Green things- sunscreen

Sunscreen prevents sunburns but beyond that there is no proof that sunscreen prevents skin cancer. What has been proven is that a lot of sunscreens contain some pretty nasty chemicals that could actually damage cells, disrupt hormones, or potentially speed up the development of cancer.  So choose wisely when purchasing sunscreen this summer, especially one for your kiddos! Here are some of the ingredients to avoid: oxybenzone, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), and added insect repellents. Don't buy sprays, powders, or sunscreens with 50+ SPF. Here is a great link for the top rated sunscreens http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/. Here is a link that exposes some of the worst sunscreens and sadly most of them are for babies and kids  http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/buyer-beware/. 


And let us not forget about the amazing benefit of a little sunlight, Vitamin D! Your body needs it to stay healthy and there are a lot of people walking around with Vitamin D deficiencies who could really benefit from some time in the sun everyday. So get out there and soak up some rays and don't forget to check those ingredients on the back of your sunscreen before slathering it on!