Someone forwarded to me a photo of an article by Healthcommunities.com . I was unable to locate the article on their website, though it was listed as “Remedy 17.”  Here is the quote about the study done by Boston University:

If you have IBS, a pen and paper may help.  A Boston University study published by American Journal of Gastroenterology finds that symptoms of IBS improve when the patients write about their feelings and experiences with the illness.  People with IBS suffer from chronic stomach discomfort, alternating of diarrhea and constipation and psychological distress.  Much like talks with the therapist, daily writing appears to ease some of the anxiety, depression, and other negative feelings that accompany IBS.  And when people feel better psychologically, they often feel better physically. (1)

A sideline to the idea of journaling, Healthcommunities.com recommends that you pay attention to the following certain foods and beverages which tend to aggravate IBS symptoms–chocolate, milk, soda, fats, caffeine, and large meals.
(1)Healthcommunities.com  Remedy 17

See these related posts:

Is Your Crohn’s Disease Food Allergy Related?

Olive Leaf Extract: The New Multi-Faceted Supplement

At the beginning of the year, I challenged you to make a clear cut “life plan” to achieve your own goals of fulfillment in the various aspects of your life, instead of just maintaining in the face of all life’s responsibilities. A visible plan is needed to help you keep in focus the daily creation of the environment essential to live out your desired life of fulfillment.  (See the post Planning for Life)

As we are drawing closer to the last quarter of the year, be sure to be intentional that any revisions of your year’s goals include time for fulfillment.

Since September usually sees life coming back to a more typical schedule than during seasonal summertime activities, I have been re-checking and fine tuning my life goals.  Part of this process has been making sure that I have time for all the things that bring fulfillment to life — not just career or personal goals — but time for friends, hobbies, and other things that bring lasting memories.  As we were reminded in the quote from Dr. Richard Carlson the other week, the lives of the people we love, and our own lives, will not wait for us to make time for those moments that are fulfilling.  If we stay too busy, those opportunities will be forever lost.  (See the post Are You Present-Minded?)

 I usually do not get this personally detailed in my posts, but I thought I’d share with you our present unusual experience that has made life more fulfilling. 

The past 3 weeks we have been experiencing our first major muscadine grape harvest.  The main focus of our gardens is roses, but we try to have one type of fruit or vegetable that is producing during any season.  This harvest brought a little extra work with a little bit of late night hours, but we have had the new, enjoyable experience of Googling recipes from North Carolina vineyards and freezing muscadine pancake syrup, cobbler, pies, jam, and quick bread.  It caused me to recall about 15 years ago when we made a career change.  At that time, I was determined that memorable experiences like what we’ve experienced these weeks were never going to pass us by again.  Up until that point, we often put in 100 hours a week each in our careers.  Back then we were young and over-enthusiastic.  However, life came to a point where we realized that about 75% of our lives should be made up of memorable moments, moments that bring great satisfaction and fulfillment to life, and have nothing to do with our careers.

 Is there fulfillment that is missing in your life?

If so, do not let another week slip by.  Revise your life plan.  Make time to make memories, the kind that bring fulfillment and last a lifetime!

I came across a tweet of the following verse on Twitter a few months back and it has become very meaningful to me.  It is from the story of a blind man who heard that Jesus was walking through the road of his town.  He began calling out repeatedly to Jesus for mercy.  Jesus came to him and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  The blind man said, Lord, I want to see! (Lk.18:41) The man was instantly healed of blindness.

We have discussed before that Jesus is the visual representation to us of the heart of Father God.  A main purpose of Jesus’ life was to reveal to us God’s character, heart, nature.  I want to challenge you today to use the question that Jesus’ asked the blind man as a spring board for you to set new spiritual goals for your life.  Scripture does say that we need to ask to receive.  However, in this instance, Jesus asked the question.  Now visualize yourself with Jesus asking you this question about your life today, and put your name in the blank, “What do you want Me to do for you, _____?”  It is a great challenge!

Make use of the list I made for my own life to spur your spiritual imagination as to how you can answer Jesus’ question.

I took the list of scriptures below as a basis for my answers, as God gave us these words as promises to us.  In other words, it should build your confidence to use these verse as a basis for your answers as God is definitely going to respond to His own Words. 

Now, as you read each underlined verse, hear the question, “What do you want Me to do for you, ____?”  Now create an answer based on that promise, “Lord, I want….”  I have put in italics some promptings to assist you.

1. In Christ…all things have become new. (2 Cor.5:17) [What in your life or healthy do you want to be completely made new? Lord, I want…]

2.  The LORD will keep you free from every disease. (Deut.7:15)  [What healing do you need?  Lord, I want…]

3.  You will lack nothing. (Deut.8:9) [What areas of your life are lacking—financially, relationally, in fulfillment, etc.? Lord, I want…]

4. …Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. (Acts 2:47) [As you live a life enjoying a spiritual relationship with God, receive favor with all people with whom you interact each day, all business transactions, etc.  Lord, I want…]

5.  Meditate on My Word day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  (Josh.1:8) [You can receive wisdom and ability from God to be successful in all facets of life. Lord, I want…]

6.  Let us boldly draw near to the throne of God’s unmerited favor…that we may receive mercy for our failures and help in good time for every need…coming just when we need it. (H.5:16)  [Receive His mercy to overcome your failures and timely, supernatural help whenever you need it. Lord, I want…]

7.  You build fine houses and settle down. (Det.8:12)  [If your family is in need of a home, profess to God that your family receives the good house he has promised His people. Lord, I want…]

8.  Learn of Me…and you will find rest, relief, ease, refreshment, recreation and blessed quiet…For My yoke is wholesome, useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant. (Mt.11:28-30) [If your life is stressful and exhausting, tell God you will learn from Him how to live a wiser, more restful life. Lord, I want…]

9. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD.  (Det.28:10)  [Tell God that you want people to actually be able to see that He has been good to you, His child. Lord, I want…]

10.  You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. (Ps.84:11CEV) [Thank God for not denying you any of the good things He has promised you in His Word.]

Make this form of spiritual goal setting a daily habit.

Do not quit if you do not see instant results in all areas.  You may see some instant results; other situations may take more time, as we, and the people we involved in our lives, often unknowingly hinder the very things we desire.  When discussing prayer, Jesus said, “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened.” (Mt.7:7,8AMP)  In other words, be as determined daily in your spiritual goal seeking as you would your career goals.

I’ve mentioned that I’ve been reading again through Dr. Richard Carlson’s book, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.”  I wasn’t going to make another reference to it but then I came across the chapter on being present-minded or “living on purpose,” as author, Dawna Markova, also challenges.  The tendency to not live present-minded is such a wide spread mental trap that most people unknowingly fall into — one which literally steals the joy out of life — that I could not deprive you of the opportunity to discuss it again. 

Listen to this quote from Dr. Carlson which aptly describes not living a present-minded life:

We allow past problems and future concerns to dominate our present moments, so much so that we end up anxious, frustrated, depressed, and hopeless.  On the flip side, we also postpone our gratification, our stated priorities, and our happiness, convincing ourselves that “someday” will be better than today.  While we’re busy…our children are growing up, the people we love are moving away and dying, our bodies are getting out of shape, and our dreams are slipping away.  In short, we miss out on life.

With the preciousness of each moment of life, be sure to indulge in the joy of the gifts of life you have in that moment.

Rather than allowing all the joys of life to be stolen by you drivenly trying to solve all life’s past and future problems today, do what you can do today, but be aware now of the gifts of life that are all around you:

-Be aware of the people. Do not skip the opportunities to enjoy them, to touch their lives and be forever changed by them.

-Be aware of the good in your surroundings—the possessions you do have, the sunset, beach or mountains, city skyline, wildlife, etc., and enjoy them. 

-Be aware of your gifting.  Take time to enjoy your gifting and hobbies.  When is the last time you painted, danced, or played that musical instrument?  What if today is the only gift to enjoy them?  As the old saying goes, the only moment you are promised is now. 

Be present minded!  Live life to the full in each moment!

Enjoy more on this topic:

Living with Purpose and Living Your Purpose

Creating Your Purposeful Life Environment

Cherishing the Ones You Love

Lifestyle:  Enjoyable or Tolerable

I recently came across a comment on someone’s webpage about olive leaf extract solving digestion issues.  After some research around the web, I wanted to post for you excerpts from 2 of those articles as I was amazed at what I found. 

According to the Nutritional Supplement Educational Centre, the use of olive leaf extract for health benefits has been common to the Mediterranean culture, though more recently popular in the nutritional supplement industry. Olive leaf extract gained international attention when studies showed it to have an antioxidant capacity almost double green tea extract and 400% higher than vitamin C. (2)

Here is a sampling of olive leaf extract benefits listed by the NSEC:

1.  Boosts weakened immune system by neutralizing free radical cell damage.

2.  Naturally kills pathogens such as bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi, by preventing them from reproducing.

3.  Lowers blood pressure.

4.  Lowers high cholesterol.

5.  Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients report it boosts their energy.

6.  It has been used to treat cold and flu viruses, yeast infections, Epstein-Barr disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and shingles.

7.  As with other herbal supplements, NSEC recommends not to use if pregnant or nursing. (1)

Olive Leaf Extract is also an effective detox agent.

Detoxing is a necessary and beneficial process to improve one’s health.  If one has chronic levels of harmful pathogens, a person may experience some symptoms from the detox such as fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, muscle and joint aches, pimples, rashes, and flu-like symptoms when starting on olive leaf extract. These symptoms are due to the number of dead microbes being so high that the kidneys and liver are temporarily overloaded.  If this is your situation, NSEC suggests drinking 4 glasses of water between doses. (1)   It is rare for people to have any symptoms, as Dr. Ray Sahelian states in his article (below).  I and my spouse have been on 1500mg, a high mg extract, and have not had any negative side effects.

How to choose a good quality extract

NSEC says be sure your supplement is produced using only standardized herbal olive leaf extract so it has the highest amount of oleuropein possible.  

Dr. Ray Sahelian also advocates olive leaf extract as a widely beneficial nutritional supplement.

Dr. Sahelian has numerous pages of valuable health-related research on the web; we have referenced his pages several times in past posts.  A couple of additional points that he mentions is that olive leaf extract has been tested for health benefits in studies with rats in years past but has just, in recent years, started being studied in humans.  In his research, he has not come across any side effects from olive leaf extract.

Here is a list of the main health benefits of olive leaf extract as provided by Dr. Sahelian.

1.  Lowering blood pressure and cholesterol- A 2008 study on humans receiving 1000mg per day for 20 weeks showed significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as cholesterol. 

2.  Anti-inflammatory

3.  Immune System Support

4.  Improvement for Diabetics – Studies have shown olive leaf extract to have anti-diabetic qualities at 16mg per kg of weight per day.

5.  Anti-viral benefits (inhibits reproduction of virus) (3)

Benefits We’ve Experienced

Our relatives who have recently started on olive leaf extract have noticed almost immediate benefits of:

-increased energy
-improved digestion
-less joint pain

Recommended Dosage

Dr. Sahelian offers his own line of olive leaf extract (The NSEC article has recommended brands as well.), suggesting two 835mg pills per day.  That is how we chose the dosage we are using.  The Vitamin Shoppe locally has their own brand of liquid extract for $11.99.  The eye dropper in the bottle will equal 1500mg if you take 4 a day (two in the morning and two at night).

If you know that you have chronic illnesses or have a high level of toxins, you may want to ease into the recommended dose over a period of several days due to the detox response mentioned above by the NSEC.  As with beginning any supplement, you should check with your doctor, especially if you are on prescriptions. 

 1. Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract by Nutritional Supplement Educational Centre
2.  Dr. L. Stevenson, Report on Olive Leaf Australia’s Olive Leaf Extracts, Southern Cross University, 2005 (footnote 5) 3.  Olive Leaf Extract supplement benefit and side effects by Dr. Ray Sahelian

A vital part of goal setting is to be able to literally visualize your goal.  You need to see yourself there.  Once you see yourself there, you will become much more successful at staying in a state of mental alertness; this state of alertness enables you to then see the goal-related paths and opportunities as well as make decisions which help, and not hinder, your goals.

Evaluate what percentage of your mental/emotional focus is on your goal.

Present situations can be a hindrance if you allow yourself to stay focused on them instead of your goal.  You will set yourself back if your focus is on where you are, and all the present circumstances you are unhappy with, instead of where you want to go or what you want to achieve.  Abraham is considered the forefather of many nations.  Before he ever had any children, Abraham was travelling from the land of his ancestors to a new country, at God’s direction.  However, Abraham and all his household, which consisted of numerous flocks, herds, and attendants, were still living in a nomadic state, without a place to settle and call their own.  Look at what God said to Abraham in Genesis 13:

 -Look FROM the place where you are (v.14)
 -All the land you see I will give to you forever (v.15)
 -Walk the land and I will give it to you…So Abram moved (17,18)

Look from where you are to where you want to go.

For Abraham, this was a God-given directive for vision casting.  Look FROM the place where you are to another one, to the place of promise, which for him was a permanent place to settle his descendants.  How much of your focus is on your present circumstances?  Are you looking from where you are to your goal?  Are you seeing it or just your present surroundings?

You will make progress toward whatever is “in your sights.”

Notice again the example from Abraham’s life.  God not only told Abraham to look from where he was to the goal, but then he was to begin walking in that direction.  Once you set your eyes on your goal, walk in that–walk in the way you need to walk to reach the goal and live there. 

 I’ll ask you again.  Do you see your goal?  Do you see a place of promise?  Now begin moving toward it, keeping it in view so that everything you do is in view of the place.

Living life as if in a constant state of emergency in your attempt to reach your goals or be a superachiever is an enormous drain mentally and physically and is completely unnecessary.

Best-selling author Richard Carlson, in “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s All Small Stuff (1),” challenges the commonly held belief—sometimes even unknowingly—that a hurried, frantic, and competitive mindset and lifestyle are necessary for success. 

Dr. Carlson eradicates the idea of living as a franctic superachiever: 

1. Put to rest the idea that, if you stopped being frantic and competitive, you would become lazy and apathetic. The opposite is true.
2. Fearful thinking actually drains your creativity and motivation.
3. A frantic lifestyle immobilizes your greatest potential.
4. Fearful competitiveness empties your life of its enjoyment.(1)

Being gentle and relaxed are actually the superachiever’s unlikely, but best, partners.

Dr. Carlson speaks in his book of his own experience of achieving success and that of numerous colleagues.  He chose to surround himself with relaxed, loving, peaceful people who were all superachievers in life, either as best-selling authors, counselors, CEO’s, computer experts, or loving parents.  He noticed that being a gentle and relaxed superachiever caused them to live life fulfilled and highly proficient. Dr. Carlson sums up this important life lesson in this quote:

When you have what you want—inner peace—you are less distracted by your wants, needs, desires, and concerns.  It’s thus easier to concentrate, focus, achieve your goals, and give back to others.(1)

(1) Dr. Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s All Small Stuff ISBN#0-7868-8185-2  This is a fantastic, best-selling book which teaches you to live life unbothered by the little irritations so your energy and joy are readily available for the best things in life.

Here are links to 3 past posts for your enjoyment that reference Dr. Carlson’s best-selling books.

 How to Love

 Thinking Yourself to Health

Improve Love

What is a margin? 

Dr. Don Colbert defines a margin as “a buffer between feelings of being overwhelmed and feeling at peace (1).”  According to Dr. Richard Swenson in The Overload Syndrome, “a margin is the difference between vitality and exhaustion (1).”  Either way you define a margin, the definition is something anyone would desire in his or her daily life.

What are the typical scenarios of living life without a buffer? 

Schedule-wise, an example is giving yourself only enough time to get ready to leave the house for an appointment so that any phone calls or other unexpected items which require your attention suddenly put you under the stress of possibly being late.  Or, another schedule example without a margin is only leaving with just enough time to arrive for an appointment providing you have a high percentage of green lights and no traffic jams.  

Financially, many people create continual stress and anxiety by living without margins.  For example, they may not limit the amount of small, unnecessary day-to-day spending and then are either short at the end of the month for bills or are in a panic if there is an unexpected expense such as a new tire. 

Living without a margin will also create difficulties in one’s physical health.  One example would be doing yard work or exercise until you are in extreme pain instead of stopping at a set time before you overdo it.  Another example would be watching TV or surfing the Internet past the time you would need to get to bed to feel fully rested in the morning, resulting in the frustration of sluggish mental processes and poor decision making during work hours the next day.  

Margins won’t magically happen; they are a matter of self-discipline. 

Setting a margin is a matter of setting limits and disciplining yourself to stick to them.  It is a matter of reducing stress by choosing to live life at a little slower pace, like driving in the right lane instead of the left lane, weaving in and out of traffic.  I recently shared with a friend an experience we had when we first moved back South after living in Chicago.  We were so used to living life at such a fast, stressed pace that it took a few months before we realized that we were still rushing around like maniacs even though we were now living back in a slower paced culture.  How did we discover it?  After a few months, I noticed how people stared at us while we were grocery shopping.  No, it wasn’t paranoia on my part; while everyone around us was leisurely strolling through the store, enjoying their shopping experience, we were literally rushing with our cart through the store, weaving around people like a “left lane driver” in traffic.  What an eye opener!  It takes a definite choice to slow down, set margins, and reduce your stress.  Now my spouse shops so leisurely it is almost impossible to get out of the store! 

Build margins into everything you do!

Let’s look at some sample margin complications as well as margin-building tips from Dr. Don Colbert’s book, The Seven Pillars of Health. 

Margin Complications 

1. You are always in a hurry and always tired.

2. People irritate you easily because of your stress.

3. You quickly complain or become critical, increasing your stress.

4. You stress other people by being late and stealing from their margins. 

Margin-Building Tips 

1. Consider whether you are too busy, overcommitted.

2. If so, cut back on commitments, and learn to say, “No.”

3. See if you are adding to your stress by wanting too much, overworking to acquire unnecessary purchases. Realize you are being “owned” by those things.

4. Make a to-do list before you go to bed at night. *Build time margins into your appointments. It is better to arrive at your appointment and “wait without stress than to arrive at the last minute worn out from stress.”

5. Take along something to enjoy after arriving early, such as music or a book.

6. Prioritize your schedule and decide which things can be postponed if necessary.

6. Teach yourself to spend less than you earn.

7. Gradually build up an emergency fund of 4 months pay. (1)

Relief from being stressed may be a matter of by implementing margins that reduce your stress level to a point that you then are capable of effective, daily stress management.  We all can benefit from more margins in our daily lives.

(1) Quotes and paraphrased excerpt are from Day 48, “Margin,” The Seven Pillars of Health, Dr. Don Colbert. For more detailed reading, see his book, ISBN#1-59185-815-1

Facing your guilt issues will bring about new avenues of freedom in your life that have long back lacking.  What guilt are you holding on to now?  Guilt does not fill any positive purpose. 

–Holding on to guilt will keep you from pursuing open opportunities to reach your goals and dreams.

Usually you will either fear more failure or feel that you do not deserve the good opportunities.

–Guilt over the past keeps you from positive social interaction. 

It is the same principle as the Law of Attraction.  If you feel that people like you, that you deserve good, and that good will come to you, it subconsciously causes you to interact with people in positive ways; then, due to the way you carry yourself, as one who believes he or she is a good person worthy of knowing, people begin responding to you in positive ways.  If you are holding on to guilt, the reverse is true.  You subconsciously carry yourself in a way that portrays that you do not feel yourself worthy of being known and loved; your social interactions are then not as positive as you desire because of the negative emotions you are emanating.  When your negative emotions receive  negative reactions, it results in more withdrawal.

–Freeing yourself from guilt is also necessary for both your physical and spiritual health.  

Harmful stress chemicals are consistently released into your body when you carry guilt, as we’ve discussed in prior posts.  And, just as in your relationships with loved ones, friends, and co-workers, guilt will cause you to withdraw spiritually and not pursue the positive interaction you need.

Once a person realizes that condemnation does not come from God, the freedom from guilt in your spiritual perspective will free you from guilt in the other arenas of life.

Since God is considered a being of flawless righteousness, for many people, the root source of continued guilt is the feeling of condemnation from God.  Scripture says in Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation for those who live life in Christ Jesus.  The purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection was to free us from the guilt and condemnation of our failures.

Look at this amazing quote that expresses God’s fullness of compassion, not condemnation, toward us:

We have a High Priest [referring to Jesus’ work of salvation] who sympathizes with our weakness and the assaults of temptation. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us [unearned, not performance-based] that we may receive mercy for our failures and find help for every need—appropriate help, coming just when we need it.  Heb.4:15,16 Amp

You can change your negative emotions and spiritual perspective when you act on the points from this quote :

1. Jesus does sympathize with us in our weaknesses, not condemn us.  This is not the negative form of the word as sympathy is sometimes used, but rather a being emotionally moved to a state of compassion.

2. Father God views His interactions with us with “unmerited favor.”  This means His favor is always a gift, never earned.  It is because His favor is an unearned gift that it is always available for you!

3.  Because of God’s continual choice to view you through the gift of His favor, He wants you to then change your feelings of guilt and condemnation, and fearlessly, confidently,  even boldly come into His presence to interact with Him.  Imagine a child who feels well loved by a parent; he or she does not fear asking for any want, much less something that is truly needed.  That is how God desires you to approach Him, as a child who knows without a doubt that he or she is loved and free from condemnation.

4. The result of approaching God in a relationship free from guilt results in you receiving both compassionate mercy when you fail, as well as good, timely help for every situation of need in your life.

 Freedom from guilt is a matter of choosing to align your emotions with truth.

This does not mean that you avoid responsibilities associated with your guilt.  If you’ve wronged someone, apologize and make reconciliation when possible.  Reconciliation with other people is not always possible.  (See prior post for detailed explanation Forgiveness or Reconciliation – Understanding the Difference ) Either way, you can choose to live free from guilt.  If Father God, the only truly righteous and holy One, does not condemn you, it is time for you to align your emotions with that truth and stop condemning yourself.  Enjoy once again the life intended for you by being free from guilt; experience the improved physical health, open spiritual communication, freedom to pursue your goals, and positive interactions with people that are waiting to bring joy and fulfillment to your life again!

An spf 30 sunscreen rating sounds good but it may not be as good for your health as it sounds.  I compiled some lists of safe options for sun protection, whether you wear sunscreen or prefer other alternatives.

First is the easiest option for you. Use the Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen database.

 According to several sites I searched through, the FDA is not updating its sunscreen standards until 2012.  The EWG tested over 700 sunscreens and gave them a score of 0 to 10, 0 to 2 being the safest ones recommended by the EWG.  The EWG’s study found that 60% contain oxybenzone a potentially harmful hormone-disrupting compound that penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream and 41 % contained retinyl palmitate which accelerates skin damage and increases skin cancer risk when applied to skin exposed to sunlight. (1) .

Check out the safety of your favorite sunscreens using this database link below and find new, safer options here.  Remember a 0-2 score are recommended ones:

Click here for EWG’s Safe Sunscreen Database

Green Living Ideas.com  offers these simple, safe sunscreen choices:

1. Use common sense and stay out of the sun during peak sun hours, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when sunburn is most likely to occur.

2. If you cannot avoid being out during peak hours, try to find a shaded area, an umbrella, wear a wide-brimmed hat, or wear sun-protective clothing.

3. Use natural ingredients found at health food stores to create your own sunblock lotion.  Purchase plain zinc oxide ointment at a drugstore and mix it into your favorite skin lotion to make your own sunscreen. [Think safe when choosing your lotion, too, such as an organic type that is paraben free.]

4. Consume plenty of deep green and red produce; the antioxidants provider sun-protective benefits and add extra defense against skin cancer.

5. If your budget allows, consider clothing made of sun-protective fabric. In Australia, where two out of three people will be treated for skin cancers during their lifetime, a common choice is sun-protective clothing made with a tighter weave to block the harmful rays of the sun and offers the equivalent of approximately SPF 30.

     -Australia-based Coolibar is a company that offers sun-protective clothing, swimwear, and hats.

     -Other companies offering clothing with sun-protective fabrics include: Solar Eclipse & Solartex. (2)

Dr. Joseph Mercola likes to clear up sunscreen myths.

I myself have heard some health advocates promote just being out in the sun in early morning or late evening as a safe alternative from commercial sunscreens and a way to still absorb vitamin D from the sun.  According to Dr. Mercola, here’s the problem with that idea:

1. UVB helps your skin produce vitamin D.
2.  UVB waves are low in morning and evening and high at midday.
3.  UVA waves are the harmful ones.
4.  If you’re out early in the morning or late in the day, you get lots of UVA (bad guy) and not much UVB (good guy). Not a good way to produce vitamin D.  Plus you increase your risk of cancer, and you fail to protect your skin.

Dr. Mercola does promote safe sun alternatives such as:

-wearing a hat that shields your face
-wear other protective clothing
-decreasing your sunburn risk by increasing raw vegetables loaded with skin protecting antioxidants
-decreasing your sunburn risk by avoiding processed foods and sugars
-using a safe sunscreen made of zinc oxide in the following situations

A safe, natural sunscreen is recommended by Dr. Mercola if you cannot avoid the following three scenarios:

• You’re forced to be in the direct rays of the sun for a longer time than is safe…
• You must go into intense sunlight without having the opportunity to gradually build up to it…
• You’re in a situation where blocking the sun with strategic clothing or sunshades is impractical…

Here is the list of commercial sunscreen chemicals to avoid as provided by Dr. Mercola:

• OMC is present in 90 percent of sunscreen brands!  Throw it out. It has been found to kill cells in mice at low doses and becomes more toxic in sunlight.
• Para amino benzoic acid…
• Octyl salicyclate…
• Avobenzone…
• Oxybenzone…
• Cinoxate…
• Padimate O…
• Dioxybenzone…
• Phenylbenzimidazole…
• Homosalate…
• Sulisobenzone…
• Menthyl anthranilate…
• Trolamine salicyclate…
• Octocrylene (3)

Related Post: 6 Steps to Sunburn Relief

(1) The Daily Green “21 of the Best Natural Sunscreens”
(2) GreenLivingIdeas.com “Natural Sunscreen- Not Always From a Bottle.” 
(3) Mercola.com “Summer Survival Kit”