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Dr. Henry Lodge provides the science. Chris Crowley provides the motivation. And through their New York Times bestselling program, you''l discover how to put off 70 percent of the normal problems of aging.
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330 pages
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It is a message that has become louder and louder over the years – put sunscreen on before spending time outdoors. Protect yourself from those harmful ultraviolet rays that can turn you tomato red, leave skin burning, blistered and looking weathered beyond your years. But reasons for sun protection are more than just skin deep. With an estimated 75,500 cases of non-melamona skin cancers (the most common forms of skin cancer) to be diagnosed in Canada this year, sun protection is serious business.
Dousing yourself, children and grandchildren with sunscreen before any outdoor activity has become as commonplace as putting on your shoes. Sunscreens themselves seem to get more super-charged each year to keep pace with the growing threat of damaging UV rays. These days, Sun Protection Factors (SPF) of 50+ are standard issue on drug store shelves. But even with increased compliance and stronger sunscreens on the market, over 70% of melanoma skin cancer diagnosis (the deadliest form), occur in the Zoomer population.
The truth of the matter is that there is much controversy, minimal scientific consensus and even fewer scientific standards regulating the safety and efficacy of commercial sunscreens. The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that care needs to be taken to protect the skin from damaging over-exposure to ultraviolet rays. Opinions begin to diverge from there. Below are some important facts for Zoomers to consider in the pursuit of skin protection.
- First for foremost, sunscreen needs to be used as one tool and not relied on as the sole protection for your skin. As quoted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) the “FDA (American Food & Drug Administration) is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer” (FDA 2007). The International Agency for Research on Cancer agrees. IARC recommends clothing, hats and shade as primary barriers to UV radiation and writes that “sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun”.
- It is also important to recognize that sunscreen; even high SPF sunscreen properly applied does not give you a free pass to play all day under strong UV rays. Some research suggests that those using high SPF sunscreens may be exceeding the safe limits of sun exposure because although their sunscreen is sparing them from an immediate burn, the cells of their skin are sustaining damage from UV rays, leading to higher instances of cancer amongst this group.
- Remember Chemistry 101? If not here’s a little refresher; certain compounds, while safe in one environment can change in structure and function when exposed to light and heat. Certain ingredients contained in commercial sunscreens such as; retinyl palmitate or retinol become unstable under the sun’s rays and may promote the growth of cancerous tumors in skin cells. Many other common ingredients degrade in the sun’s heat and create free radical damage, a type of cellular damage that contributes to aging and degenerative diseases like cancer.
- Finally, oxybenzone or 4-MBC are chemicals often used in sunscreens that are absorbed through the skin and mimic the hormone estrogen in the body, disrupting hormonal balance in both men and women.
The Do’s and Dont's of Healthy Sun Exposure
DO:
- Find a shady spot out doors
- Wear a sun hat
- Cover arms and legs with tight knit, loose fitting clothes during peak hours
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection
- Apply a good quality sunscreen that offers UV protection without harmful chemicals that penetrate the skin like Zinc, Titanium dioxide, Avobenzone or Mexoryl SX and avoid ingredients such as Oxybenzone and Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)
- Choose a product no higher than SPF 30
- Enjoy some exposure during off-peak hours such as morning or evening to allow your body to produce natural Vitamin D
- Eat an anti-oxidant rich diet, consisting of berries, cherries and brightly coloured veggies
- If you are eating less than 10 servings of fruit and vegetables per day supplement with a potent anti-oxidant formulation to provide your body with the raw materials needed for naturally burn-resistant skin
DON’T :
- Get burned!
- Over-expose your skin during midday hours when UV rays are strongest
- Get tricked into thinking a higher SPF will provide unlimited protection
- Avoid the sun altogether because 20 minutes of full exposure daily can optimize your blood levels of natural Vitamin D, a nutrient linked to the prevention of most forms of cancer and Type II Diabetes
- Eat a diet high in calories and low in nutrients as this will rob your body of the essential anti-oxidants needed to protect your skin from the inside out
The bottom line is that you need to be sensible and moderate in your relationship with the sun but also bear in mind the vital role sunshine plays in your total health picture. When you consider that every single thing on planet Earth relies on the sun’s rays to sustain life, it stands to reason that when done properly, your health will benefit from the vitamin D your body makes when exposed to natural sunlight. |
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Zwell has a user community here where you can ask questions, get answers, and share ideas with fellow Zoomers.
Healthy Tidbits
Researchers found that flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a marker of blood vessel function and heart health significantly improved after resveratrol supplementation compared to placebo. These beneficial effects increased with higher doses.
A recent study of nearly 3 dozen healthy Zoomers revealed that 60-minutes of yoga, 3 times per week was able to trigger a natural “anti-anxiety” chemical in the brain called GABA, versus the same amount of time spent walking. Those in the yoga test group had higher blood levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which is often recommended as a dietary supplement for those experiencing anxiety and depression.
A study recently conducted states side on a group of Zoomers with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease demonstrated better balance and mobility amongst those who participated in an hour long dance class, twice per week. Benefits lasted for several weeks after the dance classes ended and participants reported great enjoyment from partner dancing such as Tango.
According to a new study, researchers at Oxford University conducted a two-year trial with volunteers with mild cognitive impairment, characterized by slight problems with memory loss, language skills or other mental functions and found that large doses of B vitamins can halve the rate of brain shrinkage and may slow the progression towards dementia.
A recently published Swedish study, which followed over 30 thousand women during a ten year period, assessed the impact of a taking a daily multi vitamin and mineral supplement on heart disease and heart attack risk.
Of the healthy women who began the study, those taking a daily multi exhibited a 27% less change of having a heart attack versus their non-supplementing counterparts. The findings also suggest that the longer the women were taking their supplements the better the preventative effects.
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