Protect Your Largest Organ
Summer’s here and along with it comes glorious sunshine that gives us that healthy glow. Most people love having a tan; it makes us look younger and healthier.
Now that I’ve crossed over into my 30’s and have a baby on the way I figure it’s time to start being more responsible with my skin care. I’ll admit that I’ve spent more than my fair share of time in the sun “au natural” without much sun protection.
Diet, for me, is always the first place to start; a diet rich in antioxidants (berries and leafy greens) and a healthy supply of omega 3 fats (fish oil and flaxseed oil) protect the skin and allows it to work in synergy with the sun. Covering up is another logical step; investing in a quality pair of sunglasses, busting out a great sun hat (not for me because my head is too big and hats ruin my hair), sitting in the shade, and wearing loose long sleeved shirts are simple ways to protect yourself from the sun’s harsh rays. Then come the sunscreens, and believe me, not all can be treated equally.
Many of us assume that to protect our skin we can simply lather on sunscreen with a high SPF and we’re good to go. According to a recent article by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) many popular sunscreens just aren’t cutting it. They rated only 8% of sunscreens as safe and effective! Here are a couple of their primary concerns:
- Exaggerated SPFs are giving people a false sense of security. Yes, they may prevent sunburn but provide little protection against harmful UVA radiation. Consider any SPF over 50 a red flag.
- Many sunscreens use a form of Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) that’s suspected to speed the growth of skin lesions and tumors…eeks!
- A hormone disrupting product called oxybenzone that penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream has also been detected in most sunscreens. To me, this is of special concern for children who have porous skin and are usually being lathered in sunscreen by protective parents.
To find out how your sunscreen rates and for a list of the EWG’s top rated sunscreens check out this section of their site: 2010 Sunscreen Guide
Worries about not getting enough vitamin D? In order to achieve the daily recommended amounts of vitamin D we need 30 minutes of sun exposure daily-any more than 30 minutes does not provide added benefits. This exposure should occur during the peak hours of the day between 11am and 2pm. Now, some people work indoors and can’t get out during those hours and others don’t want to sit in the sun for worry of skin damage or heat intolerance. If you’re one of those people continue supplementing with vitamin D throughout the summer months
Yours In Health,
Nutritious Meg