatonin. Mustard seeds, alfalfa and sunflower seeds, fennel seeds, and lemon verbena all contain a good amount of melatonin. Oats, tomatoes, corn, and barley, also contain melatonin, but not as much.

So enjoy a restful night and peace of mind, knowing that you’re building your bones as you drift off into a bone-healthy sleep.

Sweet dreams!

References

¹ D. O. Hakanson and W. H. Bergstrom, “Phototherapy-induced hypocalcemia in newborn rats: prevention by melatonin,” Science, vol. 214, no. 4522, pp. 807–809, 1981.
² D. O. Hakanson, R. Penny, and W. H. Bergstrom, “Calcemic responses to photic and pharmacologic manipulation of serum melatonin,” Pediatric Research, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 414–416, 1987.
³ Z. Ostrowska, B. Kos-Kudla, B. Marek, and D. Kajdaniuk, “Influence of lighting conditions on daily rhythm of bone metabolism in rats and possible involvement of melatonin and other hormones in this process,” Endocrine Regulations, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 163–174, 2003.
⁴ D. Feskanich, S. E. Hankinson, and E. S. Schernhammer, “Nightshift work and fracture risk. The Nurses’ Health Study,” Osteoporosis International, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 537–542, 2009.
⁵ http://jbr.sagepub.com/content/12/6/568.abstract
⁶ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301051100000351

Well let me tell you, my fingers do a lot of “walking” – sometimes even more than my legs do. You see, I spend long hours in front of my computer, which means I also spend a lot ...]]> Remember the old Yellow Pages slogan, “Let Your Fingers Do the Walking?”

Well let me tell you, my fingers do a lot of “walking” – sometimes even more than my legs do. You see, I spend long hours in front of my computer, which means I also spend a lot of time sitting down.

Now I know I’m not the only one. Spending too much time sitting – and sometimes slouching – on chairs is detrimental for our bone and overall health.

Even if we exercise every day, even if we go for long walks, uninterrupted sitting and immobility can hinder our bone-building efforts. We’re designed for movement, so the idea is to get off the chair as often as possible to move around for a few minutes… to get the blood circulating and to use our muscles. Here are the ‘tricks’ I use throughout my work day to get up off my chair and keep me moving:

My Water Trick

This is one of my favorite tricks to keep me moving during my workday: I leave my glass of water far away from my desk, so I’m forced to get up to get it every time I want a drink. And I don’t just walk to it – I do lunges and stretches as I walk.

This ensures that I get up and keep my blood flowing throughout the day.

Standing and stretching are great ways to interrupt a long sitting session. Here are some of the stretches I do:

Native Squats

A few times a day I also practice Native Squats. They’re a great way to stretch the tight hip muscles. The trick is to make sure you keep your heels flat on the ground and your knees spread wide. You’ll immediately feel the beneficial hip stretch. If you’ve never done them before, always hold on to something at the beginning till you get the hang of it.

Native Squatting is a more natural position than sitting, but we have “forgotten” this. Children can squat without any problems… until they start sitting on chairs. Talking about chairs, it is important to maintain a good posture while sitting down, so as not to weaken and hurt the the back muscles. Here’s a video that demonstrates the proper squatting posture:

Wrist Stretch

Here’s one more trick to prevent arm and hand pain caused by computer use. Watch this great demonstration of my favorite hand stretch:

If you don’t work, if you work from home, or if you have your own private office, you can get started right away and get those muscles moving. Otherwise, why not start your own “Movers and Stretchers” group at work? Let me know how that goes…

Most people are shallow breathers, and ...]]> Most of us don’t pay much attention to it. In fact, we take it for granted. And worse, we don’t even relate it to our health, unless we experience problems with it. Breathing, the one thing we do every second of the day.

Most people are shallow breathers, and I was no exception. I discovered years ago during my osteoporosis research, there is a relevant link between breathing properly and bone health.

As I immersed myself deeper into the topic, I soon realized that deep breathing is an important part of a healthy lifestyle because it is also an efficient detoxifier. So I’ve worked on changing my own breathing habits. It took a bit of practice, but now it’s second nature to me, and I don’t even have to think about it.

Deep Breathing and Your Bone Health

Breathing is important to bone health for several reasons. In the Save Our Bones Program, I talk about how stress can harm your bones. Deep breathing is a great way to lower your stress levels.

And deep breathing is a great way to rid your body of acidifying toxins, including osteoporosis drugs.

Other Benefits of Deep Breathing

When you breathe into your chest (shallow breathing), you’re only filling the top part of your lungs, which means you’re short-changing your system by not taking in as much oxygen as you need. And if you’re not breathing in enough oxygen, you’re also not exhaling enough carbon dioxide. A pattern of shallow breathing can affect just about every system in your body, including your bones, as I mentioned earlier.

When you get into the habit of deep breathing, you’ll experience a host of benefits:

• Your stress levels will decrease, and you’ll find those tight neck and shoulder muscles relaxing.
• You’ll experience less anxiety. And you’ll have a great way to control anxiety when it does occur – just take several slow, deep breaths. You’ll be amazed at the results.
• Full exhalations allow your body to rid itself of toxins, and full exhalations are only possible when you breath fully and deeply.
• Your blood circulation will improve.
• You may also find that your digestion improves, because deep breathing stimulates the organs of the digestive system.
• You’ll feel better, because deep breathing moves lymph through the body, and releases endorphins and neuropeptides in the brain.

How Do I Know If I’m a Shallow Breather?

Shallow breathing means that you’re breathing into your chest instead of letting the breath go all the way down into your abdomen. Here’s an easy way to check out your breathing:

1. Lie down on a bed or on the floor.

2. Place one of your hands lightly over your abdominal area.

3. Take a couple of breaths, just as you normally would. Don’t try to change anything about your breathing for the purposes of this experiment.

If your abdomen pushes your hand out and you feel the breath expanding your abdomen as you inhale, you’re already doing great! You may also notice your back expanding and pressing into the bed or floor.

But if your hand stays still, and you feel the breath going down into your chest, then you’re probably a shallow breather and can benefit from some practice in this area.

So What Do I Do About It?

If you’re a shallow breather, start by simply paying attention to your breath. Take some slow, deep breaths and focus on feeling the breath all the way down into your diaphragm (abdominal area) as you inhale. Then exhale just as slowly and fully.

Don’t force the breath. Just take nice and luxuriously relaxed breaths.

In Rapid Cleanse I encourage you to practice consciously breathing into the diaphragm twice a day for 10 or more minutes, especially during the cleanse. Try to find a quiet spot where you can get comfortable. Do this in a quiet spot and get comfortable. If you can do this outside or near an open window, it would be even better!

Here’s one of the breathing tips I include in Rapid Cleanse:

Why Should You Do the 7 Day Rapid Cleanse?

Many members of the Save Our Bones community have voiced concerns about having taken osteoporosis drugs in general. Not only about the ongoing side effects, but also about the long-term effects.

So I developed a 7 Day Cleanse that I follow twice a year. It’s specifically designed as a “jumpstart” for people who have taken osteoporosis drugs, and it will speed up the removal of these drugs from your system.

The Rapid Cleanse is an easy-to-follow 6-step system, all backed by scientific studies. Cleansing with deep breathing is Step 4. Here are all of them:

Step 1: Cleanse with Water
Step 2: Cleanse with Fruits and Vegetables
Step 3: Cleanse with One Raw Meal Daily
Step 4: Cleanse with Breathing
Step 5: Cleanse by Avoiding
Step 6: Cleanse with Supplements

I want to not only help you reach your bone-building goals; I also want to make it as easy as possible for you. So I’ve also included delicious recipes and even a shopping list. Rapid Cleanse leaves nothing to chance.

Here are just a few of the benefits you may experience when you follow the cleanse:

• Better kidney and liver function
• More energy
• Better and more relaxed sleep
• Improved skin condition (you’ll regain that youthful glow)
• Better weight control

There’s No Better Time to Try the Rapid Cleanse System. Get it at 50% Off.

For a limited time time, I’m making the Rapid Cleanse system available at a 50% discount. Click here for more info and to secure yours.

If you have taken the osteoporosis drugs, then this is something that you absolutely must follow. I can tell you that when you do the 7 Day Cleanse, you will release and flush the drugs from your system, as well as other toxins.

But even if you’ve never taken the osteoporosis drugs, you will feel a lot better if you follow the cleanse. Cleansing your system a couple of times a year is a great habit to get into!
As you know, I never took osteoporosis drugs, but I do the Rapid Cleanse at least twice a year, and I feel great.

You might not even realize, but chances are that you may have high levels of toxins in your body that are making it harder for you to reach your full health potential. Don’t wait to flush them out of your system. Secure your copy now and please let me know how well it works for you.

If after seven days you don’t feel better than you have in years, simply email customer support within 60 days of the purchase date to request a full refund. We’ll refund 100% of your money, no questions asked.

Click here for more info and to secure the Rapid Cleanse system at 50% OFF.

Don’t Have the Save Our Bones Program Yet? Bundle and Get FREE Shipping!

Order the Save Our Bones Program today with Rapid Cleanse and you’ll get FREE Shipping to anywhere in the world. Get the bundle special and take advantage of this limited time offer. Click here.

Walking is also a great stress reducer. As I discuss in he Save Our Bones Program, stress is actually an acidifying process because of cortisol, a ...]]> Summertime is perfect for long, enjoyable walks that build your bones, especially early in the day or in the evening when the weather cools off.

Walking is also a great stress reducer. As I discuss in he Save Our Bones Program, stress is actually an acidifying process because of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands when your body is under stress.

You’ll also soak up bone-healthy Vitamin D while indulging in one of the best weight-bearing exercises you can do… So what could ruin this perfect combination? Some uninvited guests: those annoying, persistent mosquitoes!

Before You Bring Out the Bug Spray…

Yes, it’s tempting to slather on bug spray so you can enjoy your walk in peace. But mosquito and other bug repellants are loaded with acidifying and toxic chemicals that can have a negative impact on your bone health.

OFF, a popular mosquito repellant, lists the active ingredient as N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide. You probably haven’t heard of this, but you may very well have seen news reports about DEET, which is the abbreviation for this chemical. DEET, the most commonly used ingredient in insect repellants, is a highly acidifying toxic substance that has been shown to have negative effects on the central nervous system. ¹

So what can you do? Well, you sure don’t have to be a walking bug banquet or let mosquitoes stop you from your weight bearing activities – I’ll let you know a little later how to naturally deal with them.

But first, let’s look at some of the reasons those pesky critters are attracted to you.

Why Do Mosquitoes Like to Hang Around?

Mosquitoes are attracted by several physiological factors that occur when you’re out working up a sweat:

• You excrete lactic acid in your perspiration fluid
• Your skin temperature increases
• As you perspire, your skin becomes moist
• You exhale carbon dioxide – exhaling CO2 is part of the normal breathing process, but as your breathing rate increases during exercise, you exhale even more CO2

All of the above are natural and necessary effects of exercise, and are not under your control. There are, however, a couple of things you can do to make yourself a less attractive target:

• Wear light-colored clothing – mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors
• Avoid perfumes with floral or fruity fragrances – the mosquitoes like them just as much as you do!

A Built-In Mosquito Repellant

You might be reading this and thinking, “What’s the big deal? Mosquitoes don’t pay any attention to me at all.” If that’s the case, lucky you!

But there may be more to it than luck, and studying people who aren’t bothered by mosquitoes could very well lead to some breakthrough natural repellants.

Researchers from UK-based Rothamsted Research are working to isolate naturally occurring odors that repel mosquitoes in certain populations and have already identified a few that appear to be stress-related.

According to James Logan, one of the scientists involved in the research,

“Mosquitoes fly through an aerial soup of chemicals, but can home in on those that draw them to humans… when the combination of human odors is wrong, the mosquito fails to recognize this signal as a potential blood meal.” ²

Those lucky few whom mosquitoes do not find attractive seem to produce higher levels of particular chemicals.

Until the researchers figure all of this out and come up with the perfect natural repellant, you can…

If You Don’t Want to Make Your Own

Here are a couple of excellent all natural products you can buy already made for you:

Badger Anti-Bug Balm comes in a push-up stick that you apply directly to the skin. It contains 100% USDA organic essential oils.

Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellant is a handy spray.

These products contain the following essential oils: citronella, cedar, lemongrass, rosemary, and geranium. The Badger Balm uses an olive oil and beeswax base, and the Burt’s Bees spray uses a 100% natural soy oil base.

And both repellants are:

• Completely safe, even for children and pets
• pH balanced
• Phthalate-free
• Paraben-free

Don’t Let the Bugs Bite!

Whether you make your own repellant or buy one of the natural products, a little goes a long way. So there’s no reason to be a walking target.

And armed with natural solutions that don’t acidify your pH, you can enjoy the bone-healthy benefits of the great outdoors in the summer.

Have fun in the sun,

References

¹ http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/7/47/abstract
² http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204660604574378933761528214.html