Most of us will spend part of our summers outdoors, playing, working, or simply lounging about. Here are some tips to maximize your sun exposure while minimizing dangers associated with sun exposure.

1. Shoot for 10-15 minutes of sun exposure each day without any SPF, thick clothes, or a hat. Your body produces necessary Vitamin-D after exposure to natural sunlight, but it cannot do this if you are wearing sunscreen or other protective measures (such as a hat or long sleeves).

2. Be aware of the outside temperature and heat index. If you will be outside for more than 30 minutes, grab a bottle of water before you step outdoors. If you’re planning to spend the entire day outside (perhaps a baseball tournament or a day out on the water), shake some extra salt on your breakfast to help stave off dehydration; your body can’t absorb the water you’re drinking if you’re low on electrolytes. If you’re prone to dehydration or the outside temperature is predicted to be high during the day, bring some salt tablets (you can pick these up at any drugstore) or even just a shaker of sea salt if you don’t have time to stop. Bring twice as much water as you think you’ll need.

3. Bring the sunscreen and a hat! All sunscreens are not created equally. Look for broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Most quality sunscreens will cost you a bit more, but like wine, you’ll usually get what you pay for. Most sunscreens will need to be re-applied throughout the day and after exposure to water, so plan accordingly. Don’t wait to apply sunscreen until after you’ve noticed pink skin- damage is already done. Apply early and often; you should use about 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover your entire body. You can read more about natural, chemical-free sunscreens here. Wearing a hat will not only help to protect your face and ears from painful sunburn, but it will also help protect your eyes from potentially harmful UV rays. You only get one pair of eyes, so take good care of them! Remember, if you’re showing signs of sunburn, damage is already done. Get indoors before any further damage is done!

4. Keep your skin hydrated! If you’ll be in the direct sun, slather on good lotion the night before you’ll be outdoors as well as the morning of. Dry skin does not tan as well as healthy, hydrated skin because it is already damaged. Ladies, shave your legs the night before if you will be in salt water. These two tricks are old secrets for a good tan. If you’ve grown up near a beach, this is probably something you’re already doing out of habit. After sun exposure, be sure to apply that good lotion again all over your body.

5. Eat good quality foods, and don’t skimp on the fruits and veggies! Most fruits and veggies are in season now, so they’re readily available. Foods like tomatoes may help raise your body’s natural SPF, possibly from nutrients like lycopene. Antioxidants, typically found in the greatest concentrations in fruits and veggies, help reverse damage done to the body from free-radicals, which can result from UV exposure. Enjoy those fresh salads, fruits, and vegetable sides! Read more about it here.

Although we do need some sun exposure to produce Vitamin-D (which helps our bodies absorb and process other vitamins and minerals, like calcium), we need to be mindful of risks associated with UV rays. Use common sense, see your doctor regularly, and keep an eye on discoloration, new moles, or anything on your body that looks strange to help lower your risk for cancer.

Two of the questions we hear on a regular basis are, “What is Ionic Detox,” and “Does it actually work?”

“Ionic Detox” generally refers to electric machines that generate a small current of ions (this current must be positive) that are then introduced into the body. This current is usually introduced into the body through a bath of saltwater; saltwater is the medium for the transport of ions as distilled water does not conduct electricity or current. Digital machines typically use a waist band or wrist strap to ground the user to the machine to force current into the body. We feel that this is inherently unsafe. Analog machines are a more efficient way to introduce these ions because the current is freely accepted by the body and does not need to be forced in. There are, of course, other products that claim to achieve ionic detox, such as adhesive foot pads and even dietary supplements!

The idea is that the body will use this current to help itself. Every cell in our bodies use an electrical charge and a little bit of chemistry to move nutrients in and waste out. Our cells use a tiny electrical charge to make our muscle cells contract and relax. Our nerve cells rely on electrical signals to transmit chemical information. Without an electrical signal, our bodies would not live. For many people this assist also means detoxification from the constant assault of chemical residue our bodies absorb from  flame retardants, fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, vehicle exhaust, preservatives, and all other manner of things that are not found in nature on their own. This list, of course, is not in any way comprehensive, although you may be surprised to know exactly how much of the “chemical residue” from this short list that we unknowingly absorb in our homes between dinner and bedtime alone.

The only reason these machines work is because they are an ASSIST to the body’s natural healing abilities, just like many medications (antibiotics come to mind immediately), physical therapies (aquatic physiotherapy, massage therapy), and good nutrition (fruits and veggies to help the body fight free radicals). Your body is able to freely pull in this ionic current and use this extra energy however it can. For some, this might mean stimulating the immune system to fight a cold or virus. For others, it may mean stimulating the lymph system to clear inflammation. Because each body is different, each body will use this extra energy differently. What is pretty uniform is that everyone who uses this machine sleeps very soundly the night after a session. Immediately following a session, about half of all users will feel a calm, invigorating energy that may inspire them to tackle a long-awaited project of some sort while the other half experiences a calm, soothing response that typically inspires a nice long afternoon nap.

We see the “information” presented on the web and by word-of-mouth from our customers and dealers regarding the claims that this technology is scam fairly regularly. What we find interesting is that none of the people propagating these claims ever seem to contact us directly with their concerns. From the information we’ve gathered over the last five years, we can pretty safely establish that these people fall into one (sometimes two but very rarely three) of three categories:

1. Have watched a video or read an article online claiming that these units do not work, or have spoken with someone (sometimes of some authority but usually not) who believes these do not work, usually because they do not understand how the technology works, falsely assuming that these machines detox the entire body simply through the feet. This is untrue. The energy produced by these machines is introduced into the body through the reflexology points in the soles of the feet and is then distributed throughout the body via Energy Meridians. The color change you see in the spa water is a small fraction of what is happening in the body.

2. Have purchased a unit (usually a low-power, cheap unit out of China- these sell on eBay for $150-$300, sell at trade shows for $900-$1500, and wholesale for $49 – no, NOT a typo!), ran it without actually using it OR have used it once without feeling significantly different or seeing any color change in their water.

3. Have purchased a unit, sometimes of low quality, sometimes of higher quality) or have paid for a session or two (usually have paid a lot of money for these sessions), from a practitioner or distributor, expecting miraculous results in a very short period of time. For example, “This is going to cure my cancer, insomnia, infertility, arthritis, etc., in five sessions or less- I just KNOW it!” When the product fails to meet these unrealistic expectations, they decide that the whole thing is a scam and nothing more. What I find a little frustrating about this is that despite the fact that someone might say, “I did sleep a little better after each treatment, but I still have ________ problem, so I don’t think it’s doing anything at all.” The success rate of traditional chemotherapy is about 13%; by this logic, chemotherapy (and about 90% of other allopathic therapies) is a scam as well!

If this technology really doesn’t work, then thousands of our customers (as well as thousands of our competitors’ customers around the globe) must simply be delusional. If there’s nothing to this, then why does Erchonia offer a model for the low, low price of $2,995.00?? (Erchonia produces lasers for use in therapies and medical procedures; they aren’t exactly what you might call a “fly by night,” outfit.) Since the Ionic Body Balancer entered the market in 2007 at $795, many of our competitors, including Erchonia, have dropped their prices significantly due to our competition. Six months ago, the Erchonia EB Pro sold for $3,995.