Green Bamboo's Quarterly GazetteSummer 2016

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Safe Fun in the SunNutrition Offers UV ShieldSharron Leonard

UV rays cause oxidative damage and can actually change the skin's DNA.

There shall beeternal summerin the gratefulheart.-Celia Thaxter

Office Hours and Contact

Green Bamboo Quality Skin CareCarol Blessing304-279-3109greenbambooskincare@yahoo.comwww.greenbambooskincare.comOpen Daily with Appointment

In this Issue

Safe Fun in the SunBe Smart About SunscreenBe Immune to Inactivity

Because sunlight activates the synthesisof vitamin D, a nutrient that works withvitamin A to build strong bones andgood eyesight it is essential for health.Furthermore, bright light, specificallysunshine, can improve your mood andhelp ward off depression. But all thingsin moderation. Overexposure to UVrays can cause potentially extensivedamage to the skin, an all-too-commonoccurrence. "Skin cancer is nowconsidered epidemic throughout thenation", according to The Centers forDisease Control Prevention. "Over onemillion residents in the United Statesare expected to get skin cancer this yearmore people than the collective total ofall who will get cancers of the breast,prostate, lung and colon. Exposure to

ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight causes90 percent of the skin cancer cases."And this overexposure may double therisk of melanoma, a type of skin cancerthat causes more than 80 percent of skincancer deaths.

UV rays cause oxidative damage and canactually change the skin's DNA cellular

structure, creating highly unstable andtoxic molecules. These are known as freeradicals and can lead to malignancies.Sunscreen, adequate coverage andsunglasses have long been recommendedto avoid this damage, but diverse studiesnow suggest some promisingsupplemental strategies for UVprotection from the inside out. Certainnutrients and a low-fat diet have shownspecific anti-cancer properties.

Free Radical ControlAntioxidants have long been known toneutralize free radicals and render theminactive, protecting cellular structure.Powerful antioxidants include vitamin C(citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli,

tomatoes), vitamin E (asparagus, rawnuts and seeds, spinach), beta-carotene(yellow and orange vegetables) as well asthe minerals zinc (shell fish, legumes,whole-grain foods) and selenium (nuts,whole-wheat bread, oatmeal). A recentstudy published in the Journal ofInvestigative Dermatology demonstrates

A colorful diet can help provide sun protection from the inside out.

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that lutein and zeaxanthin, plantpigments found in predominately greenleafy vegetables, also have strongantioxidant properties that diminish theeffects of UV irradiation by reducing theacute inflammatory responses. Lutein-and zeaxanthin-rich foods includegreen, leafy vegetables such as spinach,kale, broccoli and turnips as well as cornand egg yolks.

As long ago as 1991, studies have showngreen tea consumption and topicalapplication afford protection againstskin tumors. More recent researchcorroborates these results and points tothe polyphenols in green tea, whichcontain antioxidant andanti-inflammatory properties. Inaddition, one major element in greentea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),is thought to stop production of anenzyme required for cancer cell growth.Several cups of green tea might be aworthwhile addition to your dailyroutine.

Avoiding fatty foods may also providebenefit. Studies suggest that a low-fatdiet can reduce the incidence ofpremalignant lesions called actinickeratosis. To maintain a low-fat diet,the U.S. Department of Agriculturerecommends that you get most of yourcalories from organic, whole foods suchas grains, fruits, and vegetables and toavoid foods high in saturated fats. Formore information, visit the websitewww.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/.

Know the IndexEven though it is helpful to counteractdamage to your skin through nutrition,it remains vital to shield yourself fromthe sun's invisible UV rays and avoidthem when they're at their most intense.The UV Index, a measurement ofultra-violet sun radiation, can assist inprotecting you from potentially harmfulexposure. This forecast of UV intensityranges from a nighttime low of 0 to avery sunny 10-plus. It is greatest whenthe sun hits its apex (noon), thenrapidly decreases as the sun moves acrossthe afternoon sky. The higher the UVIndex, the shorter the time for skindamage to occur. To determine the UVIndex in your area, check your localnewspaper, TV and radio newsbroadcasts, or you can visit

www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html, theU.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency's website. This rating allows youto determine your geographic risk and,in turn, the level of adequate sunprotection needed.

Regardless of your sun-screeningdefenses, always be vigilant aboutchecking your skin for possible signs ofmelanoma. "When melanoma isdetected in its early stage, surgicalremoval cures the disease in most cases,"according to the American Academy ofDermatology. "If the disease has spreadto lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rateis 30-40 percent. If the disease hasspread to distant organs, the 5-yearsurvival rate is 12 percent."

Melanoma appears as a pre-existingmole that changes, or as a new mole onpreviously unaffected/clear skin.Performing skin self-exams every fewmonths and knowing the characteristicsto look for in any mole identified willenhance early detection and reduce risk.For more information on earlydetection, visit www.skincancer.org.

And don't forget common sensepractices:

--Avoid long-term sun exposure andwear a hat, sunglasses, and protectiveclothing.

--Apply sunscreen with SPF of 30 orabove.

--Avoid artificial tanning devices.

--And be aware of sun exposureyear-round.

With a few protective measures, you cancontinue to enjoy fun in the sun safely.Wear your sunscreen--in the wintermonths as well as the summer--seekshade, cover up with sleeves and pants,and don't forget your hat!

Make sure you are protected from UV rays.

Be Smart About SunscreenJason Barbaria

Be Immune to Inactivity

According to the American CancerSociety, more than 2 million people arediagnosed with skin cancer in the UnitedStates each year. There are more than2,000 over-the-counter sunscreenformulas on the market today. How canyou tell which sunscreens are the safest,most effective, and represent the bestvalue for your money? In most cases, theanswer comes down to the differencebetween the two types of filteringingredients. Here's what you need toknow.

Chemical or Physical?The UV radiation in sunlight consists ofUV-A, UV-B, and UV-C rays. UV-Aand UV-B are both responsible forphotoaging, skin cancer, sunburn,tanning, and wrinkling. UV-C is not afactor in skin health, as it is absorbed bythe Earth's atmosphere and does notreach us in significantamounts.Broad-spectrum sunscreenprotects against both UV-A and UV-B.This protection can work in one of twoways: chemical or physical.

Chemical UV FiltersWork by absorbing UV radiation;Require application 30 minutes beforesun exposure; Provide partial protectionfrom UV spectrum; May irritate the skinand eyes; Not regulated for safety by theUS Food and Drug Administration(FDA)--some may even becarcinogenic; Not photostable (exposureto sunlight degrades effectiveness);Avobenzone is the most commonly usedchemical filter ingredient.

Physical UV FiltersWork by reflecting UV radiation; Startprotecting immediately upon use;Provide full broad-spectrum protection;Non-irritating to skin and eyes; Safe, asparticles do not penetrate the skin;Highly photostable (exposure to sunlightdoes not change effectiveness).

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are themost commonly used physical filteringredients. Clothing and shadestructures also count as physical filters.

Jason Barbaria is director of marketing atDermagenics, a skin care line that includessunscreen, cleansers, and moisturizers.

The World Health Organization hascalled inactivity the second-leading riskfactor for non-communicable diseasesand the fourth-leading risk factor forglobal mortality.

In the United States, inactivity hashelped contribute to the fact that 35.9percent of adults age 20 years and overare obese, as well as 18 percent ofadolescents and children ages 6-19.

With risk factors like high bloodpressure, high cholesterol, coronaryartery disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes,and more, it's important to make sureyou get enough exercise and activity tostay healthy.

Here are some tips to help you keepmoving.

Be Aerobic Every DayThe Centers for Disease Control (CDC)recommends getting 2.5 hours ofmoderate-intensity aerobic exercise eachweek. If you break it down, that's justover 20 minutes a day of activities likewalking, water aerobics, riding a bike, orpushing a lawnmower.

Want to cut that down even further? Ifyou bump the exercise up to vigorousintensity, you can cut the time in half.Vigorous-intensity activities includejogging or running, swimming laps, andplaying basketball or tennis.

Add Muscle-StrengtheningLifting weights, working with resistance

bands, and doing body-weight resistanceexercises, heavy yard work, or yoga areall considered by the CDC to beimportant muscle-strengtheningactivities. The recommendation is to getthis type of exercise at least twice a weekto the point where your muscles aretired.

If you focus on setting realistic goals andgetting just a bit of exercise each day,you'll be on your way to meeting therequirements in no time. Find exercisesand activities that you enjoy doing, andit won't seem like such a burden. Plus,you'll feel great about reducing the riskfactors associated with a sedentarylifestyle. So get a plan, get out there,and get moving!

The summernight is like aperfection ofthought.-Wallace Stevens

Hot town, summer in the cityBack of my neck getting dirty and gritty...

Summertime can feel like those Lovin' Spoonful lyrics, butimagine, if you will, an oasis in Boonsboro ~ Green BambooQuality Skin ~ and the challenges of summer will disappear!Refresh your skin with a rejuvenating facial or detox with thebody contour wrap. And if you find yourself outdoors, protectyour skin with the best broad spectrum suncare available,COOLA. The shelves at Green Bamboo are stocked withthese award winning products. So contact me to purchase your sunscreen or to schedule anappointment.

Stay cool!

Green Bamboo Quality Skin Care

27 S. Main St.Boonsboro, MD 21713