By Frank Tabino | Category: mosquito repellent, Natural Remedies
With summer almost upon us, I think of BBQ’s and family time. I can smell the grill burning and taste the fresh squeezed ice cold lemonade my wife Toni makes. I can picture my family and I on the back porch, laughing and eating my world famous turkey burgers with spinach and feta. But along with all that food and laughs comes those pesky mosquitoes that just love to bite. But before you reach for that can of bug spray, there’s something you should know”¦.if you don’t already!
The Dish on DEET!
Most of the commercially available insect repellants contain a chemical called DEET.
DEET is a synthetic petro chemical which was developed by the United States Army during World War II. It is suspected to be a neurotoxin, which in layman’s terms means, it is a toxin that targets the nervous system, causing damage to the nerves or nerve tissue in your body. Some examples of Neurotoxins that you may be more familiar with are arsenic and lead.
DEET can be so toxic to the body that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states you should wash it off your skin when you go inside and also to avoid breathing it or spraying it directly on your face. Now remember, your skin, the largest organ of the body, is like a sponge. Spraying this harsh and potentially dangerous chemical directly onto your skin can cause potential danger to your nervous system.
And for any of you out there with kiddies, you should be aware that children are at a particular risk for the side effects of DEET because their skin more readily absorbs these chemicals. Now there are some that believe a small amount of DEET is harmless. But rest assured there are some great repellents out there that are DEET free.
Ditch the DEET!
With SO many choices of natural bug sprays out there it’s hard to know which to choose. Having lived half my life in Florida, the “home of the mosquito”, I’ve done a large amount of research on Natural Bug Sprays. The most effective spray I’ve found for my family and our customers is Buzz Away Extreme.
The Buzz Away Extreme formula combines essential plant oils with soybean and geranium oil for the longest lasting natural protection available. Buzz Away Extremeis effective against mosquitoes for up to 8 hours and effectively protects against ticks for up to 2.5 hours. And the best part is, it’s DEET free!
Whichever natural insect repellent you choose, I hope you have learned more about the dangers of repellents containing DEET. And I hope you share this knowledge with your family and friends. Like the old saying goes, “Knowledge is Power”!
