Have we Americans got it backwards? Is it possible that natural sunlight is good for us and that chemical sunscreens and avoidance of the sun are bad for us? You decide.
The energy of plants and all life depends on the absorption of sunlight. Jacob Liberman, in his book, Light—Medicine of the Future, states that not only is the sun good for you, it is downright therapeutic. He further points out that it is the chemical sunscreens, fluorescent lighting, and indoor lifestyle that could be detrimental to our health.
According to Dr. Liberman, ultraviolet or UV light lowers blood pressure, activates the synthesis of vitamin D, which is needed for the absorption of many minerals from the diet, increases the efficiency of the heart, reduces cholesterol, assists in weight loss, is an effective treatment for psoriasis, increases the level of sex hormones, and makes an important skin hormone active. Light is a nutrient, he says.
The real cause of skin cancer – We were wrong all along?
Regarding the effects of UV light and skin cancer he writes: “One of the major researchers, Dr. Helen Shaw, found that the people who had the lowest risk of developing skin cancer were those whose main outdoor activity was sunbathing! Twice the risk of developing melanomas was found in office workers who had to work indoors all day under fluorescent lights. Additional research by Dr. Shaw has shown that fluorescent office lights can cause mutations in cultures of animal cells. Dr. Shaw concludes that ‘in both Australia and Great Britain, melanoma rates were high among professional and office workers, and lower in people working outdoors.” [Jacob Liberman, Light—Medicine of the Future, Santa Fe, NM: Bear & Company Publishing, Inc., 1991, p. 151.]
A mood brightener – Let the Light in!
I think being out in the sun for part of each day is a great, healthful thing, especially if you’re walking, skating, swimming, or doing some other wonderful, invigorating exercise. I agree completely with Dr. Liberman and Thomas Jefferson; the sun is a great healer and a source of nutrients that we desperately need. What makes you feel better than being outside on a sunny day? If you are concerned about your face, wear a wide-brimmed hat and avoid that part of the day when the sun’s rays are their strongest.
I used to have a little, dingy, dark office. Now I have more than twenty square feet of window. It has enhanced my quality of life immensely. As I write, I am sitting in front of ten feet of southern-exposure sunlight, which is the most direct kind in Colorado, being in the Northern Hemisphere. Speaking of sunny Colorado, people here seem to be happier than my friends in cloudier climates. If we don’t
see the sun for three days in a row, people get irritable and crabby. I know I do. When you think about it, and let yourself answer truthfully, I daresay you intuitively know the sun is good for you. Give yourself permission, for health’s sake, to bask in the sun’s radiance.
Skin damage
I have seen a few people with severely sun-damaged skin, but they really overdid it every day, every summer for years. Too much sun can have a negative effect like too much oxygen, too much vitamin A, or too much horsetail tea. Or too much sunscreen.
It’s a fact that many of the sunscreens on the market contain chemicals that can be toxic. To sell their sunscreens, companies must give you a good reason to buy it. But I think that instinctively we know what is right for us. I think we get so caught up in the fear-induced advertising and shallow reporting that bombards us constantly that we lose trust in our inherent wisdom.
Instead of using sunscreen, you can avoid sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. when the UVB rays are the strongest. If needed, use natural plant oil sunscreens such as sesame and avocado oil, and herbs such as yarrow, lily, and rosemary. Drink lots of water to hydrate your skin. Natural sunscreens such as sesame oil and vitamin E blend can be applied directly to your skin. You can also apply a topical ascorbyl palmitate, which is vitamin C that is fat-soluble and has recently been found to be successful; however, it is synthetic.
CLICK HERE to learn about our Nourishing Line, that was developed for dry and sun-damaged skin.
Homemade sunscreen
For a light, natural sunscreen, try mixing equal parts of olive oil and vinegar and apply to your skin.
Detoxing your body and being in general good health is also essential to combating any negativity in ultraviolet light. Widely discussed recently is the discovery that taking antioxidants internally, vitamins A, C, and E, combats the sun’s negative effects. The theory is that plants have to produce the same substances to protect themselves from the sun. I think these ingredients have a great future in the sunscreen business.
Be careful that the sunscreens you are applying to your skin are not more harmful than the rays of the sun. We do not at this time make a sunscreen, because the only natural SPF sunscreen is PABA and it makes about 20% of the population’s skin break out.
Your skin was originally designed to deal with the effects of the sun, so what you want to do is reinforce the natural defense system your body already has. People at high altitudes do need to be careful. For every 1,000 feet above sea level, the intensity of the UV radiation increases by about 4%. Vail, Colorado, for example, is at 9,000 feet, making the sun about 36% stronger there.
OTHER HOMEMADE SUNSCREEN RECIPES HERE
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