Ah, the glory days of summertime and vitamin sunshine! You may be aware that the winter blues are associated with vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun exposure. Vitamin D supports healthy bones, immune function and blood cell formation. Did you know that 42% or more Americans are vitamin D deficient? Deficiency of vitamin D is linked to mood swings, depression, fatigue, chronic skin issues, and other imbalances. The good news is vitamin D abounds in the summertime--thanks to the sunshine! Vitamin D is unique to other vitamins, which are generally obtained from food, in that most of your vitamin D is produced in your skin in response to sunlight. To maintain healthy vitamin D levels, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 5-15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a few days a week.While soaking up some sun sure feels good and is vital for health, there are certainly risks to too much sun exposure. Ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) are two types of sun rays that travel through the earth’s atmosphere and reach your body. UVA rays penetrate the top layer of your skin. While UVA rays are not likely to cause sunburn, they are linked to increased risk of skin cancer and cause wrinkles, leathery skin and sunspots.UVB rays affect the top layer of your skin and cause the infamous sunburn. They are also one of the major causes of skin cancer. It is important to note that UVB rays are highest between 10 am and 4 pm. Aside from getting your recommended unprotected sun exposure, it is important to protect yourself from the sun during that time of day.When people think of protection from the sun, sunscreen is the first thing to come to mind. However, your sunscreen may not be as safe as you think. Have you ever read the ingredients on bottle? Most contain toxic ingredients or endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals that can influence skin cancer growth. In fact, skin cancer rates have risen since sunscreen use began! There are some great natural sunscreens on the market--you just need to know what to look for. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) makes choosing a sunscreen easier-- here is a great guide to help you find a safer sunscreen this season.Something you will notice when looking at natural sunscreens is that most of them contain plant oils. This is because many plant oils have a natural SPF (sun protection factor). In case you were wondering, SPF is a measure of how long the sunscreen protects your skin from sunburn caused by UVB rays. For example, if you would generally burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure, an SPF of 15 should allow you 15 times longer (150 minutes) in the sun before burning.The following is a list of plant oils contained in Edye’s Organic Face and Body Butter and their associated SPF:Avocado Oil: SPF 4-10 (can be as high as 15)Coconut Oil: SPF 4-6Shea Butter: SPF 4-6Extra Virgin Olive Oil: SPF 2-8Grapeseed Oil: SPF 4Carrot Seed Oil: SPF 35-40Camellia Oil:SPF 3-5Use Edye’s Organic Face and Body Butter as an extra level of skin protection to improve the SPF of your natural sunscreen. Also apply Edye's Naturals after sun exposure, to help moisturize and nourish your skin.In the case of sunburn, Edye’s Organic Face and Body Butter is soothing and can help repair the skin. Have sunspots?Put on some Edye’s Naturals and see the healing effects for yourself.Enjoy the sunshine this season in a healthy way! Get your vitamin D and prepare to protect yourself from excess sun. Choose a natural sunscreen, use Edye’s Naturals before and after sun exposure, wear protective clothing, avoid the high-sun period (10am-4pm), find some shade, and don’t forgot your sunglasses!
Ah, the glory days of summertime and vitamin sunshine! You may be aware that the winter blues are associated with vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun exposure. Vitamin D supports healthy bones, immune function and blood cell formation. Did you know that 42% or more Americans are vitamin D deficient? Deficiency of vitamin D is linked to mood swings, depression, fatigue, chronic skin issues, and other imbalances. The good news is vitamin D abounds in the summertime--thanks to the sunshine! Vitamin D is unique to other vitamins, which are generally obtained from food, in that most of your vitamin D is produced in your skin in response to sunlight. To maintain healthy vitamin D levels, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 5-15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a few days a week.While soaking up some sun sure feels good and is vital for health, there are certainly risks to too much sun exposure. Ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB) are two types of sun rays that travel through the earth’s atmosphere and reach your body. UVA rays penetrate the top layer of your skin. While UVA rays are not likely to cause sunburn, they are linked to increased risk of skin cancer and cause wrinkles, leathery skin and sunspots.UVB rays affect the top layer of your skin and cause the infamous sunburn. They are also one of the major causes of skin cancer. It is important to note that UVB rays are highest between 10 am and 4 pm. Aside from getting your recommended unprotected sun exposure, it is important to protect yourself from the sun during that time of day.When people think of protection from the sun, sunscreen is the first thing to come to mind. However, your sunscreen may not be as safe as you think. Have you ever read the ingredients on bottle? Most contain toxic ingredients or endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals that can influence skin cancer growth. In fact, skin cancer rates have risen since sunscreen use began! There are some great natural sunscreens on the market--you just need to know what to look for. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) makes choosing a sunscreen easier-- here is a great guide to help you find a safer sunscreen this season.Something you will notice when looking at natural sunscreens is that most of them contain plant oils. This is because many plant oils have a natural SPF (sun protection factor). In case you were wondering, SPF is a measure of how long the sunscreen protects your skin from sunburn caused by UVB rays. For example, if you would generally burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure, an SPF of 15 should allow you 15 times longer (150 minutes) in the sun before burning.The following is a list of plant oils contained in Edye’s Organic Face and Body Butter and their associated SPF:Avocado Oil: SPF 4-10 (can be as high as 15)Coconut Oil: SPF 4-6Shea Butter: SPF 4-6Extra Virgin Olive Oil: SPF 2-8Grapeseed Oil: SPF 4Carrot Seed Oil: SPF 35-40Camellia Oil:SPF 3-5Use Edye’s Organic Face and Body Butter as an extra level of skin protection to improve the SPF of your natural sunscreen. Also apply Edye's Naturals after sun exposure, to help moisturize and nourish your skin.In the case of sunburn, Edye’s Organic Face and Body Butter is soothing and can help repair the skin. Have sunspots?Put on some Edye’s Naturals and see the healing effects for yourself.Enjoy the sunshine this season in a healthy way! Get your vitamin D and prepare to protect yourself from excess sun. Choose a natural sunscreen, use Edye’s Naturals before and after sun exposure, wear protective clothing, avoid the high-sun period (10am-4pm), find some shade, and don’t forgot your sunglasses!
Will you ever make a sunscreen?