- Chemist Forces Children to Eat Sunscreen
- By Shane "The People's
Chemist" Ellison
My wife and I are unconventional
parents. We didn't vaccinate our children. They don't go to public
school. We don't let them drink their weight in soda. And we
make them eat their sunscreen. Before you report me to Child
Protective Services, let me assure you that I'm not talking about
the conventional, synthetic sun block that is loaded with poisons.
I'm talking about edible sun block in the form of carotenoids.
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Carotenoids are members of a
family of nutrients that protect plants and animals from excess
sunshine. Just like melanin, they are colorful molecules that
reflect UV rays. About 700 different types of carotenoids have
been identified. Each of the pigments functions as Mother Nature's
sunblock. When humans ingest carotenoids, they are deposited
into the skin to prevent sunburn and (ultimately) oxidative stress,
which can lead to cancer.
Leading sources of carotenoids
are eggs, spirulina, chlorella, dark-green leafy vegetables (kale,
collards, and spinach), and yellow-orange fruits and vegetables
(apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, and squash).
The recommended daily intake of carotenoids is 100 to 200 grams
per day of these foods. |
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The most potent carotenoid is a
red pigment found in algae, salmon, trout, shrimp, and lobsters.
It is known as astaxanthin. The algae are normally green. But
when subjected to sunshine, they produce the red pigment naturally.
Once ingested, astaxanthin is 1,000 times more effective at protecting
skin from UV damage than other carotenoids.
Edible sunblock is your first
line of defense against sunburn, cancer, and prematurely aging
skin. So make sure you pack plenty of carotenoids in your kids'
lunchboxes this summer. |
