Crunchy Mom vs Zombies vs Vampires vs Werewolves vs Ninjas

When it comes to a good fight, online “mommy wars” bore me to tears. How about a more interesting match up?

Werewolf versus Crunchy Mom

Considering that an anthropomorphic, shape-shifting werewolf can only turn into their hair-covered, predatory form when the moon is full, the werewolf threat would not be emanate until August 2^nd.

However, stealthy and cunning crunchy moms know the healing properties of colloidal silver. Not just a natural antibiotic and prophylactic precaution against infections because of its complex effect on all body structures (namely at the cellular level), silver also has detrimental effects on werewolves.

Ka-Pow!

Zombie versus Crunchy Mom

Zombies are typically mindless creatures searching for little more than human brains to consume, and therefore lack the cunning skills of educated crunchy mamas. However, zombies are notoriously hard to kill and if you gather enough zombies in a small area they can become a great force to reckon with. 

Luckily, crunchy moms attempt a non-violent approach to both childrearing and zombie killing. Trapping a zombie in a pit of concrete is the ideal way a fellow natural mama would handle such an attack.

Simply coax the zombies into a pit of approximately 6 or 7 feet in depth. Fill the pit with concrete – the concrete will harden around the zombies, effectively trapping them in place.

A non-violent, peaceful means of eliminating any zombie problem.

Kazzzz-am!

Vampire versus Crunchy Mom

Vampires can scale walls and shape shift into other forms, something which would be incredibly handy in any battle. They are also extremely fast and handsome in some cases which might deter any woman from killing such a delectable, yummy creature, especially if you have been reading raunchy vampire novels like Sookie Stackhouse or have seen that silly male stripper movie.  Yum.

Fortunately, crunchy moms know the miraculous benefits of vitamin D3 and sunlight (too many to list here but I encourage you to learn more and why you should take a D3 vitamin daily). A mere 10 seconds in direct sunlight would eliminate any good-looking (or bad-looking) vampire into a pile of ash.

Grate some garlic onto the pile for good measure since it’s usually handy during cold and flu season to boost immunity, naturally of course.

Fazzz-ow!

Ninja versus Crunchy Mom

Killing a ninja isn’t easy.

Only ninjas can kill ninjas. Regular humans are worthless.

Ninjas can breathe underwater and can change ten cloth diapers in less than 1 second.

Ninjas don’t ever smoke, but they do use smoke bombs on occasion.

Ninjas use any object skillfully, including diaper sprayers.

Ninjas can divide by zero.

Ninjas are never seen.

                “That guys is a ninja”

                “What guy?”

                “…I don’t know. Where’d he go?”

A crunchy mom would never harm a ninja because they are one in the same.

Crazy skilled, stealthy, effective …and cool as hell.

(this post is dedicated to my husband who knows I’ve been dieing to write about zombies, vampires and ninjas since starting my blog. Also, to my brother James who shares in my obsession with all things cool)

The Ineffective War on Breast Cancer

In the 1970’s, a woman had a 1 in 11 chance of developing breast cancer. Currently, the risk factor is said to have increased to 1 in 8. [1][2]

The United States has the most cases of breast cancer in the entire world, with one woman dieing of breast cancer every 15 minutes.[2][3]

Tamoxifen

Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded and sponsored by Imperial Chemical Industries in 1985, the world’s largest carcinogenic pesticide manufacturer. In 1993, Imperial Chemical demerged forming a separate company called Zeneca - AstraZeneca. All pink print, radio and visual ads for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Months are paid for and approved by AstraZeneca.[4][5][6] 

In addition to creating carcinogenetic pesticides, AstraZeneca produces Tamoxifen – the most popular pharmaceutical drug used in breast cancer patients. In May 2000, the New York Times reported that the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences included Tamoxifen on its list of substances that are known to cause cancer.[7]

Tamoxifen was noted in causing roughly one case of uterine cancer for every four cases of breast cancer it prevents.[8]

The risk of uterine cancer doubled in patients who took tamoxifen for two to five years, and spiked sevenfold among those who took it for five years or longer. My mother, last year, was prescribed tamoxifen to take for 10 years after her bout with breast cancer.[8] 

The treatment for uterine cancer is a hysterectomy.

In 1999, the journal Science published a study from Duke University Medical Center that showed that after 2 - 5 years, Tamoxifen, the most popular drug for treating breast cancer, actually initiated the growth of breast cancer.[9]

But what does this mean?

It means that AstraZeneca, the founder of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is the manufacturer of cancer-causing chemicals that cause cancer.

AstraZeneca, the founder of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is a manufacturer of a breast cancer treatment drug that causes cancer, including breast cancer.

This means we must start to look at cancer in an alternative way because what we are doing now is not preventative nor effective.

*****

It was in 1971 when President Nixon declared a war on cancer in his State of the Union speech and signed the National Cancer Act. Rather than being cured, cancer is poised to surpass cardiovascular disease and become America's leading killer.[10]

In 2008, cancer will take the lives of about 230,000 more Americans—69 percent more—than it did in 1971.[10]

Whenever I am asked to donate to a cancer organization, I bear in mind that my support would be given to sustain a failing, fraudulent industry. 

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, I am here to tell you  there is HOPE . . . progressive, effective and non-toxic alternative cancer treatments of which you may not even be aware of exist.

Alternative, all natural cancer treatments DO HELP. Empower yourself….continue to read about how we can help together!

Websites:

A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research Website

Cancer Alternative Therapies – Medline Plus Website

Burzynski Clinic Website

Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation Website

Books:

Donald Abrams, MD & Andrew Weil, MD

Integrative Oncology

Oxford University Press,, 2009

Provides a wealth of information for both practitioners and consumers on the emerging field of integrative oncology.

Joseph Beuth, MD & Ralph W. Moss, PhD

Complementary Oncology: Adjunctive Methods in the Treatment of Cancer

Thieme, 2005

Presents data on the efficacy of complementary methods, the necessary scientific background, and practical advice for introducing them into practice

John Boik, LAc., OMD, MAcOM

Natural Compounds in Cancer Therapy: Promising Nontoxic Antitumor Agents from Plants & Other Natural Sources

Oregon Medical Press, 2001

(Can be downloaded from www.ompress.com)

Sequel to Cancer and Natural Medicine - a systematic review of the actions, pharmacology, toxicology, and potential clinical use of over 36 natural compounds as anticancer agents.

John Boik, LAc., OMD, MAcOM

Cancer and Natural Medicine: A Textbook of Basic Science and Clinical Research

Oregon Medical Press, 1995

Systematically examines the principles by which anticancer agents may work, their potential uses, and contraindications.

(out of print but still available through Amazon)

Ralph W. Moss, PhD

Cancer Therapy: The Independent Consumer's Guide to Non-toxic Treatment and Prevention

Equinox Press, 1992

Summarizes information from human clinical trials and animal and test tube experiments on 103 alternative therapies including vitamins, minerals, herbs, diets, immune boosters, less-toxic drugs and other substances. Other books written by Moss include The Cancer Industry and Herbs Against Cancer.

H. Gilbert Welch, M.D., MPH

Should I be Tested for Cancer?: Maybe Not and Here's Why

University of California Press, 2004

Examines what diagnostic tests can and cannot do, why screening can do more harm than good, and how to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Peer Reviewed Journals

Alternative Medicine Review

http://www.thorne.com/index/mod/amr/a/amr

Phone: (800) 228-1966

Email: kelly@thorne.com

This journal reviews scientific research on alternative therapies, including anti-cancer and immune-modulating agents.

Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine

http://www.alternative-therapies.com

Phone: (800) 345-8112

A bimonthly clinical research journal with particular emphasis on mind/body approaches to wellness; has occasional articles on cancer.

Integrative Cancer Therapies (ICT)

http://ict.sagepub.com

This journal presents research, case studies, literature reviews, and educational roundtables, emphasizing scientific understanding of alternative medicine, traditional medicine therapies, and their responsible integration with conventional health care.

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

http://www.liebertpub.com/publication.aspx?pub_id=26

Phone: (914) 740-2100

Email: jacm-west@comcast.net

This clinical research journal is published 10 times a year and has occasional articles on cancer.

Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology (JSIO)

http://www.bcdecker.com/productDetails.aspx?BJID=329

Toll free: (800) 568-7281

Phone: (905) 522-7017

Email: customercare@bcdecker.com

Published quarterly, the journal provides information about the evidence-based utility of complementary therapies.

References:

[1]US Breast Cancer Statistics – BreastCancer.Org Website – last modified Mar 2012

[2]Breast Cancer Facts and Figures: 2009-2010. American Cancer Society. 2009.

[3]Bellenir, Karen, ed. 2009. Breast Cancer Sourcebook. 3rd ed. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics.

[4]Andrew Ross Sorkin. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; AstraZeneca and Novartis To Shed Agricultural Units.The New York Times. Dec 1999

[5]Imperial Chemical Industries PLC History

[6]Imperial Chemical Industries. ChemEurope.com

[7]U.S. Report Adds to List of Carcinogens.The New York Times. May 16 2000

[8]Wilhelmina Hoogendoorn, Harry Hollema, Hester van Boven, Elisabeth Bergman, Geri de Leeuw-Mantel, Inge Platteel, Renske Fles, Petra Nederlof, Marian Mourits, Flora van Leeuwen. Prognosis of uterine corpus cancer after tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. Dec 2007

[9]de M. Abukhdeir, Michele I. Vitolo, Pedram Argani, Angelo M. De Marzo, Bedri Karakas, Hiroyuki Konishi, John P. Gustin, Josh Lauring, Joseph P. Garay, Courtney Pendleton, Yuko Konishi, Brian G. Blair, Keith Brenner, Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer, Hetty Carraway, Kurtis E. Bachman, and Ben Ho Park. Tamoxifen-stimulated growth of breast cancer due to p21 loss. PNAS. Jan 2008

[10]Sharon Begley. We Fought Cancer…And Cancer Won. Newsweek Magazine. Sept 2008

Further Reading regarding Tamoxifen:

Bern HA. "The fragile fetus" in Chemically-induced alterations in sexual and functional development: the wildlife/human connection. Theo Colborn and Coralie Clement, Eds., part of Advances in modern environmental toxicology, M.A. Mehlman, Ed. (1992, Princeton Scientific: Princeton).

"Code of Federal Regulations," Title 21, Volume 1, Part 14, Subpart E, Sec. 14.80 and Subpart A, Sec. 14.1.

Comoglio A, et al. 1996. Effect of tamoxifen feeding on metabolic activation of tamoxifen by the liver of the rhesus monkey: does liver accumulation of inhibitory metabolites protect from tamoxifen-dependent genotoxicity and cancer? Carcinogenesis 17:1687-93.

Fisher B, et al. 1994. Endometrial cancer in tamoxifen- treated breast cancer patients: findings from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-14. J Natl Cancer Inst 86:527-37.

Fisher B, et al. 1998. Tamoxifen for prevention of breast cancer: report of the national surgical adjuvant breast and bowel project p-1 study.

J Natl Cancer Inst 90:1371-1388. Gail MH, et al. 1989. Projecting individualized probabilities of developing breast cancer for white females who are being examined annually.

J Natl Cancer Inst 81:1879-86. Guillot C, et al. 1996. Alteration of p53 damage response by tamoxifen treatment. Clin Cancer Res 2:1439-44.

Hemminki K, et al. 1996. Tamoxifen-induced DNA adducts in endometrial samples from breast cancer patients [see comments]. Cancer Res 56:4374-7.

Kedar RP, et al. 1994. Effects of tamoxifen on uterus and ovaries of postmenopausal women in a randomised breast cancer prevention trial [see comments]. Lancet 343(8909):1318-21.

Li D, et al. 1997. Effects of chronic administration of tamoxifen and toremifene on DNA adducts in rat liver, kidney and uterus. Cancer Res 57:1438-41.

McGonigle KF, et al. 1998. Abnormalities detected on transvaginal ultrasonography in tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal breast cancer patients may represent endometrial cystic atrophy.

Am J Obstet Gynecol 178:1145-50. Nephew KP, et al. 1996. Tamoxifen-induced proto-oncogene expression persists in uterine endometrial epithelium. Endocrinol 137:219-24.

Ogawa Y, et al. 1998. Tamoxifen-induced fatty liver in patients with breast cancer [letter]. Lancet 351(9104):725.

Okubo T, et al. 1998. DNA cleavage and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine formation caused by tamoxifen derivatives in vitro. Cancer Lett 122:9-15.

Powell-Jones W, et al. 1975. Influence of anti-oestrogens on the specific binding in vitro of (3H)oestradiol by cytosol of rat mammary tumours and human breast carcinomata. Biochem J 150:71-5.

Powles T, et al. 1998. Interim analysis of the incidence of breast cancer in the Royal Marsden Hospital tamoxifen randomised chemoprevention trial see comments]. Lancet 352(9122):98-101.

Rutgvist LE, et al. 1995. Adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for early stage breast cancer and second primary malignancies. J Natl Cancer Inst 87:645-51.

Shuibutani S, et al. 1997. Miscoding potential of tamoxifen-derived DNA adducts: alpha-(N2-deoxyguanosinyl) tamoxifen. Biochem 36:13010-17.

Simon R. 1995. Discovering the truth about tamoxifen: problems of multiplicity in statistical evaluation of biomedical data. J Natl Cancer Inst 87:627-29.

Smith MA, et al. 1997. Role of independent data-monitoring committees in randomized clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

J Clin Oncol 15:2736-43. Vancutsem PM, et al. 1994. Frequent and specific mutations of the rat p53 gene in eptocarcinomas induced by tamoxifen. Cancer Res 54:3864-7.

Veronesi U, et al. 1998. Prevention of breast cancer with tamoxifen: preliminary findings from the Italian randomised trial among hysterectomized women. Italian tamoxifen prevention study [see comments]. Lancet 352(9122):93-7.

Wilking N, et al. 1991. Breast cancer prevention with tamoxifen: results from a randomized trial in early breast cancer (meeting abstract). Proc Annu Am Soc Clin Oncol 10:A58.

Zimniski SJ, et al. 1993. Induction of tamoxifen-dependent rat mammary tumors. Cancer Res 53:2937-39. l.g om

The Best Birth Plan

This is by no doubt the best birth plan I have ever read. It is posted on Timothy McSweeney’s Pyramid Schemes Contain Obtuse Angles blog.

It is hilarious, witty, and fun – enjoy!

Dear

Hospital Staff:

Thank you and congratulations for being on shift for the birth of our child. The following sets forth our wishes for our stay. If a medical emergency requires you to deviate from this plan, please refer to “Jamie and Jeff’s Emergency Birth Plan.” (Tab J) Please note: Jamie is RH Negative and BPA-free.

Philosophy

While we do not have a traditional “philosophy” of “childbirth,” we have been heavily influenced by orthodox Wholefoodism and the “(d)well baby/good design” movement. We believe strongly in the power of the female body and a long-term night nurse. We are opposed to torture/gluten. In the event you are ever unsure how to proceed today, please ask yourself, “What Would Gwyneth Do?”

Environment

We would like mood lighting, like on Virgin America.

The following people, who were with us at conception, will again be in the room with us today: Jeff’s mom; Jeff’s sister; Jeff’s sister’s friend, Melanie (plus 2); Jeff Koons.

Please provide WiFi so we can check what you say against Wikipedia and our favorite mom blogs.

Music is very important to us, as music was playing in the Mongolian yurt when we first made love.

In lieu of a traditional hospital gown, Jamie would prefer to be dressed like Zooey Deschanel in 500 Days of Summer.

Please avoid any use of the words “pulsate,” “soiled,” or “octo” in the delivery room.

Prep

Jamie would prefer no enema or shaving of pubic hair. If shaving is necessary, she would prefer something in the shape of a vuvuzela. Jeff’s pubic hair should NOT be shaved.

Jeff would like an IV.

Labor

Please generally avoid procedures that are totally unnecessary or excruciatingly painful.

Jamie would like Jeff to do the pushing whenever possible.

We have chosen a Doctor (“Mr. Cooper”) because he shares our desire for a natural, low-intervention birth. Mr. Cooper will deliver the baby via Skype from his home in Taos

.

If Jamie starts to sob uncontrollably during labor, please turn off The Notebook. In the event the crying continues, please administer the following drugs to Jeff (per Mr. Cooper): Darvocet, Diamorphine, Vicodin, Medical Marijuana.

If induction is necessary, Jamie would like to try the following before Pitocin is administered: walking, stretching, flipping over, rolfing, online browsing, nipple stimulation and/or sexual intercourse.

Nipple stimulation should be done by the resident Jamie met on the tour who looks like Benjamin Bratt.

Delivery

We strongly prefer a girl.

If you have not already done so, please now take a few minutes and read Early Admission: How to Deliver an Ivy League Baby!

Jeff will remain in the squatting position throughout delivery.

When the crown of the head appears, please turn down the music as Jeff will be reading aloud from Be Here Now by Ram Dass.

Please, no texting while suctioning.

Jamie would like a mirror so that she can see the horrible expression on her face if it’s a boy.

IMPORTANT: if the baby appears to be black, please immediately escort Jeff out of the room and bring in Jeremy Rayburn from the 5th Floor waiting area.

In the event of a Cesarean, please practice Western medicine.

Post-Birth

We are interested in the following preschools: St. James, The Schoolhouse at Cedar Point, or Kidsplace. Willow Glen is ONLY a backup.

Jamie would like Jeff circumcised.

Please do not cut the cord until we are through the toddler years.

We would like the baby certified organic by Oregon Tilth.

Please don’t put the baby on a scale, as we don’t want her to have the same body image issues as her fat mom.

We would like to donate the placenta to the people of the Gulf

Coast.

We ask that the baby be bathed in our presence, in the delivery room, in San Pellegrino.

Per Mr. Cooper, do not feed the baby mussels.

Per Gisele Bundchen, do not give the baby a bottle (i.e. chemicals) for at least 6 months.

If the baby must be taken from the room because of a medical emergency, we would like Jeff to accompany the child. (In this scenario, Benjamin Bratt would stay with Jamie. Please maintain mood lighting and insert the CD in Jamie’s handbag labeled, WHEN JEFF LEAVES.)

We will not be vaccinating our baby. Please vaccinate all other babies on this floor.

Namaste,
Jeff and Jamie

You're Just F*ing Crazy

Holistic Parenting, otherwise known as “You’re just F*ing Crazy” by grandparents, some friends, neighbors and the occasional acquaintance...

In the beginning, I didn’t even know that there was a name for this kind of lifestyle or that there were other parents out there that felt as passionately as I do about the inherent connection between our spirit, our minds, our bodies and our overall wellbeing and happiness.  

For me and many other parents, this holistic belief has us choosing parenting choices that might abandon convenience and common practices (choices such as co-sleeping, cloth diapering, natural childbirth, home schooling, etc).

There are many diverse paths we all travel in our lives and each person’s journey we encounter contains a lesson to impart on us – this is mine and here are the aspects of why I use a holistic (“crazy”) parenting approach.

Connection to the Self

The focus on personal growth is the foundation of what I find holistic parenting to be. Fostering your own curiosity, confidence and happiness has tremendous effects on children.

When I know who I am and what my purpose in life is, I can help facilitate that in my children – empowering them to choose their own course in life.

One way I do this is making purposeful decisions - to educate myself and make informed parenting decisions around such issues as childbirth, breastfeeding, healthcare/wellbeing, communication, nutrition, and education.

Connection with Others

It is important as a parent to appreciate human dignity – it’s about learning the values of respect, simplicity, sharing and cooperation. How can we expect our children to share and be kind to others if we don’t on a daily basis?

We can do this by learning to be sensitive to differences, to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence (emotional or physical), and to learn tolerance and acceptance of others.

We are all, indeed, connected to a greater Whole – more then we will ever be able to imagine in our current state of humanness. How can we attempt to learn more about our interconnectedness?

Spread good.

Give something good to every person you meet; a smile, a thank you, a positive thought.

Through our connection and interactions with others is how we learn and grow in our own selves (while helping others as well!).

Connection with Nature

Children seem to be the best teachers when it comes to their connection with nature - their innate curious spirit on how the world works. Being a parent, we are blessed to have a glimpse of the world through their eyes.  

It wasn’t so long ago that humans and nature closely coexisted – meaning that our very survival depended on listening to and feeling our connection with nature (relying on plants for medicine, navigating with stars and tilling the land with help from animals to plant our food).  

Our advances in convenience and technology aren’t necessarily bad (there have been some truly remarkable things we’ve accomplished), though we need to keep things in perspective: we are part of nature and can not be removed from it without consequences (be-it physically, mentally, or emotionally).   

Looking at parenting through a holistic scope starts with walking the path of discovery with our children and participating in their investigation of the mysteries of life.

(picture origin here)

Why I Don't Use Sunscreen

Last week at the pool...


Mother-in-Law: “You or the kids need any sunscreen? We’ve got some in our bag.”

Husband: “Uh, no – we’re good. Everything’s taken care of mom.”


Truth be told – we don’t use sunscreen.

Now, would I willingly divulge that information to ‘Grandma’ – hell no. Sometimes it’s just better to pretend your ‘normal’. Though, you can’t trick everyone.

- - -

As is stands, the majority of experts (including the FDA in 2007 and the National Cancer Institute) admit that there is no solid proof that using sunscreens can protect against skin cancer.[1][2][3][4]

According to research, it may do the opposite.[5][6][9][10]

Say what?!

Let me clarify exactly what is known and you determine if using sunscreen is a suitable option for you.

Type of Cancer Matters

According to an editorial published (Feb 2006) in Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI):

“Solar radiation is a well-established skin carcinogen, responsible for more cancers worldwide than any other single agent.”

Now, this is true (from what we currently understand). But wait - the type of skin cancer is not clarified.

Why does that matter? Well, it matters for two reasons:

Reason One: True, solar radiation (aka, being out in the sun) may cause you to develop benign tumor cells.

The cancer that solar radiation causes is not melanoma but rather other types of benign tumors.

Reason Two: Blocking solar radiation may cause you to develop malignant tumors/cancer called melanoma.

Melanoma is the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer – it is malignant and can quickly spread to other parts of the body which often leads to death.

Melanoma is caused by lack of sunlight. This is because vitamin D (which our bodies are able to produce from exposure to UVB rays emitted by the sun) is very important in preventing melanoma.

Vitamin D production is blocked by sunscreen over a SPF of 8 

In the same editorial mentioned above, the authors admit:

“Evidence is beginning to emerge that sunlight exposure, particularly as it relates to vitamin D synthesized in the skin under the influence of solar radiation, might have a beneficial influence for certain cancers.”

Vitamin D, Sunscreen and Cancer

Why does sunlight exposure benefit us and reduce the rate of the more deadly cancer – melanoma? This is because sunlight (UVB rays) stimulates production of vitamin D in the skin.

Vitamin D has been shown to prevent all cancers in women (breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, multiple myeloma…etc). The use of sunscreen with as little as SPF8 blocks up to 95% of vitamin D production.[7][8]

Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D is attained primarily through ultraviolet exposure alone. Although some foods such as anglefish liver, cow’s blood (no joke) and high-vitamin cod liver oil (HVCLO) do contain the highest sources for vitamin D – I’m going to go out on a limb and say most of us aren’t eating these foods regularly.

Combine the lack of intake in vitamin D foods and the habitual use of high-SPF sunscreen and you get a recipe for increasing your risk of cancer.

Carcinogenic Ingredients in Your Sunscreen

Vitamin A

Approximately half of all sunscreens on the market contain vitamin A (derivatives such as retinol and retinyl palmitate). According to studies completed in 2009 by the FDA, these ingredients are photocarcinogenic. This means that they become toxic when exposed to sunlight - causing tumors and lesions over 20% faster than if you are lucky enough to have a sunscreen without these derivatives.[9][10]



Other photocarcinogenic ingredients used in sunscreen are PABA, benzophenones, cinnamates, salicylates, certain fragrances such as musk and 6-methylcoumarin.[10] [11][12]

The Key is Moderation

The idea that sun exposure may have a beneficial effect on certain cancers is nothing new (dating back to as early as 1988).[13]


Where does this leave us exactly? Should we abandon the use of sunscreen and burn ourselves to a crisp? To do so would be clearly foolish because while some sun exposure is a good thing, excessive amounts can still burn us.

Clearly, our relationship with the sun is a paradoxical one: Sunburning initiates melanoma whereas long-term moderate sun exposure inhibits it.

‘All things in moderation’ is the advice of a Geek poet Hesiod (dating back as early as 700 BC). The evidence is mounting that this is very sound advice when it comes to sun exposure.


As we enjoy our summer, my advice would be the following:


1. Apply ample amounts of common sense as that what moderation is.

2. Use caution during peak hours (10am-4pm) by covering up with light clothing, wearing a hat, using sunglasses, etc.

3. Check the local UV Index at the EPA website.

4. Use an internal sunscreen – astaxanthin. This antioxidant is more than 500 times stronger than vitamin E and 10 times stronger than vitamin A. It can enhances the immune system, helping to reduce the inflammation that leads to sunburn.[14]

5. Throw away your sunscreen. It contributes to cancer.



Reference:

[1]Sunscreen and Skin Cancer – the Science. 2012 Environmental Working Group 

[2]Rachel Haywood, Peter Wardman^*, Roy Sanders and Claire Linge. Sunscreens Inadequately Protect Against Ultraviolet-A-Induced Free Radicals in Skin: Implications for Skin Aging and Melanoma?. Journal of Investigational Dermatology. Vol 121; 862-868.Jan 2003

[3]Harri Vainio^*, Anthony B. Miller, Franca Bianchini. An international evaluation of the cancer–preventive potential of sunscreens. International Journal of Cancer. Vol 88, Issue 5; 838-842. Dec 2000

[4]Johan Westerdahl, Christian Ingvar, Anna Måsbäck, Håkan Olsson.Sunscreen use and malignant melanoma. Internaional Journal of Cancer. Vol87, Issue 1; 145-150. Jul 2000

[5]Philippe Autier, Jean-François Doré, Eugène Schifflers, Jean-Pierre Cesarini, Anne Bollaerts, Klaus F. Koelmel, Olaf Gefeller, André Liabeuf, Ferdy Lejeune,Danièle Lienard, Marie Joarlette, Philippe Chemaly, Ulrich R. Kleeberg. Melanoma and use of sunscreens: An EORTC case-control study in germany, belgium and france. International Journal of Cancer. Vol 61 Issue 6 749-755. June 1995

[6]Johan Westerdahl, Christian Ingvar, Anna Måsbäck, Håkan Olsson.Sunscreen use and malignant melanoma. Internaional Journal of Cancer. Vol87, Issue 1; 145-150. Jul 2000

[7]Holick MF . Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Dec 2004

[8]Sayre, Robert M.; John C. Dowdy . Darkness at Noon: Sunscreens and Vitamin D₃. Photochemistry and Photobiology 83 (2): 459–63.2007

[9]Sonya Lunder, MPH

. What Scientists Say About Vitamin A In Sunscreen. Environmental Working Group (EWG). June 2001

[10] Harmful Sunscreen Ingredients, Sunscreen Ratings. HeathHype.com 

[11]Sarah Malburg. Hidden Sunscreen Dangers, Causing Cancer?. Environmental Working Group (EWG). May 2011

[12] Liz Witter. Sunscreen Ingredient May Cause Cancer.Your News Now (YNN). June 2010

[13] Matsuoka LY, Wortsman J, Hanifan N, Holick MF. Chronic sunscreen use decreases circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. A preliminary study. Arch Dermatol. Vol 124(12);1802-1804. Dec 1988

[14] Sunscreen in a Pill. ScienceDaily. Nov 2007