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Awaken Your Health Newsletter - 1st December 2008
Welcome to the Christmas edition of the Awaken Your Health Newsletter and welcome to summer, speaking of which…
As the weather heats up this summer, it is important to consider how best to protect your skin from the sun. This month’s Newsletter will focus on key issues of how to choose a good sunscreen, and how else to protect yourself from UV damage this summer, as most of us know that Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.
I have also included a delicious and healthy Stuffing Recipe for your Christmas Turkey for those who are interested.
A quick reminder that phone consultations to existing patients are still available for the remainder of the year: very convenient for those patients who have some issues to discuss. Consultation times range from 15 minutes to one hour. Please SMS or email me to arrange.
The clinic will re-open on Friday the 9th of January 2009, and I look forward to hearing from you to arrange your New Year appointments.
Wishing everyone a safe and fun-filled festive season,
Tabitha.
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Announcement: Thank you for all of your supportive messages re: the birth of my baby. Max Maclachlan was (finally) born on the 5th of November, weighing a whopping 9 pounds. I have included a photo. He is a healthy and calm baby with a huge appetite - so far just eating and sleeping around the clock. And as you can see, his big sister Jasmine is very proud. |
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Christmas Special Purchase a Gift Certificate for an initial consultation for a friend or loved one before the 24th December, and receive 20% off your next consultation as a ‘thank you’ from me. Gift certificates come beautifully presented, and can be collected or posted. |
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Choosing a Sunscreen this summer For most people, spending time in the sun is about choosing the best sunscreen with a high SPF. Sunscreen Protection Factor is a measure of the sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. SPF 15 blocks approximately 93% of all incoming UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks approximately 97% of all incoming UVB rays. |
But there are problems with the SPF model of choosing a sunscreen. Firstly, no sunscreen, regardless of strength, should be expected to stay effective for longer than 2 hours without being re-applied. Secondly, reddening of the skin is a reaction to UVB rays only, and tells you little about what UVA damage your skin may be getting. Research shows that 90% of wrinkles are caused by the sun’s UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply and are associated with collagen breakdown.
Thirdly, many commercially available sunscreens contain potential toxins that are absorbed in small amounts into our blood stream. Chemical UV filters (such as dioxybenzone and oxybenzone) and chemical preservatives (such as propyl hydroxybenzoate and diazolidinylurea) are potentially harmful chemicals. A slathering of chemicals onto the skin is certainly not optimal, especially considering we absorb these chemicals into our bloodstream.
A study in the April 2004 Journal of Chromatography found that there was significant penetration into the skin of all sunscreen agents they studied. Another recent American study by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA found that nearly all people studied were contaminated with the suncream ingredient oxybenzone. Human research on oxybenzone is limited, however a few animal studies have raised concerns that this chemical may be a skin irritant, may disrupt endocrine function, and can lead to free-radical cell damage on the skin.
For those who are interested, I have included a table at the end, compiled from the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website, discussing the many potential concerns lurking in your sunscreens.
Fortunately, there ARE all-natural ways to protect yourself from sunburn and damage, without resorting to the toxic infusions of many commercial sunscreens. Aim for a sunscreen with safe and non-toxic ingredients - free from chemical UV absorbers, sulphates, petrochemicals, chemical preservatives, parabens, and artificial fragrances.
Look for sunscreens containing physical sunblocks such as Zinc Oxide and Titanium dioxide, which protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays, and tend to cause less irritation than chemical sunscreens. Zinc oxide in particular is now available in invisible form, so you don’t have to look like a 1980’s lifeguard! Other ingredients such as natural oils, aloe vera, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E nourish the skin and add further protection from sun damage. There is growing research that topically applied antioxidants are highly effective in increasing the protective value of a well formulated sunscreen.
Summary: Protection from the sun this summer in 8 ways:
* Use a broad spectrum, all-natural Sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. There are several non-chemical sunscreens available on the market, including brands such as Wot Not; Soleo Organics; UV Natural; Dr Hauschka; Natralia Nourish; and Megan Gale’s Junior Sunscreen. These brands use 22-25% Zinc Oxide (Invisible) and also contain skin nutrients and antioxidants in their formulations.
* Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure, to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin.
* Remember to re-apply your sunscreen every 2 hours, regardless of the brand, SPF
or ingredients
* Wear protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible – cotton or cheesecloth
* Wear a broad-brimmed hat that covers your ears and face
* Seek shade wherever possible
* Avoid direct sun in the peak UV times of 10am-2pm (11am-3pm in Day light saving)
* Wear close fitting Sunglasses
I hope everyone has a fabulous break and gets the rest that they deserve!
Warmest Christmas Wishes, Tabitha.
| Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate) | Chemical UVB filter. The most widely used sunscreen ingredient, known for its low potential to sensitize skin or act as a phototallergen. Estrogenic effects are noted in laboratory animals as well as disruption of thyroid hormone and brain signaling. |
| Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) | Chemical UVA filter. Associated with photoallergic reactions. This chemical absorbs through your skin in significant amounts. It contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to Centers for Disease Control research. Health concerns include hormone disruption and cancer. |
| Ensulizole (Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid) | Known to produce free radicals when exposed to sunlight, leading to damage of DNA, this UVB protector may have the potential to cause cancer. |
| Padimate O (Octyl Dimethyl PABA / PABA Ester) | A derivative of the once-popular PABA sunscreen ingredient, research shows this chemical is a skin irritant, releases free radicals, damages DNA, has estrogenic activity, and causes allergic reactions in some people. |
| Sulisobenzone (Benzophenone-4) | Can cause skin and eye irritation. Does not penetrate your skin to a large degree, but enhances the ability of other chemicals to penetrate. |
| Titanium Dioxide | Appears safe for use on skin, due to low penetration but inhalation is a concern. |
| Micronized Titanium Dioxide | Sunscreens with micronized titanium dioxide may contain nanoparticles. Micronized TiO2 offers greater sun protection than conventional (larger) particles. These small particles do not penetrate skin but may be more toxic to living cells and the environment. Inhalation of powders and sprays is a concern. |
| Zinc Oxide | Zinc has a long history of use in sunscreen and other skin care products; little absorption and no adverse health effects are reported. |
| *Table adapted from the Environmental Working Group’s Skin deep Website: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com | |
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Absolutely Delicious Stuffing Recipe for Christmas Turkey Ingredients: |
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute onion and celery in skillet, stirring until onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Add diced apples to skillet and cook another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour over cooked brown rice. Add remaining ingredients to a large mixing bowl, tossing well. Stuff mixture inside turkey and bake Turkey as usual.
To serve stuffing on the side, spoon the above mixture into a medium baking dish coated with olive oil. Bake in dish, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes or until browned on top. Serves 10 people.
Tips:
Use ground pistachios instead of ground almonds for a saltier taste
