The Wellness Place

Are sunscreens safe?

There is now serious review on certain chemical approaches we have taken to block the sun.

A recent JAMA study shows that common chemical sunscreens (like oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octocrylene) are absorbed into the bloodstream at levels well above FDA safety thresholds—even after just one day of use.

This adds to 2019 research raising the same red flags: we urgently need to review the long-term safety of chemical sunscreens.

Safer sun strategies that build better relationships with the sun include:

Get morning sunlight (before 10 a.m.) for natural vitamin D and circadian health

Use mineral-based sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)—not absorbed into your system

Sunlight exposure is one of the fundamental pillars of human health.

Should we fear the sun?

Are you accessing your full breathing capabilities?

Your nasal sinuses, when functioning correctly, send a rich source of a tiny molecule called nitric oxide through the body.

There is a link between low NO levels and many diseases, Including:

- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Digestive tract issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Alzheimer’s dementia

In humans, nitric oxide (NO) is also generated within the blood vessels and regulates blood pressure, and prevents the formation of clots and also destroys potential toxins.⠀

Proper ventilation is essential for maintenance of sinus integrity, and blockage of the ostium blocks the flow to the sinuses.⠀
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Humming has been applied therapeutically for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. A case study of a patient who had been unable to nose breathe due to chronic sinusitis for a month was able to achieve a clear nose and breathe easily through his nose after 4 days of intensive humming (one hour the first day and 120 hums 4x per day). ⠀
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The authors hypothesized that the effect was due to the increase in nitric oxide produced by the humming.⠀
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A small 10 person study looked at nasal NO was measured during humming and quiet single-breath exhalations at a fixed flow rate. NO increased 15-fold during humming compared with quiet exhalation.⠀
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Humming exercises have been used in yoga for many thousands of years. To really experience the vibration of humming through the sinuses you can try this bee breath exercise while blocking the ears.
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1. Sit up straight in a quiet, well ventilated corner with your eyes closed. Keep a gentle smile on your face⠀
2. Place your index fingers on your ears. There is a cartilage between your cheek and ear. Place your index fingers on the cartilage⠀
3. Take a deep breath in and as you breathe out, gently press the cartilage. You can keep the cartilage pressed or press it in and out with your fingers, while making a loud humming sound like a bee⠀
4. You can also make a low-pitched sound but it is a good idea to make a high-pitched one for better results⠀
5. Breathe in again and continue the same pattern 3-4 times.⠀
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How did this exercise feel for you?

Inadequate sleep, in terms of both quantity and quality, is a major problem for many of us. Not only does not sleeping well leave us feeling bad, it is also detrimental to our overall health. Poor sleep can lead to everything from mood swings to blood sugar and hormonal imbalances, weight gain, poor memory, and much more.

In a recent episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, I talk with Dr. Andrew Huberman, Dr. Cindy Geyer, and Shawn Stevenson about how to create daily habits to support restful sleep, including how we can best honor our circadian rhythm.

You can listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/39FlrnH

Imbalances in your hormones are triggered by bad food. ⁣⁣
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If you eat sugar, you’ll produce more insulin, more estrogen, and more testosterone. Any type of flour and sugar can lead to these imbalances. ⁣⁣
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Dairy and gluten are often triggers for inflammation and hormonal imbalances. ⁣⁣
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Xenobiotics or environmental chemicals like pesticides in our food can act like powerful hormone disruptors and trigger our own hormones to go out of balance.⁣⁣
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We know that sugar, caffeine, alcohol, stress, and lack of exercise all contribute to worse PMS and all hormonal imbalances – including menopause.⁣⁣
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After removing the bad stuff, you will want to replace it with good stuff. ⁣⁣
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Eat a whole, real, unprocessed, organic, mostly plant-based diet with organic or sustainably raised animal products. When you focus on this type of diet, you minimize intake of xenoestrogens, hormones, and antibiotics. Taking simple steps like choosing organic food and drinking filtered water can hugely impact hormone balance.⁣⁣
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Getting good quality sleep every night and exercising regularly can help balance your hormones. Along with supplementing with Omega-3, vitamin D3, B vitamins, magnesium, and probiotics.