Sun and Sunscreen - Both Provide Health Benefits and Health Risks
The sun is bad for you; it can give you cancer.
Sunscreen is good for you; it helps block the sun's damaging rays.
At least that's what you've probably been told all your life.
But it's not as simple as that.
The sun can provide many health benefits and sunscreen can create many health risks.
Sunlight is one of the few natural ways to obtain vitamin D which protects the body from many illnesses including cancer.
Without vitamin D, your body will not absorb calcium - an essential mineral for bone health.
It's the only vitamin the body can make from sunlight.
Although vitamin D can be obtained from eating fatty fish, milk, orange juice and cereals, many people don't consume enough of these foods to get the vitamin D they need.
You only need 5-10 minutes of sunshine to absorb large amounts of vitamin D - 10,000-20,000 IU.
Yes, there are risks in overexposure to sunlight, and you can mitigate these with sunscreen, however, some scientists believe the health benefits from some sun exposure - not all day at the beach - are far larger than the skin cancer risk.
And, if you boost your antioxidants in your diet and supplements, those antioxidants will help protect you from the risks of sunlight overexposure.
No doubt, you need sunscreen when you're going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time, but read the labels and do your research on sunscreen.
Many of the chemicals used in sunscreen may be more dangerous for you than a sun burn.
Some ingredients are actually suspected of increasing the risk of malignant melanoma.
Chemicials such as lauryl sulfate (SLS) or DEA are known to be toxins.
PABA is a carcinogen.
Benzophenone ages skin.
The best way to reap the health benefits without the risks from both the sun and sunscreen is to practice moderation and do your research.
Short stints in the sun with your arms or legs exposed are a good thing.
Choosing sunscreen after researching the ingredients helps you make more informed decisions.
Applying sunscreen when you are going to have longer sun exposure is an excellent habit.
Sunscreen is good for you; it helps block the sun's damaging rays.
At least that's what you've probably been told all your life.
But it's not as simple as that.
The sun can provide many health benefits and sunscreen can create many health risks.
Sunlight is one of the few natural ways to obtain vitamin D which protects the body from many illnesses including cancer.
Without vitamin D, your body will not absorb calcium - an essential mineral for bone health.
It's the only vitamin the body can make from sunlight.
Although vitamin D can be obtained from eating fatty fish, milk, orange juice and cereals, many people don't consume enough of these foods to get the vitamin D they need.
You only need 5-10 minutes of sunshine to absorb large amounts of vitamin D - 10,000-20,000 IU.
Yes, there are risks in overexposure to sunlight, and you can mitigate these with sunscreen, however, some scientists believe the health benefits from some sun exposure - not all day at the beach - are far larger than the skin cancer risk.
And, if you boost your antioxidants in your diet and supplements, those antioxidants will help protect you from the risks of sunlight overexposure.
No doubt, you need sunscreen when you're going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time, but read the labels and do your research on sunscreen.
Many of the chemicals used in sunscreen may be more dangerous for you than a sun burn.
Some ingredients are actually suspected of increasing the risk of malignant melanoma.
Chemicials such as lauryl sulfate (SLS) or DEA are known to be toxins.
PABA is a carcinogen.
Benzophenone ages skin.
The best way to reap the health benefits without the risks from both the sun and sunscreen is to practice moderation and do your research.
Short stints in the sun with your arms or legs exposed are a good thing.
Choosing sunscreen after researching the ingredients helps you make more informed decisions.
Applying sunscreen when you are going to have longer sun exposure is an excellent habit.