Worryingly, a lot has been written about the harmful effects of sun protection products, including their contribution to a variety of cancers (which, ironically, people think they’re being protected against).
In the past, when I’ve looked at the ingredients on these product bottles, all I see is a long list of ‘unpronounceable’ words that quite frankly, belong in the world of science laboratories.
Surely, any product laced with a cocktail of chemicals can’t be a good thing! Our acceptance of chemicals in all aspects of life is at the root of a lot of today’s health problems.
We are intoxicated.
Granted, we probably can’t avoid chemicals completely, but we can certainly reduce exposure by being more choosy about the products we buy and foods we consume – as a starting point.
Is there any natural, organic form of sun protection?
Much has been written about foods that increase the body’s natural protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays and ageing effects. I won’t repeat it all, but essentially, a wide range of fruit and vegetables seem to keep getting a mention, especially red fruit/veg, along with green tea.
Broccoli, cauliflower and dark leafy green veg also showcase frequently on this subject.
Good old coconut oil, shea butter, zinc oxide and carrot oil also frequently mention; coconut oil is one of the most widely used sun protection products by natives of tropical countries.
I’m a huge fan of coconut oil and shea butter anyway, so very happy to hear yet another thing they are helpful for – both contain natural SPF protection and shea butter acts as a natural sunscreen.
Dark chocolate also gets a mention!
Light clothing that covers exposed skin is another helpful tip, particularly if your skin is sensitive to heat and burns easily.
Water is also key – especially after exposure to the sun to prevent dehydration.
Stay in the shade  – no brainer.
Flipping the whole concept on ‘sun protection’ on its head slightly, the sun itself is also a form of skin protection: The Sun Protects You! The sun is also known to help with skin conditions like psoriasis.
Yes, use protection, but be sure your protection isn’t doing more harm than good.
Isn’t it time we stopped being so complacent about chemically laden consumer products, not just sun protection, but everything from cosmetics, food, drinks, toiletries, cleaning products, the its goes on…..shouldn’t we strive to become more informed about what we are consuming and use that knowledge to change our choices, for our own wellbeing?Â
Interesting reading:
http://beautyeditor.ca/2016/06/18/chemical-free-sunscreen
http://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/our-campaigns/ditchthejunk/
Knowledge is also a great source of protection. What you don’t know, can certainly hurt you.
This is one of many books that really encouraged me to question the reasons behind soo many common illnesses and the addictive nature of western society’s obsession with purchasing products that promise to work their magic in all aspects of our lives – coincidently, working to a capitalist advantage rather than consumer.
Interesting!!
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The Snow Melts Somewhere
Interesting post! I’ll be looking up that book, too!