Chemical free sun protection

While sunscreens block the UV rays, they also reduce your body's ability to produce vitamin D by as much as 97.5%, which can cause it's own health problems. Vitamin D is needed for such things as:
* cardiovascular health
* to maintain optimal cholesterol levels
* to enhance muscular strength
* to maintain optimal blood pressure levels
* to maintain a healthy immune system
* to support healthy kidney function
* to support healthy teeth
* keeps your bones strong

Sunlight is the best way to get vitamin D3. There are natural food sources, but it is minimal. Supplementation, such as cod liver oil is helpful but can take up to 6 months to normalize your vitamin D level. Sunblock is necessary if you are not able to limit your sun exposure and to avoid burning. Studies have shown people who spend more time outdoors without getting sunburned decrease their risk of melanoma.

Most commercial sunscreens contain chemicals which in themselves can cause serious health problems. These chemicals are absorbed through your skin and end up in your bloodstream. Harmful chemicals in sunscreens:
* para amino benzoic acid
* octyl salicyclate
* avobenzone
* oxybenzoine
* cinoxate
* padimate o
* dioxybenzone
* phenylbenzimidazole
* homosalate
* sulisobenzone
* menthyl anthranilate
* tromamine salicyclate
* octocrylene
Oxybenzone and Dioxybenzone are two of the most powerful free radical generators known to man.

So what can you use as a sunscreen and be safe? I've read that coconut oil works well as long as you don't eat polyunsaturated fat (which you shouldn't be eating anyway). Also Mercola.com has a 100% all-natural sunscreen called Natural Sunscreen that we use in our household and it works very well. It contains green tea, lecithin, coconut oil, glycerine, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, vitamin e, shea butter and eucalyptus oil.

I am not an affiliate for Mercola.com, nor was I paid to write about this product. I truly believe in natural products and avoiding chemical sunscreen products, and wanted to pass along something that works.

How dangerous are those dryer sheets?

The toxins in your dryer sheets could be causing health problems for you and your family. Do you know what is in dryer sheets?

*Benzyl Acetate - linked to pancreatic cancer
*Benzyl Alcohol - upper respiratory tract irritant
*Ethanol - can cause central nervous system disorders
*A-Terpineol - can cause respiratory problems including fatal edema, & central nervous system damage
*Ethyl Acetate - a narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste List
*Camphor - causes central nervous system disorders
*Chloroform - neurotoxin, anesthetic, and carcinogen
*Linalool - a narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
*Pentane - a chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

So what can you use instead of dryer sheets to soften your clothes? You can make your own dryer sheets by placing a teaspoon of natural, fragrance-free hair conditioner on a cotton cloth. Or soften your clothes while in the washer by adding a small amount of baking soda to the wash water. You can also replace your laundry detergent with a fragrance-free, chemical free laundry soap. Solay has an all-natural laundry soap that contains a soy-based fabric softener. If you're interested in checking out their line of cleaning products, click on the Solay link on the right, and then select "Home Cleaners."


The information on dryer sheets was provided by Natural News. If you want more information on other natural cleaners, such as dish soap and air fresheners, CLICK HERE.

Sun exposure finally declared healthy

We're constantly told to avoid sun exposure, and to use sunscreens whenever we're outside. I read a very interesting article from Dr. William Douglass, stating that the sun is actually good for our health. Here is his article:

"Sun exposure finally declared healthy

The fact that the sun is actually good for you isn't exactly news these days. But in most cases, even people who recognize its benefits still say that they don't override its harmful effects.

Until now.

A new study was recently released suggesting that the health benefits of the sun actually OUTWEIGH its risks-specifically the risk of skin cancer. Wow. That might be the closest they've ever gotten to getting it right.

Everyone's worried about developing malignant melanoma, but as I've written before, the sun DOES NOT cause melanoma or any other kind of fatal cancer. Dermatologists continually warn that it does, but they have absolutely no scientific basis for this assertion. Of course, if you want to spend hours and hours in the sun, it'll turn your skin dark and leathery, and you'll wind up looking like a shriveled prune. But it won't give you skin cancer."

To read his full article, click here

Extreme cold weather safety tips

With extremely cold weather forecast for our area of the Northern United States for this weekend, I decided to post some cold weather tips from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

About Winter weather:
Exposure to cold temperatures, indoors and outdoors, can cause serious or life-threatening problems, especially for infants and the elderly. To keep yourself and your family safe, you should know how to prevent cold related problems and what to do if a cold weather emergency arises. For more information, click here.

Take steps:
Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems. Click here for some steps you can do to prepare.

Stay safe and healthy:
Serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. The most common cold-related problems are hypothermia and frostbite. For more information on hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide, and power outages, click here.