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Re: sunscreen, vit D

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In a message dated 10/8/2003 8:26:14 AM Central Daylight Time,

nonHSI@... writes:

>

> SPF 2

>

> Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

>

> October 8, 2003

>

> **************************************************************

>

> Dear Reader,

>

> The executives at corporations that manufacture sunscreen

> products might have experienced an unpleasant burning feeling

> when a study released last month revealed that sunscreen may

> not offer protection from the type of sun damage that could

> cause skin cancer. Worse than that: the study also suggests

> that sunscreen use may actually do more harm than good.

>

> This is a new twist on two points we've been telling you for

> some time here at HSI: 1) Sunscreen lotion isn't the best way

> to protect your skin, and 2) For most people, correct

> nutrition and sensible exposure time may provide all the sun

> protection you need.

>

> Meanwhile, millions of sun lovers and people who live in or

> near tropical latitudes cover themselves head to toe in

> sunscreen and spend hours in the sun, believing they're

> protected. They may be protecting themselves from a bad burn,

> but there are other things going on below the surface of the

> skin that could create more serious problems in later years.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------

> Poor defense

> --------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Researchers at the UK's Restoration of Appearance and

> Function Trust (RAFT) acquired skin samples from consenting

> patients undergoing surgery (such as breast reduction). In

> separate tests, three commercial sunscreens with high sun

> protection factors (SPF) of 20 or more were applied to the

> skin samples. The samples were then exposed to ultraviolet A

> (UVA) light at intensities comparable to that of sunlight.

>

> Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy (which determines

> natural radiation concentrations), the researchers found that

> free radical damage beneath the surface of the skin was

> reduced by approximately 50 percent in skin samples treated

> with sunscreen, compared to unprotected skin. And while that

> may seem at first to be effective, researchers determined

> that the actual " free-radical protection factor " was only 2.

>

> In other words, the sun protection factor of 20+ held true

> only with ultraviolet B (UVB) rays - the rays that cause

> sunburn. But protection from the free-radical damage that

> corrupts DNA and may prompt skin cancer was judged to be

> insufficient.

>

> The authors of the study fear that because sunscreen use

> helps prevent burning, people feel safe spending many extra

> hours in the sun. Meanwhile, those additional hours of

> exposure may add up to cumulative DNA damage and skin cancer

> because a considerable amount of UVA rays are still getting

> through.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------

> What your skin wants

> --------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Before we go any further, it's important to note that the sun

> is not your enemy. On the contrary, sunlight exposure prompts

> your body to manufacture vitamin D. Those who live in extreme

> northern and southern latitudes are often vitamin D deficient

> because their exposure to sunlight is too low. As we've seen

> with so many other health issues, the key is balance. The

> right amount of sun exposure is: not too much, and not too

> little.

>

> So don't listen to those who tell you to hide from the sun.

> Sunlight is not just good for us, it's essential. But

> excessive exposure leads to sunburn, which is obviously not

> good for the skin. Nevertheless, sunburns do serve a purpose.

> As V. , M.D., has pointed out, a sunburn is

> nature's way of telling us that we're getting too much sun.

> It's sort of like a pop-up thermometer on a turkey. When you

> start turning red, you're done - your body has had enough

> sunlight exposure.

>

> But what about those people who have to spend hours in the

> sun; lifeguards, house builders, traffic policemen, etc.?

> Writing in his Nutrition & Healing newsletter last year (June

> 2002), Dr. discussed what he calls the " DNA Repair

> Group " - the foods and supplements that everyone (and

> especially those who get a lot of sun exposure) should be

> consuming in abundance.

>

> Vitamins C and E are very important to relieving stress to

> the skin. But according to Dr. , folic acid deficiency

> is " a major contributor to skin cancer risk. " He says, " Folic

> acid is destroyed rapidly by heat, cold, and exposure to

> light, including sunlight. So it's sunlight's destructive

> effect on folic acid in the skin, not the actual sun exposure

> itself, that accounts for a significant part of the skin

> cancer problem. Folic acid (along with vitamin B12 and zinc)

> is absolutely key to DNA reproduction and repair. "

>

> The best dietary sources of folic acid include spinach and

> other dark green vegetables, brewers yeast, lima beans,

> cantaloupe, watermelon, wheat germ, and liver from

> organically raised animals. In addition, Dr. suggests

> supplementing with 1,000 mcg of folic acid per day, and more

> if you spend a good amount of time in the sun or have a

> family history of skin cancer.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------

> Octyl methoxycinnamate!

> --------------------------------------------------------------

>

> I have one final note on sunscreen. In Monday's e-

> Alert " Always at Your Side, " I told you how hard the liver

> works to clean the body of toxins and foreign chemicals. The

> next time you spread on some sunscreen, check the ingredient

> list of nearly unpronounceable chemicals. Every chemical

> absorbed by your skin - whether from sunscreen, bug spray,

> cosmetics, or airborne pollutants - puts an unnecessary

> stress on the liver.

>

> As frost begins to show on mornings here in Baltimore, this

> may seem like an odd time to talk about sun exposure. But

> many HSI members live in areas that are warm year-round. And

> for those of us in northern regions, we still get - and need -

> sunlight all year. So be good to your skin. Go easy on the

> chemicals. And if you spend a lot of time in the sun, add

> some folic acid to your supplement regimen.

>

> **************************************************************

Carol A

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