Chicago, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/28/2011 -- Natural health expert and Mercola.com founder, Dr. Joseph Mercola, does not agree with the typical American viewpoint that using a bidet is “unusual and embarrassing.”

“To most continental Europeans, not having a bidet in their bathroom is unthinkable and even considered uncivilized. Maybe it’s time Americans put all this behind them and concentrate on ways to promote the best hygiene in their bathrooms.” he says.

A bidet cleanses more effectively and is less expensive and more eco-friendly than toilet paper, Dr. Mercola explains.

36.5 billion toilet paper rolls are used in the U.S. annually. To produce this amount, 15 million trees, 474 billion gallons of water, 253,000 tons of chlorine, and 17.3 terawatts of electricity are needed.

“By using excessive amounts of toilet paper, not only are you practicing a bathroom habit that provides less than optimum hygiene, you are also negatively impacting the environment,” Dr. Mercola warns.

He recommends the Mercola Soft Spray Bidet as an inexpensive, practical, and more hygienic option. It cleanses more gently and gives a refreshing feeling after toilet use.

Unlike separate standing European bidets, the Mercola Soft Spray Bidet can be directly installed on your toilet and used for cleansing your genital and anal area. It eliminates the need to use a separate bidet after defecation.

People with limited capabilities, such as the elderly, handicapped, or temporarily injured, will also benefit from the Soft Spray Bidet.

About Mercola.com
Mercola.com is the world's most visited natural health website, averaging 14 million visitors monthly. It was founded in 1997 by Dr. Joseph Mercola, a licensed physician and surgeon in the state of Illinois and author of multiple New York Times bestsellers. Dr. Mercola was voted the 2009 Ultimate Wellness Game Changer by the Huffington Post, and has been featured in TIME magazine, LA Times, CNN, Fox News, ABC News, the Today Show, CBS’s Washington Unplugged with Sharyl Attkisson, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors, and other major media resources. His mission is to ignite a transformation of the fatally flawed health care system in America, and to inspire people to take control of their health.