Warmer weather is upon us as many have even designed and planted their gardens anticipating a bountiful harvest.  Days are getting longer and longer with more sunshine; just what our gardens need, but what about us?  There are many warnings about the dangers of sun, but do they make sense?  Many avenues of sun-safety have been prominent over the years with many different schools of thought. 

            Lately there have been many research papers written on the Vitamin D deficiency plaguing America. As you know, our body makes vitamin D from sunshine, yet for many years we have heard more boldly the warning to stay out of the sun or wear sunscreen at all times to reduce your risk of skin cancer.  Yet there’s a study showing a significant reduction in cancers with vitamin D supplementation. In order to make vitamin D, the body needs cholesterol to transform into the vitamin.  But you thought all cholesterol was bad?  This is a big area of misinformation given to the general public and mostly by pharmaceutical companies wanting everyone to be on cholesterol lowering medication.  Somewhere there has to be a balance.  Our lives and bodies love balance.  Even the best of conditions, foods, supplements, etc. can be detrimental when they get out of balance.  One way to balance our sun exposure is to find shade every 30-60 minutes, depending on the intensity of the sun, for 15 minute intervals.  Another way is to use sunscreen, but beware the preservatives and additives in these products that you are slathering all over your body.  Your skin will absorb it all!  Find a trusted organic brand that is more gentle yet effective.  The SPF doesn’t have to be the most potent either, maybe you can use a lesser sunscreen so more vitamin D can be made rather than the most powerful one.

            I also want to propose a whole different idea that isn’t really new, just not discussed.  Back in the 1934, Dr. Royal Lee, founder of Standard Process Supplements, combined several synergistic ingredients together to make Cataplex F, an essential fatty acid and iodine combination.  One of the many uses of Cataplex F is for sun-safety.  When our skin is exposed to the sun and the vitamin D is increased in our bodies, it will pull calcium out of the tissue into the blood circulation at high levels, which in turn minimized the tissue calcium concentration setting up an imbalance.  When the increased calcium blood levels are mixed with the Cataplex F, it mobilizes the calcium back into the tissues for balance once again. It takes four to six tablets 2-3 hours before exposure, then more with Calcium Lactate after 4 hours in the sun.  And if you do get sunburned, taking the combination Cataplex F and Calcium Lactate will usually relief the red skin burn overnight.  This has become my family’s resolution to sun-safety.

            Many people think of calcium only in bone health, but calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body with many other functions:

·         Bone, Muscle & Teeth Support

·         Muscle Contraction

·         Immune System Function (white blood cell function)

·         Nervous System Transmission

·         Reducing Inflammation & Repairing Tissue

·         Blood Coagulation

·         Proper functioning of Many Enzyme Systems

How many of you realized that a sunburn has anything to do with increased calcium in your blood from the vitamin D produced from sun exposure? Our bodies are just so intricate and exceptional!  When given the proper nutrients, rest, time, oxygen and magnetic energy, it will heal itself and maintain health. So, get out in the sun, protect yourself in a safe manner, and enjoy your summer with your kids and family being safe in every way! 

 Standard Process products available at Natural Options.