Summer is coming to an end. But, let’s not be fooled into thinking it’s okay to stop wearing our sunscreen. The greatest thing you can do for your skin is to protect it from the damaging rays of the sun throughout all the seasons. However, many of us are misled in the effectiveness of our sunscreen. Actually, the EWG, a nonprofit research organization, found that only 8 percent of sunscreens evaluated for cancer and aging of the skin prevention were effective in 2010.
In addition, some compounds in the sunscreen may be contributing to toxin buildup, harming the ecosystem, allergic skin issues, hormonal imbalance and increasing our risk of skin cancer , like oxybenzone, ocintoxate, and Vit A, respectively.
Most confusing is the SPF number on the sunscreens. It has nothing to do with the damaging effects of UVA rays. The sun emits UVA (increase aging and cancer risk) and UVB rays (related to burning). Both can cause skin cancer; However, the UVA rays are the most damaging and cause wrinkles. This SPF number is only based on the UVB ray protection. There is only a one percent difference in protection between an SPF of 30 versus an SPF of 50. Also, regardless of what the bottle reads sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours when in the water and with excessive sweating. The labels can be misleading.
The UVA blockers you want to look for are, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, avobenzone or parsol 1789, and ecamsule or mexoryl SX. Creams, without added insect repellent are best. Sprays and powders may release unhealthy particles.
Of special note is that certain drugs/herbs can increase our sensitivity to the sun; such as, St. Johns Wort, certain antibiotics, and over the counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories like alleve and ibuprofen. The good news is that according to a study, found in the British Journal of Dermatology, the antioxidant lycopene in cooked tomatoes, and some fruits, like watermelon, provided skin protection when ingested.
So, please continue to wear protection. But be informed of what you are putting on your skin. You may be doing more harm than good. An excellent website to review all your products is ewg.org/2010 sunscreen.

Everyone is searching for a quick fix for weight loss and there are so many proposed diets out there: Body for Life, The Macrobiotic Diet, The Abs Diet, Eating for your Blood type, The SouthBeach Diet, The 17 Day Diet, Nutri-Systems, and the new Dukan Diet, to name a few. With so many options, it can get confusing.
The newest hype is the HCG diet, which is the most concerning. This diet requires the dieter to consume a measly 500 calories per day. Proposed by Simeon in his protocol, this diet is based upon the theory that the hypothalamus is reset by the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This is based on the belief that the body has a set point for where it likes to be in terms of weight, and we continue to go back to that normal set point regardless of dieting attempts, making weight loss temporary. In theory, following this diet would result in a redistribution of fat from the trouble spots, resulting in the body resetting its set point to a lesser weight.
However, the HCG Diet is risky and most dieters eventually do gain back the weight. It can also cause hyperstimulation of the ovaries in women, blood clots, adrenal fatigue, and there have been cases of autoimmune issues. Some have even found hair loss and difficulty in carrying to term in subsequent pregnancies.
If we all just go back to the basics and take a look at our food addiction, stress, and lack of exercise, fiber, water, and restful sleep at night, we can address these issues in a healthy way and will be much better off in achieving our weight goals.
Unfortunately, some will continue to have weight loss issues secondary to health related problems; like toxin buildup in our systems from too many food additives and chemical laden foods, hormonal imbalances affecting our metabolic rate, food allergies, chronic inflammation, genetic issues, insulin dysregulation, overgrowth of yeast, and brain chemical issues. This is why it is important to work with a physician who can monitor your diet and weight loss progress.
So how do we get back to the basics? Here are some tips:
• Eat 4-6 small meals a day, consisting of low glycemic foods.
• Have 5 servings of high fiber fruits a day.
• Have 9 half-cup servings of vegetables a day.
• Eat lean organic meats, and healthy fats, such as omega 3 fatty acids.
• Shop for organic “colorful” foods in the perimeter of the supermarket and shy away from boxed foods with chemicals and low nutritional content. It is important to stay away from high fructose foods and additives.
• Drink enough water to equal half our body weight in ounces everyday.
• Exercise at least 1 hour for 4-6 day of the week at moderate intensity.
• Engage in strength training to maintain more muscle mass and a higher metabolic rate.
• Get a restful sleep for a minimum of 7 hours a night.
• Most importantly, find ways to cope with stressful situations in life. Reduce that everyday stress with yoga and breathing exercises!
If you feel like you have tried everything and you are still stuck, there may be other factors creating roadblocks. Have a physician check and monitor your hormone levels, including your cortisol, insulin, thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Even pregnanelone and melatonin levels can affect weight. Another option is to check genetic factors and food sensitivities through specialized testing. As mentioned earlier, toxin build up can also be a weight loss blocker. Toxins can be found in your everyday environment and in your everyday food consumption. Proper detoxification programs can help your body significantly reduce those toxins and help your organs to function more efficiently, consequently facilitating weight loss.
If you are making all of the right lifestyle choices, and you are still asking yourself why you cannot lose the weight, don’t just turn to a “quick fix” diet. Instead, focus on what health related factors may be contributing to it. In the end, the goal is to be healthy, prevent the diseases of aging and look and feel our best doing it.

Inflammation is one of the body’s natural ways of protecting itself. It includes many chemical reactions that help to fight off infections, to increase blood flow to places that need healing, and to generate pain as a signal that something is wrong with the body. Unfortunately, as with any process in the body, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. A number of medical conditions are linked to too much inflammation in the body. Some of these include:

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Asthma

• Cancer

• Chronic obstructive lung diseases (emphysema and bronchitis)

• Chronic pain

• Type 2 diabetes

• Heart disease

• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis)

• Stroke

• Diseases where the immune system attacks the body, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma

Often, people take medications to decrease inflammation. Drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin can change the body’s chemical reactions, but they are not without side effects. Research has shown that other things can decrease inflammation too. Many things we have control over, such as our stress levels, how much we exercise, and how we eat will influence how much inflammation we have in our bodies.

How we eat can affect inflammation, and certain diets are more likely to decrease pain and other symptoms of disease. Many studies have shown that people who eat certain types of foods are less likely to have the health problems listed above. Some important guidelines for people who want to eat an anti-inflammatory diet are:

1. Avoid unhealthy fats. Trans-fats and fats that are high in omega-6 fatty acids cause inflammation. These fats are found in many animal products and in any foods designed to have a long shelf life. Mono-unsaturated fats, like olive oil, are better choices. Omega-3 fats, like fish oil and flax oil, are especially good for decreasing inflammation.

2. Eat fruits and vegetables. Many studies are showing that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is good for decreasing inflammation. The more servings eaten, the better. Eight to 10 servings per day is a good goal.

3. Eat fiber. Diets high in fiber are shown to help to decrease inflammation. A good goal is about 30 grams a day, ideally from a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables