The sun, friend or foe
Maybe you are part of these people who think summer is too short!
Even though we live in Spain and can't complain about the good weather, for many of us, the sunny months still seem to pass too quickly.
So why wear them out with a sunburn?
After spending 5 months or more cooped up in buildings, protecting ourselves from the rain or wind, when the first ray of sunshine arrives, we run to stretch out on the beach, play golf, ride our bikes up mountains, do some gardening or just have a barbecue with the family.
It is easy to “overdo” sun exposure time when we want to spend so much time outdoors... Especially when the skin is white from being covered for so many months and is not yet used to the sun.
There are several simple lifestyle changes that can be implemented to radically decrease the risks of burns, such as choosing wisely which essential fatty acids to take, increasing consumption of raw vegetables full of skin-protecting antioxidants, and avoiding prepared foods and sugar.
Clothing Can Protect - Especially Caps You can always wear clothing to protect yourself and prevent skin damage from the sun's rays - starting with a cap!!!! Indeed, with a cap there is no need to wear sunglasses. You can benefit from the 1500 rays of the sun while avoiding exposure to the sun of the very thin skin around the eyes, particularly sensitive skin that ages more quickly.
Sun protection
However, if you're looking for another mode of protection besides clothing, we've compiled other options that will suit you and your family. The pernicious potential of the natural sun has been unconscionable lately.
Dangerous sun?
This is “thanks” to many doctors, health institutions, advertisements, beauty experts, corporations, and good friends who care about you and want to help you. Everyone says that you have to protect yourself or stay out of the sun completely because the sun can kill. But that's not true!
To begin with, there is very little scientific evidence to justify the numerous preventive health campaigns urging sun avoidance. But sun avoidance, it doesn't make sense!
THE SUN IS NOT DEADLY!
In fact, the sun is healthy. It's good for you!
A long exposure and excessive sun exposure may increase the risk of certain types of skin cancer..
But an exhibition moderate exposure is less dangerous than sporadic exposure. In addition, there is ample evidence that exposure to the sun without sunburns reduces the risk of melanoma (the most deadly type of cancer) significantly.
What you need to know about UVA and UVB Rays
Ultraviolet light from the sun comes from in two main waves - UVA and UVB. It is important that you understand the difference between the two, and the risk factors for each.
Think about UVB as the “good friend” - although, of course, UVA cannot be eliminated when you expose yourself to the sun. UVB helps the skin to produce vitamin D.
On the other hand, lightning UVA are listed as the “enemy”.”; UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and cause more free radical damage. Also, UVA rays are fairly constant during all hours of the day throughout the year. UVB rays are less intense in the morning and evening, and are strongest at midday.
So, if you are outside in the mornings or afternoons, you are exposed to higher amounts of UV rays. (enemy) than UVB (good friend). Therefore no vitamin D is produced. In addition, if you do not protect your skin and this is the only sun consumption, cancer risk increases.
THE RISK OF SKIN CANCER INCREASES IF YOU ARE EXPOSED IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON.
We notice the even more pernicious potential of UVA during a cloudy day. Who hasn't experienced a scorching burn after a day without sun? You think you don't need protection because the sun is invisible, but UVA rays penetrate clouds and pollution and cause severe skin damage.
How the sun's rays prevent you from enjoying all the benefits of good sunshine.
Wearing sunscreen on bare skin blocks your body's natural vitamin D production.
In fact, it has been confirmed that sunscreen lotions reduce the production of of vitamin D from a 97.5 to a 99%.
With such a high rate, there are very adverse health consequences.
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in a person's overall health and well-being. For example, it is known for:
- Sustaining the health of the cardiovascular system
- Promote optimal cholesterol levels
- Enhance the muscle strength
- Helping to produce a optimal blood pressure
- Helping to maintain a immune system strong
- Holding the kidney health
- Promote the dental health
- Helping to maintain strong and healthy bones
Please note that this list of important benefits represents only a small fraction of the many ways in which vitamin D keeps the body healthy and fit. And while you can get vitamin D from natural foods, experts agree on one thing.
Natural light is the best way to obtain vitamin D.
Why? Because the moment the sun's ultraviolet rays hit the skin, the body is programmed to produce your own natural vitamin D.
Even better, the body produces the most active form of vitamin D there is - calciferol, also known as calciferin. Vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 is the exact form the body needs for the proper functioning of its organs and cells.
And fortunately for all of us, our body automatically generates enough vitamin D without any risk of overdose. It knows exactly when to stop vitamin D production before it reaches toxic levels.
However, high levels of vitamin D obtained by oral supplementation alone may take 6 months or more to stabilize.
Therefore, it is not highly recommended to take vitamin D supplement pills. If you take vitamin D pills, you need to have your blood tested regularly to avoid toxicity.
Would you have to use a sunscreen to avoid sunburn?
Of course! But not just any protector you find on the market.
Whenever possible, it is best to avoid the use of sunscreens because they interfere with vitamin D production.. But nevertheless, there are situations in which it is impossible to limit sun exposure. If, for whatever reason, you cannot avoid sunbathing, use a cream to protect your skin from sunburn. Many studies and researches show that excessive sunburn is undoubtedly a risk factor for melanomas.
In addition, the risk of contracting melanoma increases in relation to the frequency and severity of burns. Limit sun exposure, wear protective clothing, use a natural 100% protector y chemical-free, Other research shows that people who spend more time outdoors, but do NOT get sunburned, reduce their risk of getting cancer.
It has even been proven that safe sun exposure protects against 16 different forms of cancer such as breast, colon, esophagus, ovarian, bladder, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, prostate, rectum, kidney, endometriosis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
So your body needs some unprotected sun exposure - to obtain all the benefits listed above.
Are all sunscreens good?
No. Hundreds of sunscreens are toxic because they contain synthetic chemicals that can cause severe health problems and increase the risk of disease.
The main chemical used in sunscreens to filter UVB is octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC). But research shows that OMC kills mice, even in small doses. In addition, it has been shown that it can be very toxic when exposed to the sun.
If your sunscreen contains any of these chemicals that are considered dangerous and health-threatening, do yourself a big favor....
Throw it in the trash right now!
In the 90% of branded sunscreens is the OMC!!!!
On the other hand, a very common ultraviolet A filter, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, also has toxic properties.
In addition, several studies show that the chemicals used in sunscreens are absorbed by the skin and end up circulating in the blood. That's not a good thing, so...
The following chemicals are considered hazardous to health:
- Acid for amino benzoic...
- Octyl salicyclate...
- Avobenzone...
- Oxybenzone...
- Cinoxate...
- Padimate O...
- Dioxybenzone...
- Phenylbenzimidazole...
- Homosalate...
- Sulisobenzone...
- Menthyl anthranilate...
- Trolamine salicyclate...
- Octocrylene...
And don't forget... Potentially harmful chemicals like dioxybenzone and oxybenzone (chemicals I've already mentioned) are two of the most potent free radicals to be aware of!
If your sunscreen contains dioxybenzone, oxybenzone or any of the other chemicals mentioned above, it is recommended that you switch to a formula that is safer and healthier for your skin.
And a particular note to mothers... They think conscientiously about taking care of their children. But when they're slathering them with sunscreen they may actually be doing them more harm than good.
So watch what it says on the bottle and if it contains potentially dangerous chemicals, throw it away. Your skin is your largest organ, and your children's too! Fortunately there is another option: natural sunscreens. The ingredients in natural sunscreens serve the same purpose: to nourish, protect and moisturize the skin. Recently, a very potent ingredient is being added to the formula: green tea. Many studies show that green tea is a very powerful antioxidant. Also, green tea is said to reduce the appearance of skin damage due to the sun. In other words, green tea helps protect skin cells by providing antioxidant protection. These natural sun creams reflect UV rays away from the skin. In addition, they are water-resistant, hypoallergenic and:
- FREE of chemicals for a good odor
- FREE of harsh preservative chemicals
- FREE of nanoparticles (which allow the cream to be invisible but remain on the surface of the skin)
All the ingredients of a natural sunscreen are natural
Two of the ingredients found in these sun creams are: Titanium Dioxide (6.0%) & Zinc Oxide (6.0%).
These two active ingredients are natural minerals. They come from clay and sand deposits. That means they are non-aggressive as they are not synthetic chemicals.
And zinc oxide has been used worldwide for more than 75 years as a safe sunscreen to prevent excessive sun exposure.
Unlike commercial sunscreens that absorb ultraviolet light, Nature provides titanium dioxide and zinc oxide... two exceptional ingredients that stay on the skin to reflect and deflect UVA and UVB.
How do they do it? Very easy, they form a physical barrier, without irritating or blocking pores.
SOURCE: Dr. Mercola www.drmercola.com
