Two good articles about the use of sunscreen, both good and bad. We certainly do NOT want to get sunburned, but I agree with both of these articles in that the body will protect you from some sun exposure (as long as it is not excessive) IF you are eating a nutritious diet that gives your body the tools it needs to help balance sun exposure – mostly fruits, vegetables and good fats. I try to get in the sun without sunscreen for 15-20 minutes per day, and if I’m going to be out longer than that (or if it’s during peak sun hours – 10 AM-4PM), I will apply non-toxic sunscreen. Both articles provide some good links to explore.
As the dog days of summer approach and the sun starts to beat down, it becomes vitally important to know how to use the sun effectively. Far too often people use it in ways that create negative consequences, and as a result, they become jaded, afraid, and end up blocking the healing benefits of the sun.
To use the sun to its fullest advantage this summer and avoid any negative health implications, make sure to keep these important facts in mind and use them appropriately.
The sun is the most efficient source of vitamin D
According to research, up to 70 percent of white people and up to 97 percent of black people are deficient in vitamin D! In order to help reverse this problem, sun exposure is critical as it is clearly the purest and most efficient source of increasing one’s vitamin D levels. On a typical summer day, 15 to 20 minutes of sunlight exposure results in the skin producing about 40,000 IU of vitamin D, and the mechanism that produces it then shuts down to prevent the body from taking too much.
Since the summer months are often short and much of it is still spent indoors, it is very important to “stock up” during this time. If one is able to get adequate exposure during the sunny months, vitamin D levels can be stored for two to three months to help get through the winter months.
Sunscreen blocks the absorption of vitamin D and is often toxic
Unfortunately, society has been led to believe that sunscreen protection is paramount to avoid cancer. This has created an excessive use of sunscreens that actually blocks vitamin D production, which then contributes to cancer-promoting nutritional deficiencies. It should also be noted that vitamin D can help prevent anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of all cancers.
It does become important to seek shade or use a toxin free sunscreen once adequate exposure has been reached, however, most sunscreen products are filled with toxic parabens, alcohols, solvents, and petroleum oils. To avoid baking these chemicals into the skin, visit the Environmental Working Group and their guide to safe sunscreen.
Excessive use of sunglasses can cause sleepless nights
Although sunglasses have their place, they have been used excessively and this has hurt the body’s natural circadian rhythm. The eyes need sunlight too, as the lens at the back of the eye that stimulates the body’s master clock in the hypothalamus and pineal gland, is responsible for absorbing the blue part of the sunlight spectrum. This in turn creates the production and release of melatonin, the circadian rhythm hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
Wearing sunglasses blocks blue light reception and reduces immune system benefits and the nightly dose of melatonin. This can create various issues, including sleep problems.
UV exposure isn’t entirely responsible for skin cancer
A difficult concept most don’t understand is that skin cancer is only caused when UV exposure is combined with chronic nutritional deficiencies and the absence of an antioxidant rich diet. In other words, in order to create skin cancer, one has to eat a poor diet, avoid antioxidants, and then engage in excessive sun exposure.
Although genetics do play a role, they are not purely responsible for a person’s sunlight burn response. One can actually dramatically improve her resistance to UV exposure through a diet high in antioxidants, and proper acclimation to the sun.
Common sunscreen chemicals disrupt hormones, can lead to endometriosis and low sperm count
There’s a lot of fear and misunderstanding when it comes to the sun. Afraid of being burned, consumers are quick to lather on sunscreen chemicals to block out the sun’s rays. This is done without understanding what these chemicals are and what they do to the body’s natural hormone levels. It’s also very easy to neglect the importance of daily sunlight exposure. To maintain a healthy immune system, one should embrace 15-30 minutes of sun exposure each day, instead of avoiding it.
Studies show that 77 percent of cancers are prevented when one absorbs adequate vitamin D from the sun. When consumers rush to block out this important component in their life, they set their body up for a state of disease.
Key anti-oxidants help protect the body from the inside out
Sunburn is NOT proof that the sun is a dangerous, cancerous vessel. Sunburn indicates an imbalance – a disconnect between humans and nature. Instead of fearing sunburn, one should wonder why their body isn’t protecting itself from the inside out. Most people are disconnected from the science of nutrition found in living foods. Most people are not eating and absorbing the phytonutrients that help with internal sunlight regulation and oxidative stress. One must also know their limits and seek shade when necessary.
Key antioxidants are missing from the standard diet. Antioxidants like astaxanthin help protect the skin from the inside out, naturally preventing UV radiation damage. Astaxanthin is a phytonutrient synthesized by a species of micro-algae called Haematococcus. It has a deep red hue and can be seen in salmon because they feed on the fish that thrive on the micro-algae.
Sunscreen chemicals wreak havoc on hormones
Sunscreen chemicals are like a temporary shield or band-aid that doesn’t get to the root of the problem. They’re not always effective either. There’s no scientific proof that these chemicals protect the skin from damage or cancer. In many cases, sunscreen chemicals pose more risks than rewards.
One common sunscreen chemical called oxybenzone disrupts hormones and may be linked to endometriosis in females and low sperm count in males. The Environmental Working Group reviewed a large number of commercial sunscreens and found out that half of them used the hormone disrupting oxybenzone as an active ingredient in their formula.
When oxybenzone penetrates the skin, it acts like estrogen in the body. This may trigger allergic skin reactions and can negatively affect the reproductive systems of both males and females. For females, this disruption can cause tissue that normally lines the inside of their uterus – the endometrium – to grow outside their uterus. This causes severe abdominal pain and may lead to infertility.
Furthermore, oxybenzone has a 1 to 9 percent skin penetration rate in lab studies. It’s detected in most Americans’ blood and can even make its way into a mother’s breast milk.
Other sunscreen chemicals, like octinoxate, (octylmethoxycinnamate) exhibit hormone-like activity and can alter the function of the reproductive system, thyroid and even behavior in animal studies.
Another common ingredient, homosalate, can disrupt estrogen, androgen and progesterone levels. Exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals can change the very nature of a man or a woman at the hormone level.
Working with nature and the body to protect the skin
Instead of disrupting natural hormone levels with sunblock chemicals, it’s best to reconnect with nature and work with natural sun protection agents. Healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil all have documented sun protection factor. Carrot seed and red raspberry seed essential oils have significantly high SPF. Zinc oxide is a mineral sunscreen that can reflect both UVA and UVB rays. It’s equally important to know one’s limitations and find shade intuitively.
