Sun Protection

Spring is upon us and Summer is just around the corner, before you do your normal routine for sun-protection I hope you'll take a chance to research what you're putting on.

My sister in law sent me an email today that she says, and I quote "This website seems to be right up your alley". I wanted to share it with you and a few websites to check out so you can do your own research & see what is best for your family.

Please grab your sunblock from your cabinet and check out this site: http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/finding-the-best-sunscreens/ This site is packed with information on sunscreens, including the best and worst kinds out there. You can find your sunblock of choice and see how it compares. There are lots of additives in sunscreens some of which are toxic and actually can be causing burns & encouraging skin cancer. Be careful and make wise choices for your family, research for yourself and your family.

Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."

Our family thinks a little different than most.  For some reason I just feel the healthiest options for us are the most natural choices.  I guess what I mean by that is experiencing life, food & health as close to the way as God intended things to be experienced.  For example, most of you get that we drink raw milk, not pasturized or homogenized.  If the earth is about (estimating here) 10,000 years old, I don't really think God would have waited till 9,900 years into his creation to "enlighten" someone about pasturizing milk or to create 2% & skim. For us we're gonna stay with drinking it in its natural form.  I am not saying you must drink RAW, but just explaining why we do(I am lining up an expert to post on this soon if you are interested though).

 We try to consume things that aren't processed, with minimal: additives, artificial colors & flavors.  Do we have candy bars occassionally?  Yes, I just had a chunk of a chocolate bar a few minutes ago, but I don't keep them in our house (because we would eat them LOL!)

Going with the same thought process as above I don't think that God would have waited until the last 50 years to give someone the idea that we NEED sunscreen.  As far as sun-protection goes, we don't wear sunscreen on a regular basis.  I will say we have applied it a handful of times when in Florida and at a beach all day, but even then a very natural, low additive choice.  Drew has never burned.  If we're going to be outside for a while I will put coconut oil on "hot spots, the nose shoulders, cheeks & ears.  Even my nephews, one of whom is fair skinned has only ever had coconut oil as sunscreen and he never burns.  A few factors play into not burning: diet, moderate exposure & coconut oil.

A few interesting things I found while researching today:

Chemicals in Sunscreen
Found at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/01/four-out-of-five-sunscreens-may-be-hazardous-to-your-health.aspx

"The Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based nonprofit, has released an investigation of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreens that says four out of five don‘t adequately protect consumers and may contain harmful chemicals."
"A study in the April 2004 Journal of Chromatography found that there was significant penetration into the skin of all sunscreen agents they studied. And slathering a carcinogenic agent onto your skin may in fact be worse for your health than ingesting it, as it goes straight into your blood stream."
"Wearing sunscreen effectively blocks your body’s production of vitamin D, which happens naturally when your skin is exposed to sunlight. In fact, sunscreens reduce vitamin D production by as much as 97.5 to 99.9 percent. The widespread acceptance and adoption of this faulty doctrine has contributed to severe vitamin D deficiency on a grand scale, which in turn claims about one million lives a year from 16 different types of cancer and other common diseases."

Why coconut oil?
Found at http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/article10013.htm
"I've seen a wide variety of conditions improve-and sometimes completely vanish-with the use of coconut oil. It can help speed healing of cuts and burns; there's a long tradition in the islands of using coconut oil as a sunscreen."

Quote from http://1800recycling.com/2010/07/oil-sun-protection/
" Using organic coconut oil instead of sunscreen is one of the healthiest ways to protect your skin and the planet."

Found at http://www.coconutoilhealthbenefits.com/
"I am constantly astounded by all of the cures coconut oil possesses. There are areas in the world where coconut is used daily as a source of food and a source of healing. Try using coconut oil for these things:- minimize and stop wrinkles, dark spots and loose skin
- shiny, conditioned hair and with little or no dandruff
- not toxic in any way to the human body
- alleviates most skin issues including those that stem from dry, irritated skin (psoriasis, eczema, etc.)
- brings skin and hair back to nature's balance after all of the harsh chemicals we use
- minimizes effects and impact of sun damage on skin"


How Can Diet Help Protect My Skin?

Another thing that seems to be evident through research is your diet affects the health of your skin, and can help protect against sunburn.

Found at: http://www.drllynch.com/sunburn_protection_&_healing.htm
  "Eat healthy. Research has shown that eating 2 servings of fresh, raw organic fruits, 4 servings of fresh, raw organic vegetables, and 2 servings of whole grains a day provide needed nutrients that help protect from sun damage and cancers, as does avoiding bad dietary fats (heated and hydrogenated vegetable oils, trans fats), and eating more good fats (raw olive oil, avocados, flax or hemp seed oils)." 

Found at http://www.livestrong.com/article/327815-raw-food-diet-sunburn/
"Raw food dieting promises a number of health benefits from increased energy to weight loss, but if your diet is not balanced, you may be at risk for increased sun sensitivity. It is important to eat foods rich in antioxidants to protect against the sun's harmful rays to help give your skin a fighting chance against sunburn."

Found at http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-oz-healthy-tan-plan
 "..moderate and safe exposure to the sun is healthy, providing necessary vitamin D"
"Humans need the sun to get their daily dose of vitamin D, a vitamin so many Americans get so little of. But excessive sun exposure will cause damage. You can be in the sun, without sunscreen, for up to 20 minutes a day."