Its summertime! As the weather changes it reminds me of a topic that is controversial but important to consider… the SUN. On a beautiful sunny day I enjoy catching rays without sunscreen. That’s right. No SUNSCREEN! We’ve been taught that unprotected time in the sun can lead to skin cancer. This has been quite controversial in recent years. The fact is that the sun is good for you and can help save your life. More and more people today have a Vitamin D deficiency. This can lead to an increased likelihood of disease. The best place to get natural Vitamin D is in your backyard. Below are just a few health benefits of Vitamin D:
- Support your cardiovascular health
- Promote optimal cholesterol levels
- Enhance your muscle strength
- Help produce optimal blood pressure levels
- Help maintain a healthy immune system
- Support healthy kidney function
- Promote healthy teeth
- Help keep your bones strong and healthy
Most sunscreens today block 95-99% of the Vitamin D you would produce from being in the sun. They also contain a chemical called octyl methoxycinnamate. OMC for short. OMC was found to kill mouse cells even at low doses. As with food, I would check the back label of your sunscreen bottle. If the ingredients are four syllables or more, toss them! Why? Think about it. You are loading numerous chemicals onto the largest organ in your body – your skin! And then baking for hours because you are protected. Now, I’m not saying the next time you hit the Caribbean you should go out unprotected for hours at a time. I believe in moderation. So if you can, limit the time in the sun (healthy dose of sun exposure is when your skin turns a light pink) or wear protective clothing. If you plan on being a sun goddess or sun god for a long stretch of time, try a 100% all-natural, non chemical sunscreen. But don’t block the Vitamin D!! It can save your life! Get informed!
For more information on the sun, sunscreens and Vitamin D, check out the below articles:
http://products.mercola.com/summer-survival-kit/?source=nl
http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/19488158
http://www.aolnews.com/nanotech/article/more-bad-news-about-sunscreen-safety-nanoparticles/19500193
