2010 May/June Newsletter
Welcome!
Here at the Herbal Path, we’re rolling into summer! This newsletter was emailed in late May. The email included a welcome message, “teasers” for articles, and information about upcoming events. The articles are on this page in their entirety. (Click titles to jump to articles.)
NEW! Herbal Path Community Marketplace
Making Sense of Sunscreen
Staying Fit with Cristyn Peters
You can sign up to receive the newsletter (and coupons!) via email on our website: www.herbalpath.com.
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By May Grose
Are you looking for some more ‘local’ in your life? Thinking of making a change this season to eating more local and nutritous foods? Maybe you are looking for tools to help your body balance in today’s hectic routine? Well, the Herbal Path has just what you need!
Introducing: The Herbal Path Community Marketplace
Come enjoy a relaxed and family-friendly environment with local farmers, homemade baking, natural healers, herbalists, and craftspeople! We will be providing a one-stop shopping experience for you to achieve all your health & wellness purchasing needs! Beginning June 1st, we will be gathering every Tuesday from noon to 5 pm. The Marketplace will continue all season long, ending on September 28th.
Don’t miss out on this chance to support your neighbors and achieve your goals on your path to vibrant wellness!
Currently confirmed for our first Market on Tuesday, June 1st:
Journey to Wellness
NESHHA (New England Seacoast Holistic Health Association)
Tuttle Family Farm
Life is Sweet Baking
Uma Joy Designs
Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus
Check back with the Herbal Path weekly to see who’s attending the Marketplace. (The Community Market has it’s own page right here on our blog for updates!) Look for store specials every Tuesday during Marketplace hours. Remember, your health is your wealth, so treat yourself to the best there is!
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By Marci Kuegel
This article will help to identify some of the issues surrounding sun exposure and protection, summarize the current controversies, and provide some practical recommendations for sun safety.
First: What is the danger from the sun?
The sun produces UV radiation that is potentially harmful to humans. UVB radiation affects the surface layers of the skin, causing sunburn and skin aging. UVB can also cause direct DNA damage, and is thought to cause two forms of skin cancer (squamos cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma).
UVA radiation does not cause sunburn (but does cause tanning), and was initially thought to be harmless. Now it is believed that UVA damages the deeper layers of the skin, contributing to skin aging. UVA also causes indirect DNA damage through the production of free radicals, and is more likely to be the cause of malignant melanomas, the most deadly form of skin cancer.
Important Facts: The SPF rating of products refers ONLY to UVB production. The United States does not currently have a rating system in place for UVA protection.
Also Important: There’s a reason we’re not nocturnal! Sun can cause damage, but it’s also vital for our health. UVB rays trigger the production of vitamin D in our bodies, which is an essential vitamin for supporting mood, bone health, and more. Some studies have shown that a lack of sunlight exposure can increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Second: What do sunscreen products do?
The FDA has approved 17 ingredients for use in sunscreen products in the United States. Active sunscreen ingredients fall into two categories: “organic” (chemical) ingredients and “inorganic” (physical) ingredients. The organic ingredients (such as octinoxate and avobenzone) act like a sponge, creating a protective film on top of the skin and absorbing the UV radiation before it reaches the body. The inorganic ingredients (like zinc oxide) are insoluble particles that act like a barrier, reflecting UV radiation away from the body.
Most of the sunscreen ingredients are effective against either UVA or UVB rays (not both). Sunscreens generally contain a combination of ingredients to make them more effective against both types of radiation. (Note: There are NO government regulations regarding the use of terms like “broad spectrum” or “complete protection.” These claims do not necessarily mean a product protects against both UVA and UVB.)
Third: What’s the controversy?
Are sunscreen ingredients absorbed into our bodies?
Things we apply topically have the potential to be absorbed into our bloodstream and travel through our bodies. Some things are more easily absorbed than others. For instance, oxybenzone tends to be absorbed and accumulate in our tissues, while octisalate is not well absorbed on its own but does tend to increase the absorption of other ingredients.
The inorganic ingredients (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) are not absorbed into the skin. Recent studies reported by the Environmental Working Group have found this to be true even of the micronized and nano-particle forms of these ingredients. However, any product that is in a spray/aerosol form or a powder form can easily be inhaled and enter our bodies through our lungs. Also, ANY ingredients that are in a lip product will tend to be ingested and shoudl be checked with extra thoroughness.
How effective are sunscreen ingredients?
It varies. Some ingredients block UVB, others block UVA, and a few block both. These ingredients are included in products at different concentrations (5%, 10%, 20%). These shoudl be listed on the label, and will make a big difference in how well the product works. You can look up individual ingredients at the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database (www.cosmeticdatabase.com) to see their effectiveness at a range of concentrations.
Are sunscreen ingredients bad for the environment?
It’s hard to say at this point. Chemical sunscreen ingredients have been linked with coral bleaching, and zinc oxide can accumulate in our water sources and wildlife. It seems safe to say that an increase of sunscreen ingredients in our water and soil could ultimately lead to an increase in our ingestion of those ingredients through our food sources.
Will my body still make vitamin D if I wear sunscreen?
Wearing sunscreen with an SPF as low as 8 can lower your body’s production of vitamin D by 95%. Your body will still produce vitamin D, but at a much slower rate.
Fourth: What sunscreen ingredients are safe?
Of the 17 FDA-approved sunscreen ingredients, none meet the perfect standard of being 100% safe and 100% effective. Many of the chemical ingredients create free radicals when exposed to sunlight (the same problem they are supposed to be preventing!). Others may have estrogenic and hormone-disruptive effects.
The physical ingredients (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) have their own problems. Titanium dioxide will create free radicals when exposed to sunlight unless it is coated with another ingredient, such as silica. Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are potentially toxic to humans when inhaled (which can happen with powder and spray products).
Fifth: What should I do?
Don’t Panic!
There’s plenty to worry about these days. Making smart choices about what we put in and on our bodies is important, but if I got to the beach and realized I’d forgotten my sunscreen, I wouldn’t turn down Coppertone if someone offered it to me.
Cover Up When You Can
When possible, limit your exposure to the sun between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, and get outside in the morning and evening instead. Hats, sunglasses, and long sleeves may not fit the current bare-it-all summer style, but they will help protect your skin. Specially made sun-protective clothing can help (these clothes increase their UV protective factor in several ways, including adding titanium dioxide fibers to the fabric), but any clothing will have some benefit. Tight-weave, loose-fitting fabrics in dark colors are generally more protective. A white cotton t-shirt may have a UPF of 5-7, while a denim shirt can have a UPF as high as 1700. Don’t forget that we can get a significant amount of sun exposure when we’re driving!
Since staying in and covering up will significantly reduce the amount of vitamin D your body can produce, a supplement may be a good idea. Megafood’s Vitamin D3 is a whole food, vegetarian source of D3 that is easily absorbed by your body and comes in 400, 1000, and 2000 IU potencies. Rainbow Light’s Sunny Gummies are a delicious choice for kids or anyone who doesn’t like to swallow pills.
Read Labels Carefully
In general, I would recommend zinc oxide as the safest choice for a sunscreen product, as long as you are using it in a lotion form. It is unlikely to cause allergic skin reactions, does not produce free radicals, and protects against a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB radiation. The most common complaint about zinc oxide is its white color. Some sunscreen products use nano particles or micronized zinc oxide to reduce the opacity of the lotion after it is applied. The Badger Sunscreens, which come in SPF 30 (unscented and lavender scent) are a great choice, as is the Keys sunscreen.
Use Sunscreen Where You Need It, When You Need It
When you know you’ll be getting a lot of sun, use sunscreen on unprotected areas (face, ears, neck, hands, feet).
Boost Your Antioxidants
Antioxidants are free radical scavengers, and are a great way to protect yourself. Antioxidants can come from a variety of sources, including food, topical products, and internal supplements. Food sources include superfruit juices like Mangosteen and Acai, Chia seeds, green tea, and of course frutis and vegetables! Topically, some choices woudl be Grateful Body’s Supernatural Antioxidants and Derma-e’s Pycnogenol and Tropical Solutions lines.
There are many wonderful internal antioxidant supplement choices. Resveratrol, pycnogenol, alpha lipoic acid, grape seed extract, and turmeric are just a few of the supplements available. The Herbal Path offers all of these as individual supplements, and also has combination products like New Chapter’s Supercritical Antioxidants and Garden of Life’s RAW Antioxidants.
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By Cristyn Peters
“Be better” — two simple words that can make a world of difference in your life, your relationships, and your health. For the purpose of this article we are going to focus on the concept of extraordinary health. After all, what do you really have to work with if you don’t have your health? The pursuit of health, high energy and relentless mental and physical well-being is somethign we can all relate to. Get clear on any outcome and you will realize that health, and the above mentioned, are truly prerequisites to the results we desire.
We are always moving. The world is always in motion. We are either living or dying and never standing still. Being better equals forward motion. Ongoing betterment is where learning never ends. Consider the following: A man sees a woman of his every desire on an island in the middle of moving waters. In a boat, he rows towards her, hoping to reach her. Just when he is almost there he stops and takes a nap. He appears still, but to the water, the world, he is in motion and he is caught in the current which takes him away from his intended destination. Well versed in physical change, I know that stagnation is not allowed. Failure to move forward equals failure to succeed. We are either on our way to betterment or we are losing ground. Are we excelling at health, or moving toward illness?
This current economy has engaged people in exploring the concepts of the simpler things in life. We are more health conscious. While the United States may be having a problem with the economy, most of the alternative health care entities I see are not. People are paying attention to themselves and the betterment of their own precious health.
What I do come across, when it comes to individuals wanting better health, is false beliefs. False beliefs are a trap. A self-limiting false belief I hear all too frequently is “I know what to do. I just don’t do it.” How do we change and modify such flawed thinking which leads to limited outcomes? Explore your beliefs. A need to know one’s beliefs and whether or not they are based on reality and not misinformation is key to becoming better. Mindsets will change. There will be a heightened sense of possibilities, power, and success. Having control over inner mechanics will only steer us to the future and give us the power to move forward. A sense of helplessness will get you nowhere. Commit to beliefs that are based on sound science and practice; form beliefs and work to maintain them. The results will be so extraordinary that the work will become virtually effortless.
Here at The Herbal Path it is our passion to support you in the quest towards better health. We offer options that are based on sound science and practice. We will assist you in sorting through the widespread deceptions and misinformation out there that support false beliefs. Remember false beliefs lead to limited outcomes. We will help you to know and achieve improvement. We will help you be better.
Growth is self-perpetuating and we reap what we sow. Magnify your character by giving something away or giving something back — even if it is as simple as a smile. Eliminate the words “can’t” and “but” from your vocabulary. They are self-limiting. Be responsible for your health. That is “response” – “able.” We are “able” to “respond.” We are able to know exceptional performance. We are able to create incredible change. We are able to “be better.”
Cristyn Peters has national certifications in Personal Training, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Coaching. She has helped hundreds of people in their missiontowards excellent health and wellness. She has limited openings for new clients and can be reached at www.cristynpeters.com or 603-817-4498. Her office is in the Journey to Wellness next door to the Herbal Path in Dover, NH.
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