Last week, while much of the Midwest endured tornadoes and flooding, the weather in Michigan's thumb provided a string of mild, sunny days. Friday morning, we enjoyed these early morning rays while eating a healthy breakfast on the back porch of Inn the Garden Bed & Breakfast in Lexington, Mich. Surprisingly, "The People's Chemist" Shane Ellison crosses the grain of prevailing medical advice, saying that
sunshine is actually good for you.
Furthermore, he poo-poos popular sunscreens , calling them
cancer-causing agents:
1. Sunscreen blocks the production of melanin (pigment causing a protective tan to form) resulting in higher risk of skin cancer.
2. Sunscreen blocks the production of vitamin D. A deficiency of vitamin D weakens the immune system and increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. In children especially, vitamin D deficiency is also correlated with tooth decay and crooked teeth.
3. Many of the chemicals found in sunscreens are actually carcinogenic (cancer causing) and estrogenic. If you see any of the following ingredients, steer clear: Benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone), PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB, glyceryl PABA, p-aminobenzoic acid, padimate-O or octyl dimethyl PABA), Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate), Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate), Digalloyl trioleate, Menthyl anthranilate, and Avobenzone.
Contrary to what sunscreen manufacturers wish you to believe, sunshine is not a death ray. It is a healing ray.
Ellison cites four main benefits of sun exposure:
1. It boosts neuropeptides that boost our mood and regulate appetite.2. It reduces risk of the deadly skin cancer melanoma and 16 other types of cancer.
3. It reduces the risk of osteoporosis and increases bone density courtesy of enhanced "mineralization."
4. It increases sex drive. Not that I want my kids libido to be rockin’ but this is good info for the Dad who needs to get his bedroom energy back.
Note that he's not suggesting that you or your kids should ever get sunburned. You can definitely get too much of a good thing. Use clothing to block the sun or go indoors if your skin is getting pink.
His advice is to use a natural sunscreen like UV Naturals. Not only does it protect your skin from excess sun exposure, it also helps your skin look and feel younger with "youthanizers." They include green tea extract, bees wax, vitamin E and grape seed oil.
My plans later this week include deep-sea fishing and kayaking trips in Jacksonville, N.C. I'll be looking for UV Naturals before I leave Tuesday.
7 comments:
well after experiencing the worst sunburn of my life last weekend..I can honestly say that I would definitely go back in time and trade the pain and swelling for some sunscreen!
Well, this is an interesting post for me since I've been having UV treatments at the dermatologist for psoriasis. I think it's an "all things in moderation sort of thing." On one visit they burned me and that was a horrible agony (sympathies to Heather) but overall it's helping get rid of the scaly spots.
Good information, Rebecca. I don't think we should be afraid of the sun (tanning beds are another story!) As Lainie said, moderation in all things.
Sounds like you're having/had a great trip, with a few food challenges thrown in. But I know you'll come through just fine. Your motivation to stay on track always inspires me!
Thanks for your recent visit to my blog.
:-)
It sounds like you are having a great time traveling from place to place and enjoying life.
I wish you all the best as you continue on a path to eating right and reaching whatever goals you have set for yourself.
I have always heard that getting some sunshine in healthy. I guess it becomes bad when people overdo it and get sunburned or turn themselves into a piece of leather.
I really enjoyed this very informative post! I've often thought the same thing about light sun exposure being a healthy thing. I've got incredibly fair skin and this summer I have spent small amounts of time outdoors allowing a "natural tan" to develop rather than dousing myself with sunscreen like I would usually do.
Because of this little tan, I'm able to go out more and more without worrying about getting sunburned.
My concern is definitely for my 20 month old daughter. Perhaps I need to see about getting a natural sunscreen for her!
Thanks so much for your post!
Great post! I'm a big fan of the sun. :-) Thanks for the link to UV naturals, too, because I do have a very fair-skinned daughter whose exposure needs to be limited...I generally have her 'screen up after about 20 minutes. :-)
V.
Thanks for passing on my message! Nicely done. Great writing too on your blog. Live Young! - The People's Chemist
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