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Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s thyroiditits is a fancy name for an autoimmune disease that primarily attacks your thyroid. But while it is attacking your thyroid as if it was a foreign object in your body, it also causes a multitude of symptoms as in the following:
- Extreme fatigue
- Weight gain
- Hair Loss
- Dry skin
- Sensitivity to heat or cold
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Aches and pains
Just to name a few.
When people ask me what having Hashimoto’s is like I tell them it is like having strep throat. It sucks!
What causes Hashimoto’s thyroiditis? No one knows for sure but fingers point at a toxic environment, genetics, viruses, or the cheap and chemical laden food we have been consuming for years.
My symptoms came on gradually. I became more tired year after year. I would describe it as being tired to the bone. My hair was falling out and it became harder to keep weight off. I went to my doctor for blood tests (all came out normal), and I exercised more, but I continued to become more ill.
As the years went on, a blood test finally presented a high TSH level. TSH means thyroid-stimulating hormone. Higher the level the more hypothyroid you are. You want to be between 0.1-3.5 (I was 45 when diagnosed) however that can differ from doctor to doctor.
A conventional doctor will not prescribe a hormone replacement drug like Synthroid until your TSH is high. Otherwise, they believe they will exacerbate the disease.
The dangers of too much hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is that it will cause heart damage. That’s the last thing a doctor wants to cause, therefore, they dispense HRT with trepidation and extreme caution.
Patients are desperate for relief from their symptoms and beg their doctors to do something. They are convinced if they either take a HRT or UP their current dosage, they will be well again. Sadly, this is not the case and many people do not feel any difference in their symptoms even with drug therapy. It is a mistake to count on your HRT as the miracle cure, because there is no miracle cure.
How to reduce your symptoms with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
- Take your thyroid prescription as prescribed and be tested every three months to make your levels are optimal.
- Eliminate gluten, sugar, dairy, soy, and fluoride from your diet.
- Take 5k of D3 per day. Make sure it is not a gel cap that has soy as a filler.
- Take selenium per day.
- Do mild exercise like yoga, tai chi, walking.
- Eat a lot of organic veggies and fruit per day.
- Get into juicing veggies and fruit to up your intake.
- Use coconut oil to moisturize your skin. Think of your skin as a giant sponge that soaks up anything you put on it so watch the scary chemicals.
- Get your hormones tested to see if you are imbalanced in female or male hormones.
- Write down everyday in a journal what you ate, exercised or did during the day and how you feel.
- Good grief….don’t smoke or drink alcohol.
- Get enough good quality sleep. Prepare for sleep at night. Have a routine where you wind-down for the night. Take a shower, read a little, or meditate just before bed. Keep your sheets fresh and your bedroom decluttered.
As you make these changes do not expect immediate results. It will take months of gradual improvements. You are master of your body and it is YOU who is in charge of getting yourself back to optimal health. It took me years to figure this out and I am back to feeling like my old self. You can feel good again, too.
Thank you for reading.
Terry Ryan, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patient
Here is suggested reading.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis by Terry Ryan
Why Do I Still Have Hashimoto’s Symptoms When My Labs Are Normal by Dr. Datis Kharrazian
What is in Your Protein Shake
[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Website’ type=’url’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form] I don’t know about you but when I started looking for a protein powder there were so many on the shelves of the health food store, I had no idea which one to chose. After a little research on the Internet, I learned the difference. Keep on reading and maybe this will help you chose the right protein powder for you.
What Are Protein Powders?
Protein powders provide a good source of protein for the athlete, a growing teenager whose eating habits are less than perfect, you want to amp up your workout and build muscle, or if you are a vegetarian and worry you are not getting enough protein. But please know that most everyone can get a good quality protein from eating lean meats, fish, and dairy products. Not everyone needs to drink a protein shake.
If fact, doctor’s and nutritionists warn against consuming too much protein which can create havoc in your body. Your body will leach calcium out of your bones so your system will become alkaline. Too much protein creates a highly acidic environment in your body. Acid=bad, alkaline=good.
The average person does not need to supplement with protein powders, and they can be very expensive. So, if that bodybuilder at the gym is slurping down a 16 ounce protein shake, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to, too.
Another good source of protein is plant protein considered more beneficial for the body over animal protein.
1. Vegetables – the proper foundation for all diets.
• 1 avocado – 10 grams
• 1 cup broccoli – 5 grams
• 1 cup spinach – 5 grams
• 2 cups cooked kale – 5 grams
• 1 cup boiled peas – 9 grams
• 1 cup cooked sweet potato – 5 grams
2. Legumes, also vegetables, get their own mention. Specifically lentils and beans, the foundation of many diets for centuries.
• 1 cup soybeans – 28 grams (1 cup tempeh – 30 grams)
• 1 cup lentils – 18 grams
• 1 cup refried beans – 15.5 grams
• 1 cup garbanzo beans (and hummus) – 14.5 grams
• 1 cup pinto, kidney, black beans – 13-15 grams
• 1 oz peanuts – 6.5 grams
3. Nuts and seeds – a staple in most vegetarian and vegan diets.
• 1 oz. cashews – 4.4 grams
• 1 oz. sesame seeds 6.5 grams, 3 tablespoons of tahini – 8 grams
• 1/4 cup (2 oz.) walnuts – 5 grams
• 1 oz. pistachios – 5.8 grams
• 2 tbsp almonds – 4 grams
• Nut butters – peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter – 2 tablespoons has about 8 grams of protein
4. Non-dairy milk
Soy, almond, 1 cup gets you 7-9 grams of protein.
5. Grains – Ancient grains, sprouted grains, multi-grains – a major part of the diet.
• Quinoa is versatile and delicious. 1 cup – 9 grams.
• Amaranth, bulgur, brown rice, wheat germ, oat bran are other grains with a high protein content.
• Oatmeal – 1 cup = 6 grams.
• Sprouted grain bread products – buns, tortillas, bread. Pack a sandwich or a wrap and you’ll get 7-10 grams from the bread alone.
6. Supplements
Spirulina and chlorella are used often by vegetarians and vegans for their rich nutrient content, and protein content.
Hemp – 30 grams of hemp powder in your smoothie gives you 11 grams of protein.
Terry Ryan
Terry Ryan, Health Blogger
How Celebrities Stay Thin
The Olsen Twins
Did you really think they were born that way? Come on now. It doesn’t come easy for them. Reese, Gwenneth, they work on staying thin everyday. In fact, it is a main focus of their lives. Why? Because they want THIN so much. Their careers depend on staying thin. Talk about motivation!
“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”-Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Not only do they need to stay skinny-minni for their movie careers, they also don’t want to be viewed as the heavy actor in Hollywood amongst a sea of thin people. Fat is NOT where it’s at on the silver screen.
A life being worried about every calorie you consume sometimes leads to eating disorders. Everyone knows that the Olsen twins have battled anorexia nervosa for years, and Mary Kate was admitted to an eating disorder rehab facility as she was starving herself to death.
Demi Lavato has openly admitted to seeking treatment for bulimia. Amanda Byrnes has always felt the pressure to stay thin for Hollywood and struggles daily saying she has an eating disorder. Lady Gaga told Maria Shriver in an interview that she has used bulemia as a way to stay thin.
Lady Gaga
In Victoria Beckham’s book Learning to Fly, she said that her management pressured the Spice Girls to be super thin leading Victoria to an eating disorder. I wouldn’t be surprised if she still was battling with food issues looking at this stick-thin woman.
Stacy London, while telling woman What Not To Wear, has suffered with bulimia and anorexia nervosa to stay ultra skinny.
Teri Hatcher
I read an interview with Teri Hatcher who was agonizing with a decision to eat a 60 calorie fudgesicle. Who would be surprised to learn that she suffers with anorexa nervosa?
Lindsay Lohan told a Vanity Fair magazine interviewer that she makes herself sick to stay thin (bulemia?).
Kelly Clarkson said in high school she was bulimic, and now that she is having a hard time losing the baby weight and getting so much SHAMMING from the press, will she fall back on her old bad habits?
Katie Couric admits that she was bulimic in college and for a couple of years after that.
Jennifer Lopez – What She Eats
Hydration
Water throughout the day
Breakfast
BodyLab TastyShake Berry Berry Good smoothie
1 scoop of BodyLab TastyShake
3/4 cup strawberries
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup raspberries
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup ice cubes
Lunch
Kale salad with queso
1 bunch of kale, large stems removed and leaves finely chopped
2 tbsp. toasted pumpkin seeds
2/3 oz. crumbled queso
2/3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 of a large shallot, minced, sea salt to taste
Snack
A medium-size apple
Dinner
1 boneless, skinless grilled chicken breast with:
1/2 cup sautéed brussels sprouts
1/2 cup baked yams with sea salt
Dessert
Chocolate chip cookie
Total Calories
1392
Katherine McPhee almost destroyed her vocal cords by regurgitating her food (bulimia).
Jamie-Lynn Sigler said she had exercise bulimia.
Candance Cameron Bure wrote in her book Reshaping it that she battled for years with bingeing and purging after Full House ended.
Kate Beckingsale opened up about her anorexic past and once got down to 70 pounds. It took multiple daily therapies with a eating disorder specialist to fight her disorder.
Ashlee Simpson says she battled with anorexia after taking ballet and being around and learning from other anorexia sufferers.
Portia DeRossi opened up about her bingeing, purging and anorexia in her memoir Unbearable Lightness.
Other Hollywood stars say that they control their calories by eating the same thing everyday. I saw an interview with Reese Witherspoon who said she eats a 1/2 bagel with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter for breakfast, a small salad with no dressing for lunch, and maybe grilled chicken and salad for dinner…everyday…unless she goes out to eat and she may splurge on the calories.
Brooke Burke
When Brooke Burke was co-hosting the show Dancing With The Stars, she said in an interview that she also ate the same thing everyday which included a small breakfast of fruit, a giant salad with salmon for lunch and a smaller salad for dinner. For snacks she ate something like 5 walnuts…it was very little. In fact if both Reese and Brooke ate more than 1100 calories per day, I would be surprised.
Plus they all may get a little help from their doctors in the form of diet pills. Phentermine has been a favorite appetite suppressant used for years.
And if there is a movie role coming up that an actor has to lose weight for, they will go on liquid fasts or all soup diet losing sometimes a staggering 20 pounds in two weeks.
I have listened to male actors who had to lose a lot of weight for a movie role, and they admit to hours of exercise and eating maybe 600 calories per day. It’s also called starvation dieting. Yikes!
Celebrities don’t just diet, they also exercise at least 5 times a week and not just for 30 minutes. They will spend 4 hours getting their “burn” on.
I was amazed to hear Kendra Wilkinson, who recently had a baby and is going through a messy and painful divorce, that she is getting through by concentrating on her dieting. What?! She is getting through this difficult time by putting her diet first? See how the celebs keep their diet a number one priority.
• Up to 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S.A.
All this eating disorders isn’t just happening to the Hollywood stars, but is also happening to some of your friends. I remember female friends in high school who could throw-up at a drop of a dime. I use to think they had really sensitive stomachs, and I observed the same thing in college. Pukers! Pig out and barf! The skinny girls were darn good pukers. Now I know, this was just bulimia.
These same women, if they have not been able to control their eating disorders by now, have badly eroded teeth. Most have had to had their teeth capped from all the stomach acid eating away at their enamel.
Other detrimental effects to the health of people that have eating disorders:
- Heart problems
- Osteoporosis
- Liver complications
- Depression
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Suicide
Eating Disorders Statistics
(Source: http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/)
General:
• Almost 50% of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for depression.
• Only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Only 35% of people that receive treatment for eating disorders get treatment at a specialized facility for eating disorders.
• Up to 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S.A.
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Students:
• 91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting. 22% dieted “often” or “always.”
• 86% report onset of eating disorder by age 20; 43% report onset between ages of 16 and 20.6
• Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents.
• 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.
• 25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weight-management technique.
• The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death for females 15-24 years old.
• Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives.
• In a survey of 185 female students on a college campus, 58% felt pressure to be a certain weight, and of the 83% that dieted for weight loss, 44% were of normal weight.
Men:
• An estimated 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male.
• Men are less likely to seek treatment for eating disorders because of the perception that they are “woman’s diseases.”
• Among gay men, nearly 14% appeared to suffer from bulimia and over 20% appeared to be anorexic.
Media, Perception, Dieting:
• 95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight within 5 years.
• 35% of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders.
• The body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females.
• 47% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures.
• 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape.
• 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991).
• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991).
For Women:
• Women are much more likely than men to develop an eating disorder. Only an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male.
• An estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of women suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime. Research suggests that about 1 percent of female adolescents have anorexia.
• An estimated 1.1 to 4.2 percent of women have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime.
• An estimated 2 to 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period.
• About 50 percent of people who have had anorexia develop bulimia or bulimic patterns.
• 20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems.
Mortality Rates:
Although eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, the mortality rates reported on those who suffer from eating disorders can vary considerably between studies and sources. Part of the reason why there is a large variance in the reported number of deaths caused by eating disorders is because those who suffer from an eating disorder may ultimately die of heart failure, organ failure, malnutrition or suicide. Often, the medical complications of death are reported instead of the eating disorder that compromised a person’s health.
According to a study done by colleagues at the American Journal of Psychiatry (2009), crude mortality rates were:
• 4% for anorexia nervosa
• 3.9% for bulimia nervosa
• 5.2% for eating disorder not otherwise specified
It Not Just Celebrities That Have to Stay Thin
Other professions like jockeys have to keep their weight down. In Laura Hillenbrand’s great book Seabiscuit she goes into detail about the methods jockeys use to maintain their weight as in calorie restricting, not drinking water, and purging.
I got together with a couple of friends last summer who I haven’t seen for a long time. One of my friends whispered in my ear that our other friend was too skinny. I looked over and did see that she has a very svelte figure. I was instantly envious. She was probably looking at me thinking, wow, Terry put on some pounds! When I got close enough to say hello, I saw my ultra-thin friend had teeth that showed definite erosion, possibly from purging. I, embarrassed that I probably knew her secret for keeping uber thin, looked away.
Too thin!
So, let’s all agree that there is nothing wrong with having a size 8, 10, 12 pants. That maintaining a size zero takes too much effort and well, it may not be healthy. Let’s eat mostly veggies and fruit, stay away from the bread and pasta, skip sugar unless it’s your birthday, and drink plenty of water. If you are eating correctly your body will know what size it wants to be. Embrace your curves if that is what God gave you and enjoy life.
Next time you see a skinny celebrity don’t envy them, feel sorry for them.
If you would like a Free Download of the Military Diet Plan (How to lose up to 7 pounds in 3 days without starving yourself), please fill out the form below.
Thank you for reading.
Terry Ryan, Health Blogger and Internet Marketer
Inexpensive DIY Beauty Products
Instead of buying EXPENSIVE beauty products at the drugstore, here is a list of DIY beauty products that are better for you (less harmful ingredients) and cheaper (WAY CHEAPER) products:
- Dandruff Shampoo
Crush two generic aspirins in your shampoo. Wash you hair as you normally do.
- Silky legs
Mix sea salt with olive oil (I put my Himalayan pink sea salt into a herb grinder to make it finer consistency.) and rub over legs. Rinse and followup with Organic Coconut Oil as a moisturizer.
- Glowing face
Use baking soda and water for a easy and face brightening scrub.
- Chapped lips
Mix coconut oil and sugar and apply on lips. Massage in and wash off for softer lips.
- Whiter teeth
Apply activated charcoal on teeth. Brush for 5 mins. (set your timer) and rinse. Your teeth will be two shades lighter.
- Hair masks
Mix one avocado, coconut oil, and yogurt to hair. Cover with a plastic shower cap (I use disposable ones) and leave on when you take your shower. Rinse off at the end. Wow! Works wonders for soft and shiny hair.
- DIY Shampoo (check out my blog on the no-poo shampoo here)
Mix a couple of tablespoons of baking soda with water and use as a shampoo. No suds but all the bad stuff (chems) is what causes the suds, and then follow up with a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in warm water as your rinse. Don’t worry about the smell, it leaves when your hair dries. Removes all the built-up products in your hair and leaves it super clean and shiny.
- Face mask
Mix one tablespoon of honey (I use local organic Florida honey.) with one egg yolk. I apply to my face and leave on for 10 mins. Wash and go.Great moisturizer.
- Toothpaste
Fluoride has been linked to thyroid disease so I have eliminated that ingredient from my toothpaste. I use this toothpaste and when I want to really whiten up my teeth I mix a dab of the toothpaste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide just enough to make a think consistency about a dab will do ya…and brush my teeth. Great for the gums, too.
- Face toner
Witch Hazel is inexpensive and a wonderful toner to use on your skin. No need to pay over $20.00 for toner. Witch Hazel is easy going on your skin and great for dry, oily or combination skin.
- Mouth wash
Use aloe vera juice as a natural mouth wash, moisturizer and face cleanser. A entire bottle costs around $5.75
- Eye makeup remover
Olive oil is a great makeup remover and it moisturizes as it cleans.
- Moisturizer
Shea butter is a white, fat extract from the nut of the African shea tree, and is used as a moisturizer. You can order shea butter here.
- DIY Lip gloss
Here is a healthy and preservative-free lip balm recipe.
Beeswax – You can buy online here CLICK HERE.
Coconut Oil (you can find at any grocery store)
Vitamin E Oil
Peppermint Oil (or any scented essential oil)
Lipstick or Crayons for color
Plastic pots (I purchased at Michael or you can order here. POTS)
Take 1 Tbsp of bees wax and 2 Tbsp of Coconut oil (can use shea butter instead) and put in a microwavable mixing cup. Microwave on low until just melted and stir together. Add 5 drops of Vitamin E oil, 1 small piece of red crayon or any color from an old lipstick (you can leave this part out if you just want clear.), 5 Drops of essential oil (I like peppermint but feel free to use any kind you like.) Pour into plastic pot. Put into refrigerator until hard. Now ready to use.
- 2 tbsp of cornstarch or where to buy
- Start with 1½ tsp cinnamon, nutmeg or cocoa powder, add more as necessary
- 5 drops of an essential oil for your skin type or a carrier oil like jojoba or sweet almond, more if you want pressed powder (where to buy high quality essential oils)
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined.
- Add more tint (cinnamon, nutmeg or cocoa powder) until you reach your desired color.
DIY Blush
Recipe:
-1/4 to ½ TSP of Bees wax (The more wax you add, the more solid the cream blush will be.)
-1/2 to 1 TSP of Jojoba oil
-1/4 to 1 TSP of Eye Shadow or Pigment (The more you add, the more pigmented the blush will be.) Heat bees wax until melted. Mix in jojoba oil and pigment.
-Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes or until the cream blush becomes solid and ready to use
You can use this container here to pour mixture into.
Makes TWO average size cream blushes
Cost $2-5 for TWO average size cream blushes that is dependent on quality of eye shadow/pigment.
Here are two great books on DIY products.
Download the Free PDF 10 Amazing Health
Benefits of Coconut Oil.
How to Make Your Own Suncreen!
(This blog was revised on 6/14/16)
Be smart and stay away from TOXIC sunscreen
My hubby takes this supplement for sun protection
Scared to put that nasty, chemical sunscreen on your body, or even worse, your children’s skin? There is good reason. It’s is full of disgusting chemicals. If you read the label you will see scary ingredients like:
- Cinnamates
- OMC (Octyl Methoxycinnamate)
- Ethylhexyl p-Methoxycinnamate
- Salicylates
- OCS (Octyl Salicytate)
- Homomenthyl Salicylate
- Triethanolamine
- PABA (Para Aminobenzoic Acid)
- Padimate O
- Padimate A
- Glyceryl Aminobenzoate
- Octyl Dimethyl Paba
- Octocrylene
- Zinc Oxide
- Titanium Oxide
The ingredients that are used to absorb UVA radiation include:
- Benzoophenones
- Oxybenzone
- Dioxybenzone
- Avobenzone
Bleak! Just what you don’t want circulating in your blood. Your skin is your largest organ and acts like a sponge. Anything you put on your skin is going right into your body. If you don’t want to put it in your mouth, or eat it, then you don’t want to put it on your skin. Period!
Below here is a recipe for making your own sunscreen. (Another simpler way is to take the powdered zinc and pour it into your favorite lotion.)
(If you want me to send you the above recipe as a PDF, just email me at admin@slimhealthysexy.com)
Here are some more ideas to protect your skin from the sun and acts as a natural sunscreen:
An umbrella! People have used one for years as a great way to protect their skin. I see in a lot of old, turn of the century photos where woman and men are holding umbrellas over their head on an obviously bright, sunny day. Why has this perfectly wonderful natural sunscreen fallen out of favor?
Well, I’m here to bring it back. Here are a few examples of great sun-blocking umbrellas:
Hats…good thing to use!
Here is a recipe for making your own sunscreen. (Another simpler way is to take the powdered zinc and pour it into your favorite lotion.)
Natural Homemade Sunscreen
Author: Wellness Mama
Ingredients
½ cup almond or olive oil
¼ cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)
¼ cup beeswax
2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide Be careful not to inhale the powder
Optional: up to 1 teaspoon Red Raspberry Seed Oil (natural SPF)
Optional: up to 1 teaspoon Carrot Seed Oil (natural SPF)
Optional: up to 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter (natural SPF 4-5)
Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference
Instructions
1. Combine ingredients except zinc oxide in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, olives, or other foods.
2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
3. Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.
4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, add the zinc oxide, stir in well and pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Small mason jars (pint size) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!
5. Stir a few times as it cools to make sure zinc oxide is incorporated.
6. Use as you would regular sunscreen. Best if used within six months.
Or…simply put powdered zinc oxide into your favorite lotion.
What foods should you eat that provides natural sun protection?
Foods to Avoid
- processed foods
- vegetable oils (this is the most important for sun exposure)
- grains
- sugars
Foods to Eat
- lots of healthy saturated fats
- lots of foods rich in omega-3s (fish, etc)
- lots of leafy greens
- 2+ tablespoons of tomato paste daily
Supplements
You can also start taking a specific regimen of supplements that help reduce inflammation and improve sun tolerance. The supplements to take are:
- Vitamin D3 (I take about 5,000 IU/day)- Emerging evidence shows that optimizing blood levels of Vitamin D can have a protective effect against sunburn and skin cancer
- Vitamin C (I take about 2,000 mg/day)- A potent antiinflammatory, and it is good for the immune system too.
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted in a cup of herbal tea per day- the Medium Chain Fatty Acids and saturated fat are easily utilized by the body for new skin formation and are protective against burning
- Fermented Cod Liver Oil/High Vitamin Butter Oil Blend (also great for remineralizing teeth)-Probably the most important supplement for sun protection. I take double doses during the summer and the kids take it too. Since adding this and the coconut oil daily, non
Wahhh my mommy just put sunscreen on me!
e of us have burned. It’s also great for digestive and oral health. (Amazon finally has the capsules back in stock)
- Astaxanthin– A highly potent antioxidant which research shows acts as an internal sunscreen. It’s also supposedly an anti-aging supplement. I wouldn’t give this one to the kids though.
(Good article: http://wellnessmama.com/4621/eat-your-sunscreen/)
Did you know pets can get melanoma? Here is a picture of my mother’s cat, Hanzie. (He passed away yesterday.)
The North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, considers sunscreen a toxic substance and, therefore, forbids students from bringing sunscreen to school or on field trips unless a doctor’s note is provided.
What is commercial sunscreen doing to the reefs?
Sunscreen is destroying the ocean reefs. A beach in Hawaii has banned sunscreen.
NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science researchers and their partners have discovered that a sunscreen chemical commonly used in many soaps, cosmetics, and body fragrances is highly toxic to corals. The team’s data show that even very low concentrations of benzophenone-2, or BP-2, can quickly kill juvenile corals. BP-2 is an additive used in personal-care products since the 1960s to protect against the damaging effects of ultraviolet light.
Has the use of sunscreen decreased skin cancer?
Contrary to popular belief, using sunscreen will increase your risk of melanoma. Sunscreen ingredients inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Sunscreens prevent UV-induced redness, which occurs in part through the action of nitric oxide (NO), synthesized in the skin. But NO is an important immunoregulatory molecule, and it is crucial in the induction of the cell-mediated tumor immune response.
According to an article in Melanoma Research:
“These findings suggest that sunscreens may prevent redness partly by UV absorption and partly by inhibition of the skin’s inflammatory response. As such, sunscreens might promote instead of protect against melanoma.”
Nitric oxide also acts to help lower your blood pressure — another reasons to avoid sunscreens that destroy the chemical in your body.
Sources:
Melanoma Research February 2005; 15(1): 3-6
Nitric Oxide February 15, 2010; 22(2): 136-140
Certain sunscreens in water under ultraviolet light can increase the production of hydrogen peroxide, which damages phytoplankton. Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, an ingredient in some sunscreens, can accumulate in coastal waters and be ingested by marine animals.
And of course, as part of the natural sunscreen protection, children and adults should wear long sleeves shirts and shorts for added coverage even while in the water.
This beats a sunburn
Help From Technology
Because you’re probably taking your phone to the beach, you could rely on it, instead of your faulty memory, to remind you to head under the umbrella or go inside. Android and iOS are rife with free and inexpensive apps that could alert you when you need it.
You could also seek help from wearables. A jewel-like device called JUNE, which can be worn as a bracelet or a brooch, monitors sun exposure and syncs with an iOS app that can tell you how quickly you’re using up your recommended sun allowance for the day.
Here are wristbands you can purchase that lets you know when you have exceeded your sun tolerance.
To purchase click on the picture
I hope this blog helps you deal with the sun.Thanks for reading!
With love,
Terry and Lucky
Terry Ryan, Blogger
D5 Creation