SUMMER SKIN PROTECTION ?
For years we have been told to use sunscreen to protect our skin from damage that can lead to skin cancer. But is it all hype? Sunscreens are designed to block UV rays from penetrating the skin. These are the rays that cause sunburn. However, these rays also trigger our bodies to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D production is essential to maintain the health of our heart, and protect us from other health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, MS, autism, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, joint and muscle pain, frequent infections, colds, flu, and yes, many types of cancer.
Here are some interesting statistics: Malignant melanoma (skin cancer) is only responsible for 10,000 fatalities per year in the United States. Lung cancer causes about 150,000 deaths and breast cancer 40,000 deaths per year.
William Grant, a prominent vitamin D researcher, estimates that vitamin D deficiency causes 100,000 people to develop cancer each year who wouldn’t have if they had adequate levels to provide protection. Moderate levels of vitamin D could prevent 28,000 deaths of colon cancer per year. (10 minutes per day of direct sunlight is sufficient for most adults.)
So, do the benefits of sunscreen use out weigh the risks? Recent studies of sunscreen’s effectiveness against melanoma risk were inconclusive showing even numbers of results for and against. Some studies showed relative to latitude, an increased risk of skin cancer due to an increase of free radicals that develop with the chemical exposure of sunscreen.
What are some healthy alternatives?
Keep your skin covered with clothing or protective shade.
Use antioxidants and polyphenol plant extracts to protect skin topically during exposure. Your local health food store will have a natural product or contact our office for ideas in making your own.
This year of 2007 has been a very interesting weather year. We are about one month ahead of the normal weather pattern. The snow pack melted a month ahead of normal, the heat of July was here in June, and the fire tankers have been flying overhead sooner than normal.With all this heat it is very important to make sure you are drinking enough water. I recommend you drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. That means if you weigh 160 lbs. you would drink 80 ounces per day. Remember you are sweating much more and loosing much more fluid than you do in the colder months.You are also losing more minerals in your sweat. With the loss of minerals, heat stroke is much more likely. We gain our minerals from fruit and vegetables, mostly from green leafy vegetables, so eat lots of salads. Another source of minerals is from one of our suppliers called BioNativus. They harvest wonderful minerals from the Great Salt Lake. This awesome body of water holds many keys to health. The Great Salt Lake receives its water from 35,000 square miles of the most mineral rich dense land in the world. All 72 minerals and noble gasses are found in this water. What’s interesting is that these minerals are highly electrically charged due to being hit by lightening from the electrical storms of the summer. This charge helps with the absorption of the minerals into your cells.Don’t dry up and blow away this summer!! Stay well hydrated and add minerals to your water. Stop by the office and pick up a bottle of minerals to add to your water. The minerals come in a straight liquid, or they can be added to the water with a tasty concentrate. If you have any questions, call the office and one of the staff can answer any questions you might have. To your Health!!Doctor Giles
Contact Dr Giles Directly!
Phone: 801-298-4646
Email: FamilyWellnessInfo@yahoo.com
Address: 565 West 2600 South, Bountiful UT 84010