Sunscreen blocks your body's production of vitamin D. Most brands contain toxic free radical generators which I believe can increase your risk of disease. Here's the ultimate way to protect yourself this summer…
After spending six or more months stuck inside buildings under cover from rain, snow and sleet, you rush out and spend all day on a Saturday or Sunday in the sun. Not only is the golf course beckoning, but so is yard work, the kids' sporting events, and the grill.
It's easy to overdo your sun exposure in your quest to finally spend some time outdoors... especially when your skin is lily-white from being inside for months -- and not used to the sun.
There are many simple lifestyle changes you can make to radically decrease your risk of sunburn, such as choosing your essential fatty acids wisely, increasing raw vegetables loaded with skin protecting antioxidant phytonutrients, and avoiding processed foods and sugars.
I go into more details in the video so be sure and watch it.
Clothing Can Protect You -- Especially Caps
Additionally you can use clothing wisely to avoid sun induced skin damage. My favorite is a cap which allows me to avoid wearing sunglasses and benefit from all of the 1500 wavelengths in sunshine. But the cap also keeps the sun off the very thin skin around my eyes which is particularly sensitive to photoaging damage from the sun.
However if you are looking for an additional level of protection beyond clothing then my team has come up with something that will really work for you and your family.
Daytime sun isn't the only summer headache you can have.
Ever been out on a beautiful summer evening enjoying the afterglow of sunset and onset of stars -- only to have it ruined by ten thousand pesky mosquitoes? Or was that ten million? In several states, mosquitoes have been dubbed the "state bird". Nasty little critters!
In a damp year, mosquitoes don't limit themselves to evening warfare either.
They love sultry, still, humid days ... and parks, campgrounds, wooded and swampy areas, and even your own backyard in broad daylight! Hard to escape them! Worse, they'll sneak into your house and buzz around your bedroom while you try to sleep.
Now, you could try solutions like DEET-based insect repellents -- but I certainly don't recommend it. In a moment, I'll tell you why that's anon-solution, and provide you with a viable all-natural alternative.
Equip yourself now to have a ton more fun this summer with this Summer Survival Kit ...
The Case AGAINST Using Sunscreen -- Even "Natural" Ones -- Except for This NEW Exclusive Lotion from Acapulco...
It's true.
I normally advise against using sunscreens. Even most "all-natural" sunscreens.
As a subscriber to my weekly newsletters, you may already know this. And if you aren't familiar with the reasons, I'll share them with you in a moment. But first, I need to get something off my chest.
Natural sunlight's potential to harm you has really been blown out of proportion. This is thanks to many doctors, health officials, advertisements, beauty experts, corporations, and well-meaning friends. They basically tell you that you need to stay out of the sun because the sun will kill you. This simply isn't true.
For starters, there is little scientific evidence to justify the many health campaigns that urge you to completely avoid the sun. Avoiding the sun just doesn't make sense. And it certainly doesn't make any sense when study after study shows that ...
The Sun is Not Deadly
In fact, the sun is healthy for you. Think about it. How could it be any other way?
After all, your ancestors survived outdoors, working outside under the sun's rays far more often than they were indoors and out of the sun.
This brings up an obvious question.
How on earth would it be possible for your body to end up being configured in such a way that the sun is now a deadly threat to you, me, and the entire human race?
Like I said, it simply isn't true.
That's not to say sunlight can't be harmful. Of course, it can be...
For instance, long-term, excessive exposure to sunlight can increase the risk of certain types of skin cancer. Yet moderate sun exposure is less dangerous than sporadic sun exposure.
Plus, there's a good deal of evidence that sun exposure without sunburn significantly decreases the risk of melanoma (a more deadly form of skin cancer.) So safe sun exposure is key.
What You Should Know About UVA and UVB Rays
Ultraviolet light from the sun comes in two main wavelengths -- UVA and UVB. It's important for you to understand the difference between them, and your risk factors from each.
Consider UVB the 'good guy' -- though of course you can't de-select UVA if you're going to be in the sun. UVB helps your skin produce vitamin D.
UVA is considered the 'bad guy' because it penetrates your skin more deeply and causes more free radical damage. Not only that, but UVA rays are quite constant during all the hours of daylight throughout the entire year.
By comparison, UVB waves are low in morning and evening and high at midday.
So, if you're out early in the morning or late in the day, you get lots of UVA (bad guy) and not much UVB (good guy). Not a good way to produce vitamin D. Plus you increase your risk of cancer if that's your only sun intake, and you fail to protect your skin.
What's more, have you ever gotten a scorching sunburn on a cloudy day? You think you don't need to protect yourself and you wind up being really sorry you didn't. That's the UVA rays at work. They can break through cloud cover and pollution and do some real damage your skin.
Kind of a Catch 22.
How Sunscreens Keep You from Enjoying the Many Benefits of the Sun's Healthy Rays
As you may know, wearing a sunscreen on your uncovered skin blocks your body's production of vitamin D. In fact, sunscreens reduce vitamin D production by as much as 97.5 to 99.9%. And interfering with your body's production of vitamin D by 97.5 to 99.9% may have dire health consequences.
After all, vitamin D plays a crucial role in your overall health and well-being. For example, this superb vitamin is known to:
Support your cardiovascular health
Promote optimal cholesterol levels
Enhance your muscle strength
Help produce optimal blood pressure levels
Help maintain a healthy immune system
Support healthy kidney function
Promote healthy teeth
Help keep your bones strong and healthy
Please understand -- this list of important benefits represents a tiny fraction of the ways vitamin D keeps you healthy and fit. And, although you can get vitamin D from natural food sources, experts agree on one thing.
Natural Sunlight is Far and Away the Best Way to Get Your Vitamin D!
 Sun: Good for you, so long as you don't burn. Protect your skin from overexposure with Natural Sunscreen today. |
And it is the ultimate way. Why? Because as soon as the sun's ultraviolet rays strike your skin, your body is programmed to do something remarkable. It starts producing its own natural vitamin D.
Better yet, your body produces the most active form of vitamin D in existence -- calciferol. Also known as vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is actually the precise form your body needs for the proper functioning of your organs and cells.
And luckily for all of us, our bodies automatically generate enough of it with virtually no risk of overdose. They just know when to stop producing natural vitamin D before it can reach toxic levels.
However, elevated vitamin D levels obtained strictly from oral supplements can take six months or longer to normalize. That's why I don't recommend supplementing your vitamin D with pills. If you do take vitamin D supplements, you need to get your blood levels tested regularly to avoid toxicity.
With natural sunlight, you may be wondering what precautions you need to take...
Should You Use a Sunscreen to Guard Against SUNBURN?
Absolutely! But not any kind of commercial sunscreen. More on that in a moment -- but first, let me just say...
As much as I prefer you steer clear of sunscreens because they interfere with natural vitamin D production, there is one critical exception.
The exception is when it is impossible to limit full body exposure to sunlight! So if you can't limit your exposure for whatever reason, do use a safe sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburn. It is for YOUR own good.
Your risk of getting melanoma may increase in relationship to sunburn frequency and severity. Limiting sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and using a 100% all-natural, non chemical sunscreen can reduce the risks of skin cancer and other harmful effects of the sun.
Studies revealed that people who spend more time outdoors without getting sunburn, actually decrease their risk of developing melanoma.
Now get this:
Safe sunlight exposure has also been shown to protect against as many as sixteen different types of cancer, including breast, colon, endometrial, esophageal, ovarian, bladder, gallbladder, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, and renal cancers, as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
So, yes, your body needs a bit of unprotected sun exposure. For all the benefits I've mentioned earlier. But if you can't avoid the following three scenarios:
You're forced to be in the direct rays of the sun for a longer time than is safe...
You must go into intense sunlight without having the opportunity to gradually build up to it...
You're in a situation where blocking the sun with strategic clothing or sunshades is impractical...
...use a sunscreen to help guard against sunburn. But, don't just slap on any of the standard commercial brands you find on store shelves. With that in mind...
It's Time to Expose the Sunscreen Smokescreen!
In my opinion, corporate greed has created products that are harmful.
I'm talking hundreds of sunscreens that I believe are toxic because they contain man-made chemicals ... chemicals I believe can cause serious health problems and increase your risk of disease. Here's why.
The main chemical used in sunscreens to filter out ultraviolet B light is octyl methoxycinnamate. OMC for short. OMC was found to kill mouse cells even at low doses. Plus, it was also shown to be particularly toxic when exposed to sunshine. And guess what?
OMC is present in 90 percent of sunscreen brands!
But that's not the half of it. A common ultraviolet A filter, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, has also demonstrated toxic properties.
Furthermore, several studies show that the chemicals commonly used in sunscreens are absorbed through the skin and end up circulating in your blood stream. Not good. So...
If Your Sunscreen Contains Any of These Chemicals That I Consider Dangerous and Potentially Life Threatening, Do Yourself a BIG Favor...
Dump it in the trash now .
Yes, that's right. Toss your sunscreen in the trash if it contains any of these questionable chemicals:
 Toss your sunscreen in the trash if it contains any of these chemicals I consider to be potentially harmful. |
Para amino benzoic acid...
Octyl salicyclate...
Avobenzone...
Oxybenzone...
Cinoxate...
Padimate O...
Dioxybenzone...
Phenylbenzimidazole...
Homosalate...
Sulisobenzone...
Menthyl anthranilate...
Trolamine salicyclate...
Octocrylene...
And, oh yes, let me not forget...
Potentially harmful chemicals such as dioxybenzone and oxybenzone (two chemicals I just mentioned) are some of the most powerful free radical generators known to man!
So if your sunscreen contains dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or any of the other chemicals I just revealed, I highly recommend you switch to a formula that is safe and healthy for your skin.
And a note to moms ... You are undoubtedly very conscientious about caring for your children. But when you lather up your son or daughter with sunscreen thinking you're doing the right thing, you could in fact be doing more harm than good.
Other Natural Ingredients
Sunflower oil:
Sunflower oil is a superior moisturizer. In addition, it also contains vitamins A, D and E. And this excellent ingredient is often used to moisturize dry, weathered, and aged skin.
Lecithin:
Lecithin is found in the membranes of plant cells (soy.) It is widely used in cosmetics as an emollient and water-binding agent.
Coconut oil:
Coconut oil has been used by the islanders for many hundreds of years to moisturize their skin. And it moisturized their skin while they attained a glowing, dark tan. Even better, if you have skin sensitivities, it is likely to be mild and gentle on your skin.
Glycerine:
Used as an emollient, glycerine improves your skin's natural moisture by attracting just the right amount of water to maintain your skin's homeostasis. Furthermore, research proves the presence of glycerine in the intercellular layer.
Jojoba oil:
Jojoba oil is a non-fragrant natural emollient that serves up superior moisturizing and skin conditioning properties.
Tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E):
Vitamin E also acts as a natural preservative.
Shea butter:
Shea butter is a natural plant lipid used as both a thickener and an emulsifier. What's more, it also has effective moisturizing properties.
Eucalyptus oil:
Eucalyptus oil is an essential oil. And when it's mixed with other oils, it is more easily absorbed by your skin. Best of all, it assists other oils to be absorbed in your skin as well. This obviously supports the moisturizing process.
So check the labels on your sunscreen, and throw them out if they contain any of the potentially dangerous chemicals named above. After all, your skin is your largest organ, as your child's skin is theirs.
DEET -- More Dangerous Than You Think!
DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) is a chemical that was patented by the US Army in 1946 and is still widely recognized as an effective mosquito repellent. In fact, most commercial insect repellents are made of varying concentrations of DEET.
Every year approximately one-third of the American population uses insect repellents to deter mosquitoes and other pests. Currently, DEET is used in up to 230 different products in concentrations of up to an astounding 100%.
However, all is not well with DEET...
DEET is a pesticide intended to kill insects! In case that idea by itself doesn't scare you, read on to discover the health issues it is known to cause.
If It Melts Plastics...
DEET sprays can melt plastic bags and fishing lines. Does that make you wonder what it can do to you?
 Please don't use DEET! |
Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides.
He discovered that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair cell function in parts of your brain -- demonstrated in the lab by death and behavioral changes in rats with frequent or prolonged use.i
When these rats had their skin treated with the average human dosage equivalent (40 mg/kg body weight) of DEET, they performed far worse than control rats on physical tests requiring muscle control, strength, and coordination.ii
This is consistent with reports of symptoms after military use of DEET in the Persian Gulf War.
Exposure causes neurons to die in several parts of your brainiii -- including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration and learning. Abou-Donia says rats given small doses of DEET for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks, things as simple as walking.
Heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides can cause eye and skin irritation, memory loss, headaches, weakness, fatigue, muscle/joint pain, nausea, tremors and shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear months or even years after use.
Abou-Donia believes that although short-term exposure to DEET might not be harmful, he warns against ever using any product with more than a 30 percent concentration. To me, even that seems a dangerous and risky amount to use.
But wait! It gets worse...
Worse Than DEET
"We found that the combined exposure to DEET and other chemicals is more dangerous than just DEET alone," says Abou-Donia.
Exposure causes neurons to die in several parts of your brainiv -- including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration and learning. Abou-Donia says rats given small doses of DEET for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks, things as simple as walking.
Insecticides aren't the only problem though. Skin care products containing various chemicals can put you at increased risk of chemical contamination with DEET. Products you use on a daily basis, like deodorants, soaps, make-up and sunscreens (exceptNatural Sunscreen), when combined with DEET, create greater exposure than DEET alone.
Medications, both prescription and over the counter, can also react with DEET and increase your risk of problems.
Long-term and regular use of DEET -- especially combined with these other chemicals or medications -- can cause brain deficiencies in vulnerable groups, particularly children.v
Children are more susceptible than adults to subtle brain changes caused by chemicals in their environment, because their skin more readily absorbs them. Their still-developing nervous systems are potentially more affected.vi
Never, ever, ever use any DEET-containing product on infants! And be very hesitant to use it on anyone who you care about -- including yourself.
Many Potential Hazards Lurk in Commercial Bug Sprays
Other potential hazards can lurk in commercial bug sprays, such as the chemical permethrin. It's part the synthetic pyrethroid family, all of which are neurotoxins.
 Other Potential Hazards that Lurk in Commercial Bug Sprays |
At relatively high doses, its effects are known to include tremors, loss of coordination, elevated body temperature, aggressive behavior, and learning disruption.vii Even at sub-lethal doses it can cause aggressive behavior, disruption of eating habits, and agitation.viiiLab results suggest that it is more dangerous for children than adultsix
The Environmental Protection Agency labeled it as a carcinogen because it causes lung tumors in female mice and liver tumors in mice of both sexes. It's also implicated in chromosome abnormalities in human and hamster cells, and hinders immune function.
But that's not all. It causes environmental damage too.
Permethrin is toxic to honeybees and other beneficial insects, fish, crayfish, and shrimp. It causes deformities in tadpoles and reduces the number of oxygen-carrying cells in the blood of birds. Unfortunately it's found in streams and rivers throughout the United States.
I'm sure you can agree that using sprays containing permethrin is not only bad for you, but bad for the environment!
Then there's S.D. alcohol, used as an anti-bacterial agent, denatured by toxic solvents such as acetone, turpentine and benzene which make it poisonous in moderate to large amounts. Ingestion may cause nausea, vomiting, impaired perception, stupor, coma and death.
And that's just for starters...
Menaces Without Names
Oh ... and have you heard about 'inert ingredients'?
Product containers tell you that it contains a certain percentage of inert ingredients. Two popular commercial insect repellent brands have unspecified inert ingredient levels of 68% and 77%.
Citronella, lemongrass oil, and peppermint oil have been known to be effective bug deterrents for many years. Many people also consider pure vanillin to be effective against mosquitoes. But vanilla combined with citronella, lemongrass oil, and peppermint oil -- now there's a smart combination.
Citronella:
Oil of citronella has been used for over 50 years as an insect repellent. It protects you from insects without harming or killing them. Citronella's distinctive odor may make it difficult for pests to locate a host. Oil of citronella has been used extensively since 1948 without reports of adverse side effects or concern.Lemongrass Oil:
Lemongrass oil is an herb widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, long appreciated for its ability to repel insects. It has an amazingly fresh, earthy and lemony scent. The amount of citral, the aldehyde responsible for its lemon scent, determines its quality.If you have sensitivity to lemongrass, please do not use this product.
Peppermint Oil:
Researchers in India -- a nation with a large mosquito problem -- discovered that peppermint oil is effective as more than a flavoring or digestive aid. It also repels adult mosquitoes and kills the larvae. It has been particularly effective against the Anopheles culicifacies mosquito, which is a tyrannical menace in the northern plains of India.Vanillin:
Vanillin (the real deal, not imitation vanilla!) is also considered a substance that keeps bugs at bay, and is included in theBUG OFF formulation.
Naturally-occurring sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are included as natural preservatives to prevent bacterial growth. Sodium benzoate occurs naturally in cranberries, prunes, plums, cinnamon, ripe cloves, and apples. It is this food-form of sodium benzoate
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