In an age where harmful chemicals are in almost every product we purchase over the counter, it becomes more important that we remove as many toxins from our lives as possible. But how do we do that and counter some of nature’s assaults on our bodies, such as too much sun? Many over-the-counter sunscreens can actually promote cancer cells or act as hormone disruptors.
What to do? There are ways to protect your skin from the harsh rays and damage done to skin naturally while still getting the vitamin D we all need to remain healthy.
Here are eight types of natural protection against the sun. They can be combined to make your own sunscreen with varying amounts of Sun Protection Factors (SPF).
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Dr. Richard Maurer, Maine-based Naturopathic Doctor, Outdoor Triathlete, Parent of three sun-lovers said “Sunscreens are an important part of disease prevention,” but cautioned that when you see claims of SPF of 110 and water resistance, “How the heck do you ever wash the stuff off?”
Maurer said there is evidence that shows no benefit for an SPF over 40, even for sun-sensitive individuals.
“I want a sunblock that sits on top of the skin, not in it, I want to be able to wash it off (or take it off like clothing) when I don’t need it, and I want the ingredients to be non-toxic if small amounts are ingested by mistake,” Maurer said. “I am thrilled with the recent advancements in 100 percent zinc-based sun blocks. There is no longer a need to resort to chemically toxic sun blocks anymore, in fact, check out some (of the above) traditional natural sunblock formulas if you’re more adventurous.”