How to be Safer in the Sun

Have you seen all the reports that are coming out now about how people who use sunscreen maybe more likely to get skin cancer than those who don't?  And how you are 50% more likely to survive breast cancer if your Vitamin D levels are "normal" than if they are low--and 1/4 of Americans are low?  Have you read about the toxins in our sunscreen that we liberally apply to our largest organ?  Crazy, huh?  What is a fair skinned and fair haired mommy living in Southern California to do?

What I do is very against the norm, but what else is new?  Here is what we do over here:

1.  Take 4-10 mg. of Astaxanthin daily.  This is an incredible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (known for helping to prevent Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, and blindness) that also works as a natural sunscreen when taken regularly for about 6 weeks.

2.  Use hats, rash guards, and umbrellas during peak sun exposure.  The kids usually swim in the afternoon but sometimes we are outside the entire day at the beach, pool or lake.  Those days I use sunscreen all over me, wear a hat, and sit under an umbrella.  I am also the weird one in the wide brim sun hat at Disneyland.  I am now on wrinkle alert as I have just entered my 40's.

The kids wear rash guards, hats (if they will keep them on), and sunscreen on their faces.  Their arms are covered by the rash guards and all my son might need is a little sunscreen on the tops of his feet--his swim trunks are long!  I put sunscreen on my daughter's upper legs and tops of her feet too.

3.  Use safer sunscreen.  The Badger sunscreen I use for the kids is rated a 1 (best safety rating) by the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database rating the sunscreens on the market today.  It would be very educational to see how what you are currently using is rated.  The MyChelle sunscreen I use on my face is not rated by Skin Deep but I am comfortable with the ingredients and I use it very rarely.

4.  Expose skin to the sun in small doses to boost Vitamin D levels.  Studies show that regular exposure to the sun (and resulting higher Vit. D. levels) can reduce blood pressure, decrease your risk of cancer and diabetes, and lower your chances of a heart attack.  I expose my skin 5-10 minutes a day, a few days a week, to get the sun exposure I need to keep my Vitamin D levels where they need to be.  My doctor checks them every year and always asks me what I do because they are right where she wants them--a rarity she says.  I take Vitamin D3 November to May (5,000 IUs a night) and stop taking it when I am getting regular sun exposure again due to sunny skies returning.  This plan works for me, in Southern California, but may need to be adjusted based on your location.


That's all I have!  I hope you are enjoying your summer!  It is such a wonderful, magical time for kids.

Moneysaver:
I buy my sunscreen from iherb or Amazon, depending on who is running the best deal.  I also get all my supplements, toiletries, and some groceries from iherb and they are so much less expensive than anywhere else I've found.  I get an automatic 5% off my order (I am a VIP member b/c I've spent so much money with them) and free shipping (with a $20 order, 1-2 day shipping with a $40 order).  If you use my coupon code, MER003, you get $5 off your first order and I earn a few pennies too:)