When it comes to sun damage and skin cancer we've been trained to reach for the sunscreen or sunblock, but the EPA has officially stated that sunscreen does not necessarily work against the rays that age us and give us skin cancer.
Avoiding sun during peak hours helps with sun damage, but as we take in less sun our immune systems and moods become compromised causing a whole new set of equally threatening issues.
The first line of protection against sun actually starts through diet. Creating a strong cell through antioxidants is not just beneficial to skin cancer, but to most cancers.
antioxidant |ˌantēˈäksidənt; ˌantī-|
noun:
a substance that inhibits oxidation, esp. one used to counteract the deterioration of stored food products.
• a substance such as vitamin C or E that removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism. (wikipedia)
Many of our customers take an "internal sunscreen" called Astaxanthin and end up never burning if they are consistent about taking it. It is a red algae that is consumed by wild salmon that makes them pink, but actually gives them strength and vitality to swim upstream! Drinking teas high in antioxidants like Guayusa tea from Runa is another way of easily getting antioxidants. Eating any bright or deep-colored fruit or vegetable is another way to get your daily dose of antioxidants.
Consuming antioxidants is just one method of strengthening the cells. Topical antioxidants are also vital in free radical damage prevention. A little trick many banquet caterers use to preserve fruit salad is by using lemon juice on the salad to preserve the fruit. The lemon provides both acidity to keep the bacteria away and antioxidants to inhibit oxygen from breaking down the fruit so quickly. Lemon juice is high in vitamin C, a vital antioxidant.
We can do the same with our skin with topical antioxidants. Beauty products with high percentages of green tea, essential oils, plant stem cells, Vitamins A, C, and E are all great ways to add antioxidants to the skin. Just make sure these ingredients are listed higher up on the label and not just marketing on the bottle with the industry's latest ingredients down at the bottom! I do not suggest preserving yourself in lemon juice as the acidity can cause a chemical peel, but lemon juice on the skin for up to 2 mins (test 1 min first) can really help keep acne at bay. Just make sure you rinse after applying up to the 2 mins.
The ORAC 5.0 score will soon be another way to tell how potent the antioxidants are in a formula so consumers can get past the marketing hype.
With a combination of antioxidants and sunscreen you're going to be on your way to age prevention!
