You don’t have to bake in a tanning bed to damage your skin from too much sun exposure. Spending time outdoors summer after summer without any protection can leave you with dark spots of hyperpigmentation that seem to pop up out of nowhere.

But before you slather on that over-the-counter SPF, keep in mind that using a generically formulated sunscreen religiously isn’t the answer – no matter what magazine or TV ads may tell you. Chemicals in commercial sunblock can do more harm than good. Instead of protecting your skin from sun damage, chemical sunblocks can cause premature aging and damage to your skin.

The use of sunblock is an interesting paradox in the health world.

We’re told over and over again to apply sunblock regularly because the sun is our enemy. But that’s not the whole picture. Your skin has everything it needs to naturally protect itself from the sun’s UV rays. You may have noticed that your skin starts to tan after spending time in the sun because it produces a substance called melanin. Melanin is your skin’s natural way of protecting yourself from sun damage.

But because of our constant use of chemical sunblock and sun avoidance, we’ve become more sensitive to the sun over time. This means that we’re at a greater risk for sun overexposure that could cause damage to our skin.

The solution? Zinc oxide is a mineral ingredient that won’t be absorbed into your bloodstream like so many chemicals found in over-the-counter sunblocks. Zinc oxide sits right on top of your skin to reflect the rays of the sun. Not only that, but it will boost your body’s natural antioxidant defenses to neutralize free-radical damage from the sun that causes wrinkles and brown spots.

Choose a natural product like Solis that contains zinc oxide to protect your skin from the sun. Solis is free from chemicals and carcinogens commonly found in over-the-counter sunblocks. In fact, many chemicals in commercial sunblocks in the United States are banned in other countries. But Solis uses natural, safe ingredients like moisturizing Shea butter, glycerin for deep hydration, and Canadian willow herb to soothe inflammation in the skin.

Solis is also made with cupuacu butter, a moisturizing plant extract full of antioxidants to fight free-radical damage caused by sun overexposure. This moisturizing ingredient will improve the natural defense of your skin to shield from outside sun damage – so that you can finally reduce the appearance of wrinkles and brown spots.

Click here to try Solis risk-free today for a pure solution to sun protection.

Sincerely,

Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C

If you’re like me, you love going to the pool or beach. But these fun summer activities can leave your hair looking more than just a little parched.

The hot sun, chlorine, salt water and over-washing can result in dry, dragged down, dingy hair by the end of the summer. But I know some great ways to restore the health of your hair this fall:

1. Classic pony. A ponytail can look quite sophisticated for work and play. It keeps your hair from being in your face and can cover some of the damage you encountered over the summer. Visit your nearest beauty supply store and pick out some pretty, unique clips and clamps to help spice up your ‘do. Get creative!

2. More moisture. Shampoo can be drying so be sure to wash it less often to restore moisture. You also can also use products that are less drying (alcohol free) and more moisturizing.

   Don’t be afraid of a leave-in conditioner – even if your hair is fine. It will help keep your hair from frizzing. Use cooler water for rinsing as well. The sensation can be quite invigorating and will leave your scalp and body feeling refreshed.

3. Trim those ends. Get your ends trimmed on a regular basis. Hair starts splitting at the ends, so it best to cut them off before it can cause more damage. If you don’t get a trim regularly, the splitting will continue to travel down your hair’s shaft and cause a frizzy, unkempt look.

4. Nourish it. To keep your hair nourished, be sure to drink plenty of water and try a more natural selection of hair products. Ingredients such as lavender, chamomile, avocado and shea butter are great choices. See your stylist for other treatment options, too.

   Another thing I like to do is to give my hair a little extra love with homemade treatments and fun styles. Here’s a couple you can try yourself to keep your hair looking and feeling sexy all year long:
   

All these tips should have you come out ahead of the game this fall.

Keep On Stylin’!

Anesta Dawkins

[Ed. Note: Anesta Dawkins is Owner and Founder of Salon Hottie in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is an accomplished hairstylist, platform artist, and instructor. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry and a satisfied network of clients, Anesta is dedicated to keeping you current with the latest and most innovative products in the beauty industry.]

But this is junk science at its worst. You need sunlight for good health. More than 200 studies prove that avoiding sunlight is one of the biggest medical mistakes of the last half-century.

Here are just a few of the ways sunshine can improve the quality of your life…

• Sunshine promotes stronger bones. So you can enjoy all your favorite activities – even into your 90’s or beyond.

• Stop worrying so much about sniffles, sore throats and other seasonal complaints. Sunshine helps strengthen your immune system.

• A healthy heart helps you stay active. Getting more sun can lower your risk of heart disease.

• Plus, sun exposure can help cut your risk of 17 kinds of cancer.

So, how does sunshine do all this for you?

How Sunshine Works Its Magic

Sunshine’s secret is vitamin D. For most of human history, sunlight has been our major source of this critical vitamin. And vitamin D is so important that nearly every cell in your body has vitamin D receptors.

For example, your body needs vitamin D to protect itself from invading microbes. Vitamin D helps regulate normal cell growth. And without vitamin D, your body can’t absorb calcium, leaving your bones weak and brittle.

Vitamin D also promotes immune health, improves insulin sensitivity¹ and boosts overall lung function.²

Without enough vitamin D, you’re more likely to be weak, sickly… and stooped over from unhealthy bones.

And on top of all this, research shows sun exposure could help cut your risk of 17 deadly cancers. The proof is strongest for 3 of the worst cancers:

• Breast cancer

• Colon cancer

• Ovarian cancer

But there’s solid evidence for bladder, uterine and pancreatic cancers… cancer of the esophagus… stomach and rectal cancer… plus 8 other varieties – including prostate cancer.

Here’s how it works…

Vitamin D and Cancer

Studies show that vitamin D plays a role in discouraging cancer growth 7 different ways.

• It converts tumor cells into normal cells.

• It keeps cancer cells from multiplying and triggers apoptosis – also known as “programmed cell death” – in cancer cells.

• Vitamin D inhibits the spread of cancers.

• It suppresses the genes that cause cancer cells to proliferate.

• It inhibits the development of blood vessels in tumors – literally starving them.

• Vitamin D modulates your body’s immune response – including cancer.

• It increases the ability of your blood to carry oxygen to healthy cells.

By now, you may be asking yourself, “If sunshine helps prevent cancer, why do I hear so much about sun exposure causing it?”

That’s a good point. Let me respond by asking a couple of other questions. Questions many “experts” have overlooked.

Beating the Cancer Myth

• If sunlight is their major cause, why are skin cancers less common among people who live and work at high altitudes – like the Hunzas and Vilcabambas – where the sun is more intense?

• Over the last 30 years, our use of sunscreen and avoidance of sun exposure have dramatically increased. If sunlight is the major cause of skin cancers, why have skin cancer rates risen over those years, instead of falling?

The truth is, the two most common forms of skin cancer – accounting for about 95% of all cases – are most often linked to sunburn, not just sun exposure.^3,4

That may explain why the Hunzas and Vilcabambas near the equator work outside under intense sun, but rarely suffer from skin cancer.

The key is responsible exposure.

Today, almost our whole lives are lived indoors. Most jobs are indoor jobs, too. Even much of our recreation keeps us inside. So when people get out for a day in the sun, their skin isn’t prepared.

If you haven’t been getting a lot of sun, increase your exposure gradually. And don’t stay out in the sun long enough to burn. Gradual exposure will result in a tan – your body’s natural protection from sunburn.

Getting the Most Out of the Sun’s Protection

It doesn’t take a lot of sun exposure to make the vitamin D you need. Just 15 – 20 minutes of summer sun on your face and arms each day is enough for light-skinned people.

People with darker skin need more exposure (up to 10 times more). That’s because melatonin – your skin’s protective pigment – blocks some of the light needed to make vitamin D. And the darker your skin, the more melatonin is present.

If you live north of Atlanta, Georgia, the winter sun is too weak to trigger vitamin D production. So taking a vitamin D supplement is a good idea in the winter. Vitamin D3 – the natural form of vitamin D – is best.

The truth is, you don’t have to be afraid of the sun. Just the opposite. Getting responsible exposure to the sun is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1 Mason, R.S., et al, “Vitamin D: the light side of sunshine,” Eur J Clin Nutr. Jul 6, 2011;doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.105. [Epub ahead of print]

2 Berry, D.J., et al, “Vitamin D status has a linear association with seasonal infections and lung function in British adults,” Br J Nutr. Jun 6, 2011;1-8. [Epub ahead of print]

3 Van Dam R., et al, “Risk Factors for Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin in Men: Results from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study,” American Journal of Epidemiology 1999;50(5):459-460.

4 “Skin cancer: Who gets and causes,” American Academy of Dermatology 2011.

Additional source: Sears, Al and Herring, Jon (2007) Your Best Health Under the Sun. Wellington, FL. Wellness Research & Consulting, Inc.

With winter’s cold wind blowing right now, you may only be dreaming of relaxing on a warm sandy beach, playing 18 holes on your favorite golf course or just puttering around the garden on a beautiful sunlit day. And spending time in the sun not only feels good, it’s good for you.

Your Body Needs Sunlight

No matter what the medical establishment and the sunscreen industry say, your body has a physical need for sunlight. You probably already know that your skin reacts to sunlight by making vitamin D. But you may not know just how beneficial vitamin D really is. Here’s just a sample of its clinically proven power.

* Elevates mood and boosts mental performance
* Prevents many types of cancers, including prostate, breast and ovarian
* Reduces the risk of melanoma
* Halts and even reverses the effects of bone diseases like rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis
* Relieves depression and lessens the symptoms of schizophrenia
* Enhances the function of your pancreas
* Increases insulin sensitivity and prevents diabetes
* Promotes weight reduction
* Provides more restful sleep
* Lends energy, vitality, and stamina
* Lowers blood pressure
* Brings high blood sugar levels down
* Lowers the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood
* Increases white blood cell activity and strengthens immunity

There’s no question that if you get sunburns often, you’re risking lasting damage to your skin, including melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer. But it turns out that Nature’s got a weapon against sunburn that may outperform any sunscreen on the market. It halts the processes that lead to sunburn by nearly 80 percent.1 And unlike commercial skincare products, it’s completely safe and natural.

It unleashes your body’s natural healing power so that spending time in the sun won’t hurt you. It lasts for days, long after it’s been washed away. Even better – it works without blocking the sun’s rays.

You won’t have to worry about slathering artificial chemicals on your skin – and can reap all the health benefits of sunlight. And to find the source of the most powerful new ally in skin cancer prevention, you don’t have to look any further than the produce section at your local supermarket.

Meet Sulforaphane: Nature’s Powerful Cancer Fighter

Broccoli’s the simple vegetable that might cut into the $5 billion-a-year sunscreen industry’s profits someday.

There’s a naturally occurring chemical compound in broccoli called sulforaphane. It’s a potent antioxidant and cancer-fighter scientists stumbled on 15 years ago. It’s in kale, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, even brussels sprouts. (Turns out your mother was right when she told you to eat your brussels sprouts.)

Since it was first discovered, there’s been a mountain of clinical research proving sulforaphane’s power as an ironclad defense against many kinds of cancer, including cancers of the breast and prostate.2 But until recently, studies focused on it as something you’d get in foods or as a supplement. It hadn’t occurred to anyone to look at how sulforaphane might work if you used it like a lotion.

So a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University did just that. They started out with three-day-old broccoli sprouts, because the sprouts of the plant have 30-50 times more sulforaphane than the mature broccoli we’re used to seeing at the grocery store.

The Johns Hopkins team made a lotion with the broccoli sprout extract and applied it to the skin just like sunscreen, testing it on the skin of mice and on human volunteers. One of the keys to this particular study was that they exposed the skin to high intensity ultraviolet radiation for up to three days.

And that’s when something amazing happened. In the human volunteers, those who hadn’t been given lotion developed sunburns, including reddening and inflammation. But the other group saw a 40 percent reduction in sunburn on average, and nearly 80 percent in one case.

What’s more the lotion’s healing power lasted long after it had already been fully absorbed by the skin. In other words, the broccoli extract lotion practically eliminated sunburn under extreme conditions.

So how does it work?

Turn on Your “Sun-Protecting” Gene

Rather than “coating” the top layer of your skin like commercial sunscreen, the Johns Hopkins researchers found that their broccoli-sprout lotion actually goes straight into your skin cells. From there it fires up a number of processes that maintain robust skin health.
Overexposure to sunlight causes sunburn because the sun’s rays interact with oxygen to create molecules that can eventually damage the DNA in your skin cells. Over time, it causes them to die or become cancerous.

Sulforaphane has the power to guard DNA by turning on a set of skin-protection genes, like a key in an ignition. Once activated, they release chemicals called “phase 2 enzymes.” These enzymes neutralize the molecules that damage DNA. They also reduce inflammation, another painful symptom of sunburn.

So you can see how differently it works from sunscreen. It lets the sunlight in while sparking your skin’s natural healing power. Think of it as a kind of skin cream that works from the inside out.

Since it works without blocking the sun’s rays, broccoli-extract lotion has the potential to protect you from overexposure without robbing your body of the sun’s many health benefits.

It will probably be a while before broccoli extract lotion becomes available to the general public. (Among other things, they still need to figure out how to keep it from breaking down before it makes its way onto store shelves.)

Four Steps to “Sun-Living”

In the meantime, there’s plenty you can do to take advantage of the sun’s health-promoting power and protect yourself. Here are four simple steps you can take right now.

1. Find an all-natural sunscreen.

Most people don’t know this – even many dermatologists – but sunscreen not only offers no real protection against skin cancers from overexposure to the sun. In fact, it can actually cause cancer. Here’s a short list of some of the artificial, carcinogenic compounds widely used by the sunscreen industry:

What’s more, there’s never been any evidence that sunscreens prevent the most serious kinds of skin cancer. A recent study published in the prestigious Lancet Journal found that while sunscreen may protect against two of the three most common skin cancers, there’s no conclusive evidence showing it protects against melanoma, the most lethal type.1

I’m currently working on producing an all-natural sunscreen with none of the harmful chemicals found in commercial sunscreens. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready to go.

2. Get your skin-healthy nutrients, especially antioxidants.

While sunlight is definitely good for your skin, overexposure to sun may cause some free-radical damage. The good news is antioxidants are powerful free-radical “scavengers.” They not only prevent skin damage, they can actually reverse the effects of aging from long-term sun exposure.

For your skin, these three supplements in particular are important every day: Vitamin C (1,000 mg), CoQ10 (100 mg) and vitamin E (400 IEU). They’re inexpensive and readily available in most health-food stores.

You also can ramp up the antioxidant content in your diet. Look for foods rich in vitamins E, C and A. Here are a few of the best foods for your skin:

And by the way, even without the extract, you can still get those phase 2 enzymes by eating broccoli or broccoli sprouts, which are widely available in many supermarkets.

As always, I encourage you to buy locally grown organic, free-range, grass-fed and minimally processed foods whenever possible.

3. Get outside and enjoy the sun every day – even in winter!

A recent study published in Anticancer Research found that just by getting a little sunlight every day – about 20 minutes for fair-skinned folks, and two to four times that much for those with dark skin – you can reduce the risk of 16 types of cancer in both men and women.2

4. Try natural lotions that truly promote skin health.

Look for all-natural lotions with vitamins E or C. Vitamin C is especially good for your skin. It’s been clinically proven to protect you from overexposure to both UV-A and UV-B rays, reduce the appearance of age spots, and reduce inflammation in the skin.3

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

_________________________

1 Lautenschlager, et al, “Photoprotection,” Lancet 2007; 370(9586):528-537
2 Grant, W.B. et al, “The association of solar ultraviolet B (UVB) with reducing risk of cancer: multifactorial ecologic analysis of geographic variation in age-adjusted cancer mortality rates,” Anticancer Research 2006; 26:2687-2700
3 Farris, P.K., “Topical vitamin C: a useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatological conditions,” Dermatologic Surgery 2005;31(7 pt 2): 814-17

Use This Cool Tool to Get What You Want
By Yarixa “Coach Yari” Ferrao

This quote by Henry Ford has always struck a chord with me:

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”

Your future is in your hands … you get to decide what you want. And the great thing is, you can get there if you think you can.

The first step is to have a positive outlook. You can make changes in your life just like I did! And one of the fun ways I see what I want so clearly is with a vision board. They are the coolest things! Here’s mine.

It has pictures of everything I want out of my career, my love life and even my home. And I added inspirational quotes about happiness, joy, excitement, freedom, balance – everything I want to feel every day.

It was super fun to make. While I was creating it, I could feel the positivity radiating from my mind and my body. And you know what? Over the years, I’ve gotten most of what I wanted. And I’m on my way to getting everything else in the near future. I just know it!

You can use a vision board for all parts of your life, and especially your fitness goals. My very good friend Elisa dropped 60 lbs. with help from her vision board.

It works because when you surround yourself with images and words of what you want to have, who you want to be, and what you want to look like, you change your life from just a bunch of dreams and desires to really match your visions. Remember, if you think you can, you can!

Ready to make your own board, and your own future? Awesome … let’s get creative!

1. I used a corkboard so I can change it around as much as I want, but poster board works great. A magnetic whiteboard would work just fine, too.

2. To help me visualize, I get a bunch of magazines, newspapers and pictures. You can find used magazines at libraries and all kinds of waiting rooms like hair salons, doctors’ offices and places where you take your car for service – anywhere! Just make sure you ask permission to take them first, hehehe.

3. You need a good pair of scissors or a cutting board.

4. And you’ve got to have some glue, thumbtacks or magnets.

When you’re ready to get started, put on your favorite music for inspiration. You don’t have to be in a good mood to begin your vision board. It’s so uplifting that it will definitely raise your mood if you’re feeling low. But being in a great mood will probably enhance your creativity that much more.

Step 1: Look through your magazines, newspapers and pictures for images, words or phrases that represent your goals, dreams or desires.

Step 2: Lay your cut-outs on your board, but don’t attach them yet. This is your chance to be creative. You can spread everything out totally at random, or you can group things … by category, by feeling, by season, by color … do whatever feels right.

Step 3: Glue or tack your cut-outs to the board. Add something extra like ribbons, glitter or anything else that makes you feel good about what you see.

Step 4: Hang your amazing vision board somewhere you’ll look at it a lot … not just walk by, but really look. Is that your bedroom? The kitchen? Maybe even your bathroom wall? Seeing it often will help keep you motivated.

Your Health and Fitness Specialist,

Coach Yari

Botanical Beauty Is Best
By Anesta Dawkins

I’ve been a fan of Dr. Sears’ teachings since way before we started working together. As I’ve become more aware, I’ve gotten really careful about what I eat and what I use in and on my body.

But trying to find healthy beauty products is difficult …

Go take a look at the ingredients on the labels of all those lotions, creams, deodorants and other products you’re using. I guarantee you’ll see stuff like alcohol, mineral oils, petroleum, and a whole lot of other unpronounceable junk. Those ingredients can be absolutely dangerous.

If you don’t know it yet, becoming aware of the ingredients in these products is one of the smartest things you can ever do. These days I always read the labels and I can tell you, it’s downright scary!

The last time I was up at Walmart, I checked out the facial cleansers, and get this. Out of 15 facial cleansers, not a single one of them was free of harmful ingredients.

There were even a couple of products where these nasty chemicals were the second and third ingredients listed, which means there’s an awful lot of them in the product … and very little of what’s good for you.

Some of the stuff might even say “natural” or “organic” on the label. But don’t be fooled.

One of the facial cleansers I looked at said, “Helps naturally brighten skin.” When I checked the label, I found out it contained seven dangerous chemicals. And four of them were known cancer-causing agents!

There was also a “natural” cleanser made with 100 percent natural green tea. That sounded really good until I read the label. Sure, it had natural green tea, but it was also filled with gasoline distillates and carcinogens. That pretty much makes it useless, doesn’t it?

One of the smartest things you can do for your health is to become aware of what to look out for when you shop:

1. Read the labels before you make your selection.

2. Avoid products that contain parabens. You can easily spot these in the ingredient listing as any long word that ends with “paraben.” They mess with your hormones and can cause cancer.

3. Watch out for propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol (PEG.) These are all found in degreasing agents – oven cleaners and the like. You definitely don’t want to put them on your precious skin.

4. A lot of products contain mineral oil, paraffin and petrolatum. These are all gasoline distillates that coat your skin like plastic and clog your pores.

5. If you can’t pronounce the ingredient on the bottle, chances are you probably shouldn’t be using it.

6. Just because a product says it’s natural or contains natural ingredients, it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. So don’t take the label’s word for it … you still need to read the label yourself and look for anything I listed above.

It took me a while to nail down some fantastically nutritious products. Healthy skin is no longer a mystery. I can now feed my skin the way I do my body. I have become satisfied with my choices, and my skin looks amazing.

Regardless of change, there is one constant… we all want to look hot! Beauty is as beauty does.

Keep on Stylin’!

Anesta Dawkins

The national campaign to keep us out of the sun has finally caught up with us. The result?

A study from the prestigious Archives of Internal Medicine found that an astounding three out of four Americans don’t get enough vitamin D.

Here’s why you should care:

Low vitamin D levels don’t just cause rickets in children and weaken bones in adults. They are strongly linked to cancer, heart disease, and many other serious health problems.

The study shows that vitamin D levels dropped 20% from 1994 to 2004 on average. The number of people who have a clinical deficiency of vitamin D tripled, and those who are below the healthy level of vitamin D jumped by almost 50%.₁

Given our obsession with staying out of the sun – nature’s way of creating vitamin D in our bodies – and the dramatic drop in vitamin D nutrients in our foods, it’s no wonder that this has become a national epidemic.

Plus, the government has kept its recommended levels for vitamin D supplements way too low for far too long. Its current recommendation is to take:

• 200 IU per day from birth to 50 years old
• 400 IU per day for aged adults 51 to 70
• And 600 IU per day for those 71 and older

The study’s authors recommend taking 1,000 IU or more a day of vitamin D supplements on top of increasing your exposure to the sun. The government, however, is dragging its feet and says it may take up to a year to recommend new guidelines.

Don’t wait. This report will show you how to safely increase your vitamin D levels and avoid the risks of vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D: Don’t Fear the Sun – It’s Nature’s Cancer Fighter

Your body needs exposure to the sun to produce vitamin D. An Anticancer Research study found that just by getting a little sunlight every day – about 20 minutes for fair-skinned people and two to four times that much for those with dark skin – could reduce the risk of 16 types of cancer.₂

Numerous studies prove the cancer-destroying properties of vitamin D. In fact, it causes melanoma cells to self-destruct.₃

One group of scientists at the University of New Mexico found that exposure to the sun helped cancer patients to recover from already established melanoma. So much so, their rate of survival doubled!₄

But with their stern warnings and dire predictions, you won’t hear many dermatologists – or the $6 billion sunscreen industry – voicing this evidence. Just like the great “cholesterol con” that tricked so many into fearing cholesterol and swallowing toxic “statin” drugs – their “fear of the sun” campaign is just as ridiculous.

The real research suggests that the best way to avoid deadly melanoma is to spend more time in the sun. For instance, dozens of studies show that people who work inside – like office workers – have a much higher risk of melanoma than those who work outside – like construction workers and lifeguards.₅

To underscore this point, melanoma commonly occurs in areas that don’t receive any sunlight at all – like the palms of your hands, the soles of your feet, under your arms, beneath your fingernails – even inside your nose.

Enjoy the Sun and Protect Yourself Naturally

First, some common sense: Avoid sunburn. It hurts and damages your skin. Second, stop using chemical-based sunscreens – like the ones you get at the drugstore. The chemicals can actually be carcinogenic. If you like, you can find sunscreens available on the internet that are natural and chemical-free.

Most importantly, it’s critical that you boost your body’s natural defenses. Our change in diet has left us defenseless against the sun’s normally health-enhancing rays. Thanks to commercial farming and processing, the nutrients we need to prevent skin cancer are increasingly absent from our food. That’s why we require supplements to get the nutrients we need.

Here are my favorite supplements to help:

Cod Liver Oil - The lack of healthy omega-3 fatty acids in our diet is one of the primary factors contributing to the rise of skin cancer. Grains, sugars, and processed foods – even commercial beef – are full of omega-6 fatty acids. Not only are these inflammatory, but they prevent your skin from fighting the sun’s UV rays.

A tablespoon of cod liver oil a day will replenish your omega-3 levels and keep your skin looking young and fresh. It will also give you a boost of vitamin D in its most natural form.

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid found in shrimp, lobsters, salmon, trout, and algae. It gives them their red/pinkish color. (Carotenoids are nutrients that protect plants and animals from UV radiation.)

Astaxanthin is hundreds of times more powerful than most carotenoids and multiplies the effects of vitamin C and E, increasing their antioxidant activity.₆ This is one of the best supplements to prevent skin cancer. During periods of prolonged exposure, you can’t beat it. It’s available as a capsule. I recommend 2 mg a day with meals.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid - ALA is a powerful antioxidant that works at all levels – including your skin. Not only does it protect skin cells from free radicals, it protects their mitochondria (the power plant of every cell) and pumps up your cancer defense mechanisms.

It also preserves collagen and prevents the damage associated with aging skin making your skin more youthful and vibrant. I recommend 200 mg to 400 mg daily.

Vitamin C – A lack of vitamin C makes your skin vulnerable to damage from the sun’s rays. And we have recently started getting far less vitamin C in our diets.

I recommend 3,000 mg per day if you’re currently in good health. This will give you enough to produce the collagen required for strong blood vessels and heart disease prevention.

Pregnant women should get at least 6,000 mg per day – and in times of stress or sickness, you can take up to 20,000 mg. A powdered form may be more convenient for larger doses.

Vitamin D – Finally, take a good vitamin D supplement. I recommend 1,000 to 2,000 IU daily, particularly during the winter or if you live in cold, damp climates with little sunlight.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Ginde, A. Archives of Internal Medicine, March 23, 2009; vol 169: 626-632.
2. Grant WB et al, “The association of solar ultraviolet B (UVB) with reducing risk of cancer: multifactorial ecologic analysis of geographic variation in age-adjusted cancer mortality rates,” Anticancer Research, 2006; 26:2687-2700.
3. Danielsson C, et al. (1998). Differential apoptotic response of human melanoma cells to 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analogues. Cell Death Differ. 5:946.
4. Berwick M, Armstrong BK, Ben-Porat L, Fine J, Kricker A, Eberle C, Barnhill R. Sun exposure and mortality from melanoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 Feb 2;97(3):195-9.
5. Elwood JM, et al. Cutaneous Melanoma in Relation to Intermittent and Constant Sun Exposure – The Western Canada Melanoma Study. Int J Cancer 1985;35:427
6. www.astaxanthin.org/benefits.htm

What’s behind this trend? Is it mainstream medicine’s belief that women get too much sun exposure?

Let’s see. Sales of sun care products have grown substantially in the past 30-plus years. According to a cosmetic and toiletry report, the global market for sun care products is expected to grow 6% per year to $4.8 billion by 2011.¹

Yet the cases of melanoma continue to grow.²

Could it be that the more likely culprit is the sunscreen itself?

Sunscreens block UV rays, eliminating your body’s ability to make vitamin D. Research indicates that vitamin D is the most potent cancer fighter there is. In fact, a Nebraska University report says that vitamin D has the potential to lower the risk of all cancers in women over 50 by 77%.³

Moreover, several common sunscreen ingredients have dangerous, even cancer-causing, side effects. Yet they have never been safety tested or safety approved by the FDA. So make sure to check your sunscreen for the following ingredients…

• Oxybenzone, sometimes called Benzophenone-3, is linked to allergies, hormone disruption, low birth weights, cell damage, and more. It also helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.⁴ The Center for Disease Control says 97% of Americans have this chemical in their system.
• Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) kills skin cells.
• PABA, also known as octyl-dimethyl and padimate-O, attacks DNA and causes genetic mutation when it is exposed to sunlight.

Sunscreen is in lip balm, make-up, moisturizers and more. In one study of more than 10,000 teenagers, girls were 34.4% more likely to use sunscreen than boys were.

If you really want to protect yourself from skin cancer, go outside! All you need is about 20 minutes a day of unprotected sun exposure to get your daily dose of vitamin D.

An Anticancer Research study found that just by getting a little sunlight every day – about 20 minutes for fair-skinned people and two to four times that much for those with dark skin – could reduce the risk of 17 types of cancer.⁵

If you plan to spend more than 20 minutes of fun in the sun, there are natural ways to protect yourself. Here are some tips.

• Get enough antioxidants, one of your best lines of defense against all types of skin damage.
• Vitamin D. Take 1,000 to 2,000 IEUs per day, particularly during the winter or if you live in cold, damp climates with little sunlight.
• Vitamin C. Fights free radicals, reduces inflammation, and boosts immune response. Take 500 mg twice per day with food.
• Vitamin E. Great for skin health. I recommend 400 IU per day. Look for vitamin E as “mixed tocopherols” on the label. They are the organic compounds most readily absorbed by your body.
• Alpha-Lipoic Acid. A powerful antioxidant that protects skin cells from free radicals, guards their mitochondria (the power plant of every cell), and pumps up your cancer defense mechanisms. I recommend 200 mg to 400 mg daily.
• Get enough omega-3s. Studies show that omega 6:3 ratio is important in preventing skin cancer.6 A tablespoon of cod liver oil a day will replenish your omega-3 levels and keep your skin looking young and fresh. It will also give you a boost of vitamin D in its most natural form.
• Try rubbing a little mango butter or shea butter on your skin as a sun blocker without the toxic chemicals. You can also use zinc oxide, a natural mineral that provides a reflective barrier on your skin. You can find these in most health food and supplement stores.

To Your Good Health

Al Sears, MD

1. Kate Phillips. “Bright Outlook for Sun Care Market, Suppliers Absorb Growth”, Chemicalweek.com. 4/4/07
2. American Cancer Society. Overview: Skin Cancer – Melanoma. www.Cancer.org. viewed 2/10/09.
3. Lappe et al. “Vitamin D Status in a Rural Postmenopausal Female Population”. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2006; 25(5):395-402.
4. Carrie Gouldin. “CDC: Caving to Industry, FDA Delays Safety Standards for Decades”, Environmental Working Group, http://www.ewg.org, 3/25/08
5. Grant WB et al, “The association of solar ultraviolet B (UVB) with reducing risk of cancer: multifactorial ecologic analysis of geographic variation in age-adjusted cancer mortality rates,” Anticancer Research, 2006; 26:2687-2700.
6. Guangming Liu, et al. “Omega 3 but not Omega 6 fatty acids inhibit AP-1 activity and cell transformation in JB6 cells”. Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 2001.

There’s no question that if you get sunburns often, you’re risking lasting damage to your skin, including melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer. But it turns out that Nature’s got a weapon against sunburn that may outperform any sunscreen on the market. It halts the processes that lead to sunburn by nearly 80 percent.¹ And unlike the commercial skin care products, it’s completely safe and natural.

It unleashes your body’s natural healing power so that spending time in the sun won’t hurt you. It lasts for days, long after it’s been washed away. Even better – it works without blocking the sun’s rays.

You can spend a relaxing day at the beach, play a full eighteen holes on the golf course, or just putter around the garden without worry of having to slather artificial chemicals on your skin – all the while reaping the health benefits of sunlight. And to find the source of the most powerful new ally in skin cancer prevention, you don’t have to look any further than the produce section at your local supermarket.

Meet Sulforaphane: Nature’s Powerful Cancer Fighter

Broccoli’s the simple vegetable that might cut into the $5 billion-a-year sunscreen industry’s profits someday.

There’s a naturally occurring chemical compound in broccoli called sulforaphane. It’s a potent antioxidant and cancer-fighter scientists stumbled on fifteen years ago. It’s in kale, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, even brussels sprouts. (Your mother was right when she told you to eat your brussels sprouts.)

Since it was first discovered there’s been a mountain of clinical research proving sulforaphane’s power as an ironclad defense against many kinds of cancer, including cancers of the breast and prostate.² But until recently, studies focused on it as something you’d get in foods or as a supplement. It hadn’t occurred to anyone to look at how sulforaphane might work if you used it like a lotion.

So a team of researchers at John Hopkins University did just that. They started out with three-day-old broccoli sprouts, because the sprouts of the plant have 30-50 times more sulforaphane than the mature broccoli we’re used to seeing at the grocery store.

The Johns Hopkins team made a lotion with the broccoli sprout extract and applied it to the skin just like sunscreen, testing it on the skin of mice and on human volunteers. One of the keys to this particular study was that they exposed the skin to high intensity ultraviolet radiation for up to three days.

And that’s when something amazing happened. In the human volunteers, those who hadn’t been given lotion developed sunburns, including reddening and inflammation. But the other group saw a 40 percent reduction in sunburn on average, and nearly 80 percent in one case.

What’s more the lotion’s healing power lasted long after it had already been fully absorbed by the skin. In other words, the broccoli extract lotion practically eliminated sunburn under extreme conditions.

So how does it work?

Turn on Your “Sun-Protecting” Gene

Rather than “coating” the top layer of your skin like commercial sunscreen, the Johns Hopkins researchers’ found that their broccoli sprout lotion actually goes straight into your skin cells. From there it fires up a number of processes that maintain robust skin health.

Overexposure to sunlight causes sunburn because the sun’s rays interact with oxygen to create molecules that can eventually damage the DNA in your skin cells. Over time, causes them to die or become cancerous.

Sulforaphane has the power to guard DNA by turning on a set of skin-protection genes, like a key in an ignition. Once activated, they release chemicals called “phase 2 enzymes.” These enzymes neutralize the molecules that damage DNA. They also reduce inflammation, another painful symptom of sunburn.

So you can see how differently it works from sunscreen. It lets the sunlight in while sparking your skin’s natural healing power. Think of it
as a kind of skin cream that works from the inside out.

Since it works without blocking the sun’s rays, broccoli extract lotion has the potential to protect you from overexposure withoutrobbing your body of the sun’s many health benefits.

Your Body Needs Sunlight

No matter what the medical establishment and the sunscreen industry say, your body has a physical need for sunlight. You probably already know that your skin reacts to sunlight by making vitamin D. But you may not know just how beneficial vitamin D really is. Here’s just a sample of its clinically proven power.

• Elevates mood and boosts mental performance
• Prevents many types of cancers, including prostate, breast and ovarian
• Reduces the risk of melanoma
• Halts and even reverses the effects of bone diseases like rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis
• Relieves depression and lessens the symptoms of schizophrenia
• Enhances the function of your pancreas
• Increases insulin sensitivity and prevents diabetes
• Promotes weight loss
• Provides more restful sleep
• Lends energy, vitality, and stamina
• Lowers blood pressure
• Brings high blood sugar levels down
• Lowers the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood
• Increases white blood cell activity and strengthens immunity

It will probably be a while before broccoli extract lotion becomes available to the general public. (Among other things, they still need to figure out how to keep it from breaking down before it makes its way onto store shelves.)

Four Steps to “Sun-Living”

In the meantime, there’s plenty you can do to take advantage of the sun’s health-promoting power andprotect yourself. Here are four simple steps you can take right now.

1) Stop using sunscreen.

Most people don’t know this – even many dermatologists – but sunscreen not only offers no real protection against skin cancers from overexposure to the sun. In fact, it can actually cause cancer. Here’s a short list of some of the artificial, carcinogenic compounds widely used by the sunscreen industry:

Cancer-causing chemicals in commercial sunscreens

What’s more, there’s never been any evidence that sunscreens prevent the most serious kinds of skin cancer. The science backs me up on this. A recent study published in the prestigious journal Lancet found that while sunscreen may protect against two of the three most common skin cancers, it has not been conclusively shown to protect against melanoma, the most lethal type.³

2) Get your skin-healthy nutrients, especially antioxidants.

There’s no question that overexposure to sunlight can cause free radical damage to your skin. The good news is antioxidants are powerful free radical “scavengers.” They not only prevent skin damage, they can actually reverse the effects of aging from long-term sun exposure.

For your skin these three supplements in particular are important: Vitamin C – 1000 mg, CoQ10 – 100 mg, and Vitamin E – 400 IEU. They’re inexpensive and readily available on line or in health food stores.

You can also ramp up the antioxidant content in your diet. Look for foods rich in vitamins E, C, and A. Here are a few of the best foods for your skin:

And by the way, even without the extract, you can still get those phase 2 enzymes by eating broccoli or broccoli sprouts, which, as I mentioned, are now widely available in many supermarkets.

As always, I encourage you to try to buy organic, free-range, grass-fed, and minimally processed kinds of these foods whenever you can.

3) Get outside and enjoy the sun everyday you can.

A recent study published in Anticancer Research found that just by getting a little sunlight every day – about 20 minutes for fair-skinned folks, and two to four times that much for those with dark skin – you can reduce the risk of 16 types of cancer in both men and women.⁴

4) Try natural lotions that truly promote skin health

Look for all-natural lotions with vitamins E or C. Vitamin C is especially good for your skin. It’s been clinically proven to protect you from overexposure to both UV-A and UV-B rays, prevents age spots, and a reduction in inflammation in the skin.⁵

To learn more about the natural power of sunlight check out my book, Your Best Health Under the Sun. You’ll find over 250 pages of useful information to help you live a longer, healthier life…CLICK HERE.

1. Talalay et al. “Sulforaphane mobilizes cellular defenses that protect skin against damage by UV Radiation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2007. 104(44): 17500-17505.
2. Verhoeven et al. “A review of mechanisms underlying anticarcinogenicity by brassica vegetables.” Chemico-Biological Interactions 1997. 103:79–129 [review].
3. Lautenschlager et al. “Photoprotection,” Lancet. 2007. 370(9586):528-537.
4. Grant WB et al, “The association of solar ultraviolet B (UVB) with reducing risk of cancer: multifactorial ecologic analysis of geographic variation in age-adjusted cancer mortality rates,” Anticancer Research, 2006; 26:2687-2700.
5. Farris PK. (2005) Topical vitamin C: a useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatological conditions. Dermatologic Surgery; 31(7pt2): 814-17.