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I have often heard the phrase many times in my life, “there is a wrong way to do a right thing”. I am reminded of this saying when I think about sun exposure to the skin. Today the sun has been demonized as the biggest contributor to skin cancer, and commercials have us all in panic not to leave the house until we have slopped on layers of sun block.
I am just not comfortable with this. I have often wondered what is in most sun blocks, and what else could it be doing to my body other than preventing a sun burn, which not always works. Much of this curiosity hit me after I had realized how permeable our skin is. I do understand that too much sun is not good, we do not want the skin to become burned, and if you are planning to be in the sun for long periods of time, it is very wise to use sun protection, but this slop on layers on sun block nonsense every time you leave the house concerns me. The sun is the absolute best way our bodies receive the amount of vitamin D it needs to maintain optimal health. Sun block does more than supposedly prevent sun burn; it also prevents your skin from producing the very important vitamin D, which to me seems like a waste of sun exposure.
There are many great natural skin care products available that contribute many health benefits for the skin and body; however the cheapest and most natural skin care treatment one can receive is from the sun. The right amount of sun exposure is very critical for not just healthier skin, but a healthier immune system as well.
This is an area that just in the past few years many scientists have been exploring more and more rapidly and are amazed how vitamin D affects the body. Some experts suggest that over 50% of children and adults are deficient in vitamin D, which if one is deficient in vitamin D their immune system will not do its job properly.
Vitamin D has just recently been connected with fighting immune system disorders such as Crohn’s disease by helping the body produce over 200 antimicrobial peptides that fight off such infections. Vitamin D also helps prevent and treat many cancers such as lymphoma, lung, prostate, colon and skin cancer. Scientist and Doctors are beginning to discover more and more benefits of vitamin D, and are encouraging more so today than ever before for, not just those who are deficient, but everyone to get vitamin D levels checked between 3-4 times a year.
If you live in an area where you simply cannot receive the right amount of vitamin D from the sun and are deficient you can take vitamin D supplements, but want to be careful you are receiving the right amount. Unlike receiving vitamin D naturally from the sun the body self regulates the amount it needs through the skin, your body does not do this when taking vitamin D orally. Too much vitamin D can be harmful and this is why it is important to have your blood tested. The optimal level of vitamin D should be between 55-65 ng/ml. There are two different test available, 1, 25 (OH) D, and 25(OH) D. The 25 (OH) D which is also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D is most recommended by doctors as the better marker for vitamin D status.
Most important things to consider when wanting to obtain vitamin D naturally from the sun, is common sense, “don’t overdo it”! For the first few times being exposed to the sun limit yourself to about fifteen minutes before protecting your skin from the sun’s rays. You want to gradually build a tolerance. Before you know it, by midsummer you can spend nearly an entire day outside without getting sunburn, and of course if you are going to be exposed to extreme sun conditions for great lengths of time like on a boat, than yes, protect your skin, whether it be wearing sunglasses, a hat and clothes, or using a natural sun screen, that is free from harmful chemicals.
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As you may have noticed by now if following this blog regularly, we are very passionate about natural skin care products and healthier alternatives for a healthier lifestyle. Not only are we passionate about healthier products, but extremely passionate about sharing the truth, and to pass on the knowledge, research and experience we have obtained to as many as possible.
If you are a first time visitor here, you will notice that a lot of research goes into putting together the quality content that is posted on this site on a daily basis. Our goal is to share and to inform of the subtle dangers that are hidden in many of the products our households use and consume on a daily basis, such as what we use to wash our bodies, clean our homes, and feed our families with. It is not only our desire to share what we have learned, but to provide you with dependable resources as well. There is a lot of information available on the web today, many of it is agenda driven, and unfortunately at times misleading information. Where we get our information is just as important as to choosing to live a healthier lifestyle using safer products. This is why I, along with millions of others have signed up for Dr. Mercola’s health newsletter. We feel that it is very important that as we find reputable resources such as Dr. Mercola, to share these valuable resources to as many as we possibly can.
Dr. Mercola’s newsletter has become the worlds most trusted, and largest growing newsletters available. Mercola.com has just recently made the top ten blogs to follow for health consciousness. With over three decades of medical experience Dr. Mercola has dedicated his life to informing the world of alternative health solutions. When you sign up for this FREE newsletter you will be up to date on current health topics typically before they hit main stream media, and equipped with and abundance of nutritional information, that will ultimately help you achieve a healthier lifestyle.
These days we have to be careful about the products we buy and their packaging. For example, it doesn’t make sense for a person to buy a plastic water bottle everyday when they can easily purchase a reusable metal bottle. More and more people are abandoning plastic water bottles in favor of reusable ones. People are also choosing to use reusable cloth bags at the grocery store instead of the once-popular plastic.
Reducing the amount of plastic products we use can decrease the amount of pollution on the Earth as well as the amount of fossil fuels needed to produce plastics. In addition to avoiding plastic water bottles and plastic bags, you may also consider using a shampoo bar instead of a bottle of shampoo. Shampoo bars get your hair just as clean as the alternative, but don’t need bulky plastic packaging.
Beeswax; great for the skin and aromatherapy as well!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
posted by Rob 4:00 AM
Beeswax is an amazing substance created by the honey bee inside the hive. This wax has become very popular in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and natural skin care industry offering outstanding therapeutic and natural moisturizing properties. Beeswax is not only therapeutic for the skin but offers aromatherapy as well. Unlike many commercial candles, beeswax candles are free from synthetic chemicals such as paraffin’s which the EPA has said can release carcinogens like benzene and touluen. The burning of these paraffin candles release toxins that can be just has harmful as to second hand tobacco smoke.
Just as it is important to consider what we are putting on our skin, we should also be aware of the air that we are breathing. Making every effort to live a more chemical free lifestyle is extremely difficult. It is not just the products we put on our bodies, or the food we put in our bodies that we need to be conscious of, but our environment as well. Replacing the candles in your home is just one simple thing to consider for healthier living this New Year.
Beeswax candles when burned emit negative ions into to the air cleaning it of dust, pollen, mold, and other toxins and pollutants. These candles also burn hotter, brighter, cleaner and longer than any other candle, and are drip less and smokeless as well. Be sure when shopping for beeswax candles to only buy 100% beeswax, because if it isn’t, you are most likely getting something else that is mixed with chemicals. Labeling laws allow beeswax to be on the labeling if it has as little as 10% beeswax.
It’s that time of the year again that gym’s across the world see huge increases in memberships, as people vow to a New Year’s resolution for getting themselves in shape. Gym owners say that their packed gyms typically tend to get less crowded a month or two after the New Year. Exercising and eating healthy are great New Year’s resolutions, but they are not the easiest to maintain. Breaking habits and disciplining yourself to do what is not always convenient, and at times painful, is not only difficult, but not much fun; however should still always be given every best effort to maintain for a healthier lifestyle. I wish everyone this year who is vowing to eat healthier and exercise more often, the best of success.
In addition to eating healthy and exercising, I would like to add one more thing that will contribute to a healthier you in 2010 which is much easier than dieting and exercising, and that would be choosing natural skin care products for you and your family. Most people who are very serious about getting in shape and eating healthy will often spend lots of money on gym memberships, diet programs, vitamins, supplements and healthy organic foods, but one very important area that is so often overlooked is skin care. The skin is the gateway to your insides and having healthy skin is very vital to your overall health. Because the skin is permeable it will absorb what is put on it. Instead of buying synthetic soaps, shampoos and conditioners, why not try giving handcrafted soaps, such as goats milk soaps that are chemical free and full of natural ingredients a try.
I encourage you if you haven’t already, to take some time in 2010 to become more informed of what’s in the products you are washing your body and home as well. With the Internet easily accessible to most people it is very easy to do some research finding very reputable websites whose mission and passion are educating the public of the subtle dangers that the advertisements and labels fail to do.
The Pure-N-Simple Soap family is wishing you and your family a very healthy and prosperous 2010.
The skin plays very important roles in keeping our body protected and healthy. It is our body’s first line of defense in protecting it from invading bacteria. This is why it is important know what we put on our skin because of its permeability. This is one major reason why many consumers have been switching over to natural skin care products that are free from harmful chemicals. Just as it is important to put healthy products on your skin, is it just as important, if not more important, to put healthy foods on your plate. There are many foods that are great for the skin that could even prevent skin issues such as acne or even eczema.
Foods that are high in vitamin A, such as low fat dairy products or fruits like mangoes and papayas and vegetable like carrots are all high in vitamin A, which are high anti- oxidants, and help keep your skin looking young and healthy. Another great source of anti-oxidants is from blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and plums. It is important to incorporate Omega 3 into your diet as well, and the best source for this is in fish, Salmon in particular. Omega 3 fights inflammations that age the skin, can reduce acne and dry and flaky skin as well.
One last tip for healthy skin that you will not find in the cosmetic isle is water. Make sure to drink plenty of water, at least 8 glass’s a day. It is important to keep the skin hydrated for it to work properly in eliminating toxins from the body. Live well, shop smart, and be healthy!
It is no mystery that the cosmetic and skin care industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. What is the very first thing you see when you walk into any department store? Right smack in the middle of the front entrance is typically where you will find every skin care brand imaginable, all promising to make you look young and feel great, at very costly prices. The funny thing to me is that one of the very best all-purposed skin care ingredients can be grown right in your own back yard, at a very low cost.
Calendula officinalis has been named by herbalist as the “mother of the skin.” This plant is from the marigold family and can be easily grown throughout North America and Europe. Calendula has a track record for over 1,000 year as having many medicinal properties. When shopping for natural skin care, make sure to look for calendula creams or soaps and salves that have this wonderful herb as an ingredient. Not only does Calendula offer medicinal and culinary properties, but is most recognized for its effectiveness in treating skin problems, such as wounds, burns, insect bites, eczema, shingles and skin ulcers to name a few. This wonderful herb can be taken both internally and externally. Calendula is used in salads, and to spice up meats and salads and can be made in to a tea, and externally Calendula is used in lotions, creams, handmade soaps, and refined oils.
There are many natural skin care products on the market today, but one thing that is just as important as to finding natural products that work for you is water. Yes, water plays a very important role in the overall health of your skin and your body. The skin eliminates toxins from the body, but cannot do this properly when the skin is not hydrated, and the pores are not free from being blocked by dead skin cells, dirt and oil. Also when the body is dehydrated other skin and health issue can occur like severe acne, constant fatigue, muscle soreness, and could even be as severe as to affecting your kidneys.
How does one know if they are dehydrated? Well one way to tell is by the color of your urine. If it is a pale yellow or a clear color you are not dehydrated, but if it is a yellow or gold color and has an unpleasant smell you are most likely dehydrated. Keep in mind that some vitamins like B- complex can make your urine a gold color as well, which is not a sign of dehydration; however we should all drink between 8-10 glasses of water per day. By just breathing our lungs will expel 3-4 cups of water a day. It is good to keep in mind those 8-10 glasses of water are needed, but if you are very active, whether it be exercise, sports, or work; to drink even more than the 8 to 10 glasses. The more the body sweats the more we need to replenish. Are you drinking enough water?
There are several benefits to using natural skin care products. They are easy for people who have sensitive skin and may be allergic to chemicals used in non-organic products. Natural products usually contain certain elements, such as Aloe Vera, that bear healing properties.
More than anything, natural beauty products aren’t too difficult to find nowadays and thanks to the advent of the internet, there is a huge palette to choose from, as well as in varying degrees of prices.
Once you start using organic products, you’ll find that they are safe, healthy and better for your well-being, as opposed to their chemically-dependent unnatural, commercial counterparts.
Nothing like a warm therapeutic bath on a cold wintry day!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
posted by Rob 5:00 AM
I’m not going to lie, I would have never thought in a million years I’d enjoy soaking in the tub with bath salts. I have never been a bath guy, typically a five minute shower and done. Soaking in a tub with herbs or bath salts is something I had never given any thought at all, until I had begun to research natural skin care and the medicinal properties of herbs and plants. Prior to this I had always thought of soaking in a tub, lighting candles and adding bath scents was just a bunch of girly stuff. Well most of it actually is; however soaking in a hot tub with bath salts is like saving many trips to the chiropractor and message therapist.
I spend a lot of time in the outdoors engaging in heavy physical labor, and have taken great notice that the winters are not exactly as friendly as they were when I was a bit younger. After hearing so much talk about Epsom salt and researching the permeability of the skin and how soaking in a hot baths with certain herbs and or bath salts have a big impact on healing the body, I figured, why not , and gave it try.
After working a long day in the bitter cold and every muscle in my body aches, I am not ashamed to admit how much I enjoy soaking in a hot tub filled with homemade bath salts. So ladies, do your husband a favor and stop hogging all the bath salts, and explain to him that bathing in bath salts is not just a women thing, but is extremely therapeutic and very effective. He’ll thank you for it later, trust me!