Natural Sunscreens

We all know sunscreen protects us from damaging sun rays which cause our skin to age, wrinkle and potentially result in skin cancer – but do we know the dangerous effects of sunscreen?

Sunscreen can contain harmful chemicals which absorb into our skin causing it to age and in some cases develop skin irritations. Our naturopaths at Hopewood have developed a list of Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to helping you to choose a safe sunscreen for your family to keep your skin natural, healthy and fresh.

DO’s

Zinc Oxide is an active ingredient which blocks the UVA and UVB rays rather than absorbing into your skin along with the harmful rays. It is a natural element and you should be looking for sunscreens that contain Zinc Oxide.

Titanium Oxide is a natural element that works similarly to Zinc Oxide. It blocks the sun’s rays rather than absorbing them and potentially building up within your body. Studies on both zinc oxide and titanium oxide show there is little or no saturation of these compounds by our skin. Sunscreens without Zinc Oxide or Titanium Oxide leave your skin exposed to 20% more radiation.

DON’TS

PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) – Luckily most manufacturers have stopped adding this harmful chemical as it creates skin irritations within a huge 40% of the population. However when travelling to other countries make sure this chemical is not included in any sunscreens that you purchase.

Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 – These two chemicals have the dangerous potential to attack cellular components once absorbed into our skin. They may damage our DNA and may result in future health problems so best to avoid them.

Benzophenone, homosalate and octy-methoxycinnamate – After much research and tests these chemicals are said to dangerously affect our hormones, our brain and even reproductive organs. Doctors suggest choosing sunscreens without any of these chemicals.

Overall our advice is to choose Zinc Oxide or Titanium Oxide based sunblocks. This will helpt to ensure your skin maintains its natural minerals and oils, allowing you to age gracefully and beautifully.

4 Foods to eliminate for 2013

The New Year is here and it’s time to make those New Year’s resolutions come to life. Many New Year’s resolutions deal with making healthy changes to our diet. Whatever we intake leaves a lasting effect and may contribute to being overweight, health issues and even disease. Here at Hopewood we have combined a simple checklist of foods you should eliminate (or try to cut down on to start off with) for 2013 to help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions.

Soft Drinks – Even though many advertisements tell you otherwise, carbonated soft drinks do not eliminate thirst or hydrate you – in fact they make you thirstier due to their salt content. Apart from that, there are countless reasons to say goodbye to soft drinks--they are addictive, they contribute to obesity (due to their high sugar content),and of course harm your teeth. For a healthy alternative, try water with a squeeze of lemon or iced herbal teas for a hydrating beverage. Beware of sugar free drinks (next blog)

Deep Fried Food – Foods cooked at high temperatures create a substance called acrylamide which is linked to cancer. Even though there is a safe level of consuming this substance, deep fried food consists of 100 times the safe limit. Addicted to fried potato chips? Try slicing up a sweet potato and baking it for a nutritional alternative.

Excessive Alcohol – We all know that excessive alcohol is bad for us and can lead to many health problems such as cirrhosis of the liver, cancers, high blood pressure and many others. This year cut down on alcohol consumption and be aware of what you’re drinking. Instead of spirits and beer, try switching to a sparking non-alcoholic wine. It’s a nice addition to parties and celebrations.

Canned Soups – This may come as a surprise to many but most canned soups you buy from a supermarket have a high level of artificial preservatives like MSG, sodium and trans-fats, as well as high levels of sodium. Throw in some veggies and herbs in a pot and make your own healthy, tasty version.

We hope everyone had a great break and good luck with your New Year’s resolutions. Remember to love your body and treat it well – it does a lot for us.