Is Your Sunscreen Poisoning You?

Antioxidants are helpful in combating oxidative stress in the body.  We use AO and you can order it here.

It is that time of year when we head out to enjoy fun in the sun.  With the increasing amount of time we spend outside during the summer months it is a valid concern to question how much exposure is to much.  There has been a long standing debate on whether slathering sunscreen on our bodies is helpful or harmful to our health.  No matter where you stand in the debate it is good to know both sides and make an educated decision of what is best for you and your family.

One side of the debate states that sunscreen protects us from skin cancer, sun burns and the aging and wrinkling of our skin.  The other side of the debate states that there is no evidence of these claims and that the toxic ingredients in sunscreen is damaging to our bodies.  The fact is that we need adequate sun exposure to ensure our bodies are functioning optimally.

There is no need to fear the sun as it provides essential vitamin D which many of us are not getting enough of.  We can get the vitamin D our bodies need by exposing ourselves to 15 minutes of sun each day.  Vitamin D is not stored in our bodies we must replenish it consistently.  Working to avoid skin cancer could actually be setting yourself up for other health risks such as heart disease and multiple sclerosis.  There are many illness that are contributed to a lack of the sunshine vitamin in our diets.  If your not getting enough vitamin D each day supplement your diet.  You will find a great source of vitamin D here.

Sunscreen comes in many varieties and SPF’s.  Remember that any sunscreen over 30 offers negligible protection. What sunscreen does in a nut shell is put a “protective” block on the surface of the skin which sounds great and we do notice  our skin reddening however, the sun can penetrate the surface of the skin and cause damage to the underlying layers and trap free radicals on the surface of the skin.  Free radical have been proven to age and wrinkle the skin, take this into consideration.

Free radicals bombard us everyday from every direction and antioxidants are what neutralize free radicals and combat premature again. Personally, I never use sunscreen and I have never had a serve burn or adverse reaction to the sun.  I choose to take internal sunscreen in the form of antioxidants found in real food.  We at Our Wellness Revolution consume a multitude of antioxidants which can be found in beans, berries and fruits.  We also supplement our diets with AO which is the high quality food form antioxidant.

If you choose to use sunscreen know what chemicals make up the sunscreen you are putting on your body or make your own so you know exactly what your applying to your skin.  I heard a naturopath once say that we should never put anything on our skin which we cannot eat.  Be wise in that you rub on your skin as it is the biggest organ of the body and has the capacity to uptake beneficial and harmful substances in large quantities.  Here is a DYI recipe for sunscreen.  If you prefer to consume antioxidants order them here or contact us for more information.  It is important to be an informed consumer none of us want to poison ourselves, we want to protect ourselves and have a fun relaxing time this summer.

Natural Homemade Sunscreen Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)
• 1/4 cup beeswax 
  
• 2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide (This is a non-nano version that won’t be absorbed into the skin. Be careful not to inhale the powder). This makes a natural SPF of 20+ or more can be added.)
• Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter (natural SPF 4-5)
• Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

1. Combine ingredients except zinc oxide in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, olives or other foods.
2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
3. Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.
4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, add the zinc oxide, stir in well and pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Small mason jars (pint size) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!
5. Stir a few times as it cools to make sure zinc oxide is incorporated.
6. Use as you would regular sunscreen. Best if used within six months.

Recipe from: WellnessMomma.com