LOVE . SUN . BEAUTY

Being Vitamin D deficient my whole life, I have learned many different ways of getting the right amount of Vitamin D to stay healthy. Of course, the main advice I have gotten from doctors is to take Vitamin D supplements daily, and to get enough sun. In my case, the sun could be beneficial, however, it doesn't make it safe. So how much sun is enough for me and my many other Vitamin D deficient friends?

What are the effects of having low Vitamin D levels? And, how can we get back to normal levels?

A research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows that those with low vitamin D levels are at a risk of dying from heart disease than those who have normal to higher levels. The researchers cite "decreased outdoor activity" as one reason that people may become deficient in vitamin D.

Like the U.S News has stated, "in the winter, it's impossible to produce vitamin D from the sun if you live north of Atlanta because the sun never gets high enough in the sky for its ultraviolet B rays to penetrate the atmosphere. But summer is a great time to stock up on the nutrient."

They continued, "when the sun's UV-B rays hit the skin, a reaction takes place that enables skin cells to manufacture vitamin D. If you're fair skinned, experts say going outside for 10 minutes in the midday sun, with your skin exposed, will give you enough radiation to produce about 10,000 international units of the vitamin. Dark-skinned individuals and the elderly have a harder time as they produce less vitamin D, since they don't get enough of the nutrient from dietary sources like fatty fish and fortified milk."

It has been stated in the U.S News findings, that, "the government's dietary recommendations are 200 IUs a day up to age 50, 400 IUs to age 70, and 600 IUs over 70. But many experts believe that these recommendations are far too low to maintain healthful vitamin D levels. They advocate for supplementation in the winter of about 2,000 IUs per day and a dose of daily sunshine in the summer."

So, how much sun is it safe to get without sunscreen?

Well through research done by the the U.S News, they stated, "it's difficult to quantify how much since skin pigmentation affects how much radiation your skin absorbs: The darker the skin, the more it's protected against skin cancer but the less able it is to absorb UV-B rays. It also depends on how much skin is exposed and the time of day. If you're fair skinned and sunning yourself outside in a bathing suit at noon, you only need a few minutes without sunscreen. If you're already tan or of Hispanic origin, you need maybe 15 to 20 minutes. Black skin may require six times the sun exposure to make the same vitamin D levels as a very fair-skinned person, but we need more research on this because the studies that have suggested this have been small. We're starting a study later this year to establish how much skin pigmentation, clothing, sunscreen, and seasonal change affect vitamin D levels, so we should know more about all of this in the near future."

Authors: Nazanin Yashar

Sources: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/articles/2008/06/23/time-in-the-sun-how-much-is-needed-for-vitamin-d

Photos: http://lifespa.com/vitamin-d-has-astonishing-health-benefits/
http://www.nyrnaturalnews.com/vitamins-2/2013/06/low-vitamin-d-helps-hepatitis-b-virus-thrive/
http://www.drmmacdonald.com/aesthetic-medical-stories-tips/2014/6/19/the-brighter-side-of-sun-exposure-the-many-benefits-of-vitam.html

Many think that the secret behind healthy hair and glowing skin is expensive, brand name make up and products. But what if we told you that the REAL secret is actually right in your kitchen?

 Blueberries

This low-profile berry was ranked number one in antioxidant activity by the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to 40 common fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants in blueberries protect you from premature aging, so add half a cup to your yogurt or cereal every day.

Spinach

This leafy green vegetable is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Spinach is loaded with lutein, which keeps your eyes healthy and sparkling. Spinach is also a good source of vitamins B, C, and E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Trade your lettuce for spinach, or saute spinach for a quick, healthy side.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the best source of the anti-aging antioxidant lycopene. Surprisingly, lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by your body when it is cooked or processed, so make sure to stock up on canned tomato sauce, tomato juice, and ketchup.

Kiwis

This ones for you fiery beauties!

This week, I was stunned, through research, to find that redheads are not just beautifully unique but also more genetically unique than us brunettes and blonds. How so? Well, to start, red hair actually retains its natural pigment a lot longer than other shades. In other words, redheads don't go grey as fast as other hair colors. Instead, red hair simply fades with age through a glorious spectrum of faded copper to rosy-blonde colors, then to silvery-white.

And if thats not enough to brag about, redheads generate their own Vitamin D. This makes me especially jealous since I have been Vitamin D deficient my whole life. My body has a hard time absorbing Vitamin D from the sun, it's in my genetics. Similarly, redheads can't absorb sufficient Vitamin D either because of low concentrations of eumelanin in their body. Even though this may sound like bad news, lower melanin-concentration means that gingers can cleverly produce their own Vitamin D within their body. In this case, very few redheads are vitamin D deficient throughout their lives, even if they are not frequently exposed to sunlight, or do not take Vitamin D supplements.

However, there is a downside, since redheads tend to have paler skin, they tend to burn more easily when exposed to UV rays, causing more sun damage and aging. It has also been studied that the gene responsible for red hair also leaves a person up to 100 times more susceptible to skin cancer.

Today, U.S. researchers have found that a particular gene mutation that colors hair red leaves DNA in skin cells more prone to sun damage and aging. Laboratory and mouse experiments showed that the MC1R-RHC, the red hair gene, variant both lowered a cell's guard against harmful UV rays, and stimulated cancer-causing biological signals. Previous research had shown that the MC1R gene plays a key role in protecting melanocytes from UV-induced DNA damage. Under normal circumstances MC1R binds to and protects another genes well known for its ability to suppress tumors, PTEN. This is the gene mostly found in people with darker skin and hair color. However, research demonstrates that the red hair version of MC1R no longer acts as a PTEN guardian.

Study leader Dr Wenyi Wei, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, said: 'Together, our findings provide a possible molecular mechanism as to why red-haired individuals harboring MC1R mutations are much more susceptible to UV-induced skin damage than individuals with darker skin, resulting in a 10 to 100-fold higher frequency of melanoma.'

So how can you, or other redheads in your life, treat the root cause of aging and reduce the chances of skin cancer? Well, its simply about making lifestyle changes. Begin by taking a closer look at your sun habits. For example, how much time you are spending in the car, where your hands are fully exposed; or how much time you spend at the park with your arms or legs exposed to sunlight with no protection. I will completely agree that having to apply and reapply sunscreen every 20 min can be a big hassle. Investing in UV protective clothing is the best option, and a great lifestyle choice, especially for you redheads. By wearing protective clothing throughout your day, you can help reverse signs of aging and even prevent skin cancer.

Sundriven®, based in Los Angeles California, produces eco-friendly, sustainable, fashion-forward, age-defying UV wear for women, designed to beautify skin and promote skin cancer awareness. Our fabric is SPF/UPF 50+ rated, blocking 99% of UVA/UVB rays. Dermatologist-tested and recommend by the Skin Cancer Foundation™.

Authors: Nazanin Yashar

Sources: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2400046/Red-heads-100-times-susceptible-worst-form-skin-cancer-warn-scientists.html http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/emmakelly/redhead-facts_b_4781153.html