Sun Safety
The American Medical Association recommends that everyone get ten minutes of direct sun several times a week to produce vitamin D naturally. So it is important to spend time outdoors, but incorporating common-sense protective measures is an important part of a sun-healthy lifestyle.
- Use sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher
- Sunscreens rated higher than 30 block just 1 to 2% more
- Avoid powders, sprays, and products with bug repellent
- Sunscreen loses its effectiveness, so replace it when it has expired
- Put on sunscreen before you go out in the sun, and re-apply often
- Avoid summer sun between 10 am and 2 pm when it is more intense
- Bring your own shade in the form of a shirt, hat, sunglasses, umbrella, or tent
- Examine your skin for changes, lesions, and spots regularly
- Infants under 6 months should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible
- Follow sunscreen warnings for infants under six months
- Cover up your baby’s sensitive skin with protective clothing
- Make use of your child’s stroller hood
- Children are more sensitive to the sun, so use plenty of sunscreen
- Have children play in the shade when possible
- A bad sunburn as a child can double the chances of skin cancer later
- Re-apply often especially when your child is playing in the water
- Artificial tanning beds dramatically increase the risk of melanoma
Sunscreen and Cancer
UVA and UVB are the two main types of UV radiation known to contribute to skin cancer, wrinkling, and skin aging. To get the most protection, you need to filter out a significant proportion of both types of rays by using “broad spectrum” sunscreens.
Heredity plays a major role in skin cancer as entire families can be melanoma-prone. Other major risk factors are fair-skinned individuals, blond or red hair, blue or hazel eyes, people with many moles or any large, atypical moles are also at higher risk.
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the sun causes 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 65 percent of melanomas. Each year, there are an estimated million or more new cases of the nonmelanoma skin cancers basal and squamous cell carcinoma.
- One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime, and more than 11,500 people die from it each year.
- More than one million cases of basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, were diagnosed in 2009.
- An estimated 250,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer, were diagnosed in 2009. Approximately 2,500 Americans die each year from squamous cell carcinoma.
- An estimated 68,720 cases of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, were diagnosed in 2009, resulting in 8650 deaths.
- Exposure to tanning beds before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 75%.
- Young women, under the age of 39, have a higher probability of developing melanoma than any other cancer except breast cancer.
- Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.
- Melanoma can be completely cured when diagnosed early, 99% of melanoma patients survive longer than 5 years.
Sunscreen SPF
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a measurement of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays (radiation that causes sunburn). Here is an example… if you would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, then wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen would theoretically allow you to stay in the sun for ten times that amount (150 minutes) without burning. Your mileage may vary, depending on the type of activity you do, and the intensity of sunlight, and the amount of sunscreen you apply.
The American Cancer Society recommends that people use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. Higher SPFs will give you more protection, but one thing to keep in mind when picking a sunscreen is that SPF 50 does not prevent burns forty percent longer than a SPF 30. In fact SPF 50 blocks only about 1.3% more UVB radiation than SPF 30. Tests have shown that SPF 15 sunscreens filter out 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 protects against 97%, and SPF 50 98%. One other thing to note is that the rating tells you about UVB protection, and not about protection from UVA rays, which are also harmful.
More important than seeking out ultra-high SPF products is that you apply your sunscreen generously – most people put on less than half enough sunscreen to actually reach the product’s SPF rating. With proper usage of an SPF 50 sunscreen you should be able to get more than ten times the solar exposure before burning had you not been wearing sunscreen. Proper usage ensures that you are applying sunscreen 20-30 minutes before solar exposure, applying one ounce for your entire body, and reapplying frequently. Make sure to reapply every two hours, and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
Sunscreen Basics
Active ingredients in sunscreens should absorb, reflect, or scatter ultraviolet (UV) radiation. For years, manufacturers created sunscreens that were only effective at screening out UVB radiation (known to cause sunburn and lead to skin cancer). More recently, manufacturers have worked to create sunscreens that will protect your skin from both UVA and UVB radiation (realizing that UVA radiation is also harmful). All sunscreens provide UVB protection, but only some protect against UVA rays.
The ideal sunscreen should:
- Block both UVA and UVB rays
- Have active ingredients that do not break down in the sun
- Contain active and inactive ingredients proven to be safe
When picking a sunscreen look for:
- Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
- SPF of 30 or higher
- The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation
When picking a sunscreen avoid:
- Oxybenzone
- Sunscreens with fragrance
- Sunscreen sprays, powders, and bug repellants
Sunscreen can only provide partial protection against harmful effects of the sun. Limiting sun exposure and wearing protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, are even more important for protecting your skin from cancer and premature aging. Be extra careful about sun exposure during 10 am and 4 pm when the sun’s rays are most intense. Apply sunscreen generously 30 minutes before going outside and reapply it often – at least every 2 hours.
Sunscreen should not be neglected on overcast days, as 70-80 percent of the sun’s rays go through clouds and fog. In addition, UVR levels rise ten to twenty percent for every 1000 feet of altitude, and reflection from sand, water, snow or concrete magnifies their effects by up to 80 percent.
Nutrition and Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae which is believed to be the first form of plant life on earth, nearly 3.5 billion years old. It is the richest source of vegetable protein. It is rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, vitamin K, biotin, pantothenic acid, and inositol. All this from an alga that measures approximately .0196850394 inches in length. Because of its digestibility and amino acid balance, the usable protein in Spirulina is around 90%. In comparison, an 8 ounce steak is about 22% protein only 15% of which is usable by the body, while Spirulina is 70% protein and 90% digestible. For vegetarians, soybeans in the form of tofu or soy flour are often cited as a high protein source with 37% protein and 25% digestible. That is three times better than steak, but only 1/7th as good as spirulina. In addition, most of spirulina’s proteins are already in the proper form that the body itself creates so there is little energy lost in digestion. Next to water, protein is the most abundant compound in your body, and dietary protein is essential for the maintenance and rebuilding of new cells.
- Many nutrients which protect our bodies are densely concentrated in Spirulina, making it a powerful defense against oxidant stress. This remarkable plant has some of the most powerful protective nutrients of any food to help you stay young.
- Spirulina beta carotene is ten times more concentrated than carrots. So even if you don’t eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables every day, you can get your natural beta carotene insurance from spirulina to support your body’s antioxidant defenses.
- Spirulina is a very good source of zeaxanthin, which is especially good for the eyes.
- Iron is essential to build a strong system (but the most common mineral deficiency). Spirulina is a rich source of iron.
- Spirulina is the world’s richest natural source of protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals. It is the ideal food supplement for weight loss diet.
- It is the world’s richest natural source of Pro-Vitamin A, which helps protect your eyesight.
- Only vegetable source of vitamin B12 to help calm your nerves and fight stress.
- It is the world’s richest natural source of GLA, which reduces cholesterol and benefits the heart.
- Spirulina is the most prolific source of biliproteins (building blocks of the body) known.
- Spirulina gives as much calcium as milk, 15 times more vitamin A than carrots, 3 times the iron of sirloin steak, 2.5 times the vitamin B-12 of calves’ liver, 3.7 times more potassium than rice.
- The 18 amino acids provided by spirulina are in near perfect ratios.
Nutrition and Noni
Noni was revered by Polynesians for nutritional and medicinal uses long before they discovered Hawaii. Experience had taught the Polynesian that very few edible plants grew on previously uninhabited islands, so they brought along a traveling garden. When they set out in voyaging canoes to Hawaii they brought about two dozen varieties of plants, including noni. It was a central part of their traditional medicine and they considered it their most sacred healer for every conceivable imbalance. This plant is a small evergreen found in the open costal regions at sea level, as well as in forested areas up to 1,300 feet, and happily grows along lava flows.
- This fruit is an excellent source of nutrients including Vitamin C, niacin, potassium, Vitamin A, calcium, and sodium.
- Research has identified the presence of 10 essential vitamins, 7 dietary minerals, and 18 amino acids.
- Noni is considered one of the most nutritious fruits, and many of its nutrients are known to stimulate the immune system and fight tumors.
- Noni has been found to be 75% as effective as morphine sulphate in relieving pain without the toxic side effects.
- During WWII, it was used as a survival fruit to give people strength and energy.
- The Noni fruit and its roots contain antibacterial as well as anti-inflammatory qualities that help speed the healing of colds and relieve chronic pain.
- Noni has been found to help prevent and treat macular degeneration.
- It has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of a variety of issues, such as insomnia, stress, and depression.
- Noni has been shown in research to strengthen the immune system, helping your body to fight disease and infection as well as helping damaged cells to regenerate.
- Noni is beneficial in shrinking enlarged prostate glands.
- Its juice has analgesic properties, making it useful as a pain reliever for headaches and other painful conditions.
- Noni contains active compounds that have powerful tumor-fighting properties, and is used as a supplement in the treatment of cancer.
- This fruit is rich in essential fatty acids that are vital for the healthy functioning of the body’s cell membranes, and boost healthy skin and nerve cells.
