WOW
NEWS:
Busting the Sun & Sunscreen Myths
by Christine
Awram, WOW Founder
http://www.theWOWevent.com
Have you
been congratulating yourself on taking care of you and your family
by staying out of the sun and/or religiously slathering on the
high-SPF sunscreen? If so I applaud your great intentions, but
you might be shocked by this article. Be prepared to find
out why almost everything you believe to be true on this subject
is probably a myth.
Why protect yourself in the first place?
To clarify:
Why are you staying out of the sun and applying sunscreen in the
first place? To prevent skin damage and cancer. Right? Wrong!
Here's the surprising 1-2 Punch right out of the gate, because
studies conclusively show that:
1) sunlight
helps prevent numerous cancers and chronic disease
2) most sunscreen ingredients are toxic with links to cancer
(ironic), Vitamin D deficiency, free radical damage, hormone disruption
and accelerated aging.
Are you wondering
if you just read that right?
And even though
more people are using sunscreen than ever before, skin cancer
continues to rise - with a higher incidence of malignant melanoma
(the deadliest skin cancer) among sunscreen users!
Some common sense from Dr. Joseph Mercola MD
Dr. Mercola
says this better than anyone, so let me quote him:
"Can
excessive sun exposure cause skin cancer and damage? Absolutely.
However, adding toxic sunscreen is NOT a good way to limit your
sun exposure.
Most of us
have been bombarded about the dangers of the sun by experts
and the media. However, because it's one of the most pervasive
and inaccurate myths persisting in most of the patients I see,
this myth has contributed to massive amounts of disease
and illness in our society.
Although the
American Academy of Dermatology will have you bathing in sunscreen,
it's one of the LAST things you want to put on your body. It contains
toxic chemicals.
Appropriate
sunlight actually prevents cancer. Exposure to the sun
provides many benefits, such as promoting the formation of Vitamin
D. We also have strong evidence that sunlight is protective against
MS and breast and prostate cancer.
Please avoid
getting sucked into the hype that sunlight is dangerous.
We ALL need sunshine - it is one of the essential ingredients
for staying healthy."
This doesn't
mean that we should go out and get sunburned. The key is obviously
not to burn. Adding toxic sunscreen however is NOT a good way
to limit your sun exposure. Limit your exposure to chemical sunscreens
- they are not necessary and can actually irritate your skin,
affect your hormones, accelerate aging and increase your risk
of disease.
Now what?
I
can hear you asking, "So if I'm not supposed to wear toxic
sunscreen or totally avoid the sun, what exactly AM I supposed
to do?"
Good
question, and the good news is that I've got some very effective
strategies for protecting and nourishing your skin, preventing
disease, slowing the aging process and creating vibrant health,
from both the inside out and the outside in.
Before
we go there, I have to share a bit more of the nonsense
about sun and sunscreen because this myth is so huge it's almost
unbelieveable. I read an article by Mike Adams, a natural health
pioneer who can be a bit out there but has also written literally
thousands of important articles, reports and consumer guides.
Here's some common sense on what he had to say:
"The
next time you see an ad urging you to smother yourself and your
children with sunscreen chemicals, think hard before taking
action. Ask yourself these questions:
-
Have
the chemicals in sunscreen been safety tested by the FDA?
[apparently not in 34 years despite heavy lobbying]
-
What
is the environmental impact of sunscreen chemicals washing
off into the ocean (or lake or river or pool) or down the
drain?
-
Sunscreen
manufacturers say your skin doesn't absorb their chemicals
[balderdash!]. If that's true, then how do nicotine
patches work? Whatever you apply to your skin absorbs into
it, through it, and into your bloodstream.
-
If
the sun is so unhealthy, then why is the vitamin it generates
(Vitamin D) so healthy? Why did we evolve a mechanism for
generating this essential vitamin from sunlight, if we weren't
supposed to be exposed to sunlight in the first place?"
There
is no question that too much sun is harmful, like almost ANYTHING
is in excess. But a reasonable amount of sunlight is good for
you, and most sunscreen is not.
So what's the solution?
We all thought
it was so simple to protect ourselves from cancer and wrinkles
from the sun. Just slather on the sunscreen and you're good to
go, or stay out of the sun. Worst case scenario, if the sunscreen
doesn't help much, at least it doesn't hurt. Right? Wrong again.
Here's more on what recent studies reveal:
-
Sunscreen
does not reduce melanoma (one of the worst cancers).
-
Sunscreens
have no effect on free radicals (and it's free radical
damage that contributes to accelerated aging, disrupts your
DNA, and is linked to cancer and disease).
-
A study
published in the prestigious Cancer Journal indicates that
exposure to sun actually decreases cancer rates,
especially breast, colon and ovarian cancer, and tumors
of the bladder, uterus, esophagus, rectum and stomach.
- SPFs over 8
can block up to 95% of rays needed to trigger Vitamin D synthesis.
And it's Vitamin D that helps protect against cancers and other
disease. Sunscreens actually shut down your production of Vitamin
D, a dangerous deficiency. As noted by Dr. Holly Fourchalk,
Vitamin D synthesis happens between the 3rd and 4th layer of the
skin - and sunscreen prevents this from happening.
-
HIgh SPF products
are no better and are misleading. They give a false sense
of security, with the user soaking up more radiation. And the
higher the SPF factor, the higher the chemicals that pose health
risks.
-
Many SPF
ingredients come with labelled side effects
including dry skin, acne blemish increase, burning, itching,
stinging, rash, allergies and drug interaction.
-
As published
in The Sunday Times (London) by Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent,
"The main chemical used in sun lotions, OMC (octyl
methoxycinnamate), is toxic, particularly when
exposed to ... sunshine!" How ironic and schizophrenic
is that? Dr. Christensen, a biophysicist from the Norwegian
Radiation Protection Authority, comments that the reaction
between the sunscreen ingredient OMC and sunlight created
an effect that was twice as toxic as the chemical alone. Who
invented this stuff?
-
Disturbingly,
a form of Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate or retinol)
in sunscreen is now proving to be a bad idea because of how it
interacts with sunlight, becoming photocarcinogenic. Daily natural
skincare used indoors and internal supplementation of Vitamin
A is great. But studies indicate that when retinyl palmitate is
applied to skin exposed to sunlight, it speeds development of
skin tumours and forms free radicals that damages DNA. This is
a real problem, as retinyl palmitate is in over 30% of sunscreen
products.
- Another common
sunscreen ingredient, oxybenzone (or benzophenone-3), is
such a concern that scientists are warning parents to avoid using
this ingredient on children due to allergic reactions, penetration
concerns and hormone disruption.
Let's take it step by step - this is a big subject
Are you getting
overloaded yet? I don't blame you - my head was spinning while
I researched this subject. I already knew that most sunscreens
were problematic because of the chemical ingredients in them,
but I had no idea how deep this issue really was. What an eye-opener!
| Step by
step, here are seven powerful and simple strategies you can
start using right now to protect you and your family from
the harmful effects of overdoing the sun and using toxic products.
Protect yourself from cancer, health risks and skin problems,
and learn how to support radiant beautiful skin. |
Enjoy
sensible sun exposure.
Reap the benefits of sunlight. How much sun you get obviously
depends on where you live and what time of year it is, and people
with naturally darker skin pigments need substantially more than
those with lighter pigments. Avoid direct exposure to sun during
the peak summer hours (11am-2pm). My personal formula is to get
out in the sun bare-skinned for about 20 minutes, and if I'm going
to stay out longer in the summer then I add a NATURAL sunscreen
or protection after I've given my skin a chance to synthesize
some Vitamin D. You can cover up with light fabrics and floppy
hats or ballcaps during those peak sun hours.
Avoid commercial
sunscreens like the plague.
Chemicals, chemicals. Toxic, toxic. Aging, aging. Bad, bad, bad! If
I haven't made that clear by now, I should be fired.
Become an ingredient
label-reader.
Avoid the very worst-offenders like Oxybenzone, OMC
(octyl methoxycinnamate) and 4-MBC. Also avoid Vitamin A in
sunscreen (retinyl palmitate or retinol) as its interaction
topically with sunlight can be photocarcinogenic.
Use natural
sunscreens.
Yes, there are some options here. Pure jojoba oil has a natural
SPF of 12 and it's GREAT for your soft silky skin. Natural products
with zinc and titanium rate well with the Environmental Working Group
because they block harmful radiation without penetrating healthy skin,
are not allergenic, don't break down in sunlight and don't disrupt
your hormones. But avoid them in powders or sprays, because inhalation
may have unknown consequences.
Boost your
INTERNAL sunscreen.
Increase your antioxidant-rich foods and boost antioxidant supplements
to increase your skin's natural UV protection from the inside out
(it takes about 30 consistent days of optimal nutrition to boost skin
protection internally). The Total Health Packs (which I've personally
been taking for years now as my optimal supplement system) include
Green Tea Extract for even more of an antioxidant boost, which also
helps increase metabolism. Interestingly, according to findings presented
at the American Chemical Society annual meeting, a protein called
JNK-2 appears to be directly related to the development of skin
cancer. Importantly, this protein is blocked by Green Tea polyphenols.
Antioxidants
boost your ability to handle sunlight without burning.
That's not to say you can just pop antioxidants and stay out in the
sun unprotected all day. But potent antioxidants help protect against
radiation, and they help repair and prevent free radical damage, thereby
preventing disease and unnecessary wrinkling (besides all the other
wonderful healthful properties they have). Some of the more common
antioxidants are Vitamins A, C, E and green tea extract. If your goal
is excellent health, vital energy and youthful radiant skin, you ABSOLUTELY
need a complete therapeutic supplement system. If you'd like
to know more about the easy and effective Total Health Pack system
that I use personally (plus receive their free consumer report on
how not to flush your money down the toilet with supplements), go
HERE. Quite frankly,
most of the products on store shelves are all about marketing and
are completely inadequate.
Moisturize,
rejuvenate AND protect skin with 100% natural skincare.
Skincare is used every day, so use all-natural skincare as your first
line of defense and to promote more radiant youthful skin. Commercial
personal care products will put an average of 160 toxic chemicals
into your bloodstream every single day! After exposure to the sun
you can further rejuvenate your skin cells with a nourishing natural
lotion that includes ingredients like aloe vera and rejuvenating essential
oils. Please start integrating 100% natural skincare and haircare
into your lifestyle and your family's - not products with a few ingredients
used as a marketing gimmick. Beware of toxic ingredients like Parabens
(read the ingredient label). For more information on how to have gorgeous
radiant skin and hair, please read my article HERE.
Consider Vitamin D supplementation
Especially
during the winter months or if you live in rainy BC like I do.
Ensure you supplement with natural D3, not synthetic D2. The Total
Health Packs contain a good therapeutic level of D3, and I add
extra Vitamin D drops to my water during our long dark rainy fall
and winter. The more research I do, the more I'm convinced that
a big chunk of the population is suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency,
which contributes to conditions like arthritis, fatigue, weight
gain, PMS, diabetes and depression.
In summary
Phew! This is
a big topic, and there is always more ground that could be covered.
For now, I'm hoping that my intention to bring these dangerous myths
about sun and sunscreen to light has been accomplished (if you'll
pardon the pun), and that I've left you with a solid course of action
that is easy and simple to follow:
- Use sensible
sun exposure before covering up
- Don't use toxic
commercial sunscreens (read ingredient labels)
- Use natural
sunscreens like pure jojoba oil
- Avoid worst
ingredients Oxybenzone, OMC, 4-MBC and Retinyl Palmitate
- Use INTERNAL
sunscreen with the Total
Health Pack system
- Use exquisite
all-natural skin and hair products every single day
Please tell your
friends and family about this article - everyone needs this important
information.
And enjoy your healthy fun in the sun!
AUTHOR'S
NOTE:
This
article has made mention of the Total Health Packs, an optimal
nutrition system that I use personally myself and just love.
It's therapeutic grade, it's easy, it's convenient, and it's
wonderfully cost-effective because it's only sold direct (not
MLM and not in retail stores - developed by Brenda Eastwood
RNCP). Handy little packs you can carry with you anywhere
in your purse or briefcase, no more managing dozens of bottles.
Here's
what I recommend and invite you to do for FREE.
Go
to their website HERE
and do two things:
1)
Get the complete ingredient list, so you can shop & compare.
2) Get their FREE Consumer Report ($39 value) - no more hype!
Once
you realize the benefits you can start experiencing from this
easy and effective system, and the money you can save, go
back to their website HERE
and order (free shipping even!).
You
can trust the system that I use myself. I've done the research
- it's excellent, results-oriented, cost-effective, easy and
convenient.
And
coming soon, the best all-natural leading-edge skincare system
I've discovered in over a year of diligent research. Stay
tuned, or send an EMAIL
for more info if you just can't wait!
Best,
Christine
Christine Awram, Founder
Woman Of Worth WOW Worldwide
Celebrating the empowered leadership of women
Because every woman ... is a Woman Of Worth
|
Copyright
2006, all rights reserved.
|
