Category: health and wellness

Sensitivity to the Sun

sensitivity to sun
~ Loreeebee ~ 1 Comment

Unfortunately, I’ve spent most of the summer trying to self-diagnose my sudden, (more than usual), sensitivity to the sun. Not a great summer-time memory to experience.

Rashes and Burns

My face in particular has suffered through several bad rashes. So bad that it appeared (looked and felt) that my skin was burned.

sensitivity to the sun
sensitivity to the sun

I’ve also experienced a prickly sensation, but no visible rash or burn, on the left side of my neck, between my jaw and my clavicle. This prickliness occurs after a mere few minutes in the sun, even with sunscreen on.

Sunscreen

I have been a huge proponent of sunscreen over the years, wearing at least 30, if not 50 SPF. I learned this the hard way, after developing brown spots on my face in the last trimester of my last pregnancy. I was told they were due to melasma, AKA pregnancy mask, a hormonal reaction. That was twenty-six years ago, and they were supposed to go away, but I have yet to find anything (topical) to remove them. Due to my uber-sensitive skin, I hesitate to try anything more drastic.

Since then, I have applied sunscreen religiously every morning, 30 SPF on cloudy/rainy days or those I don’t plan to be outdoors much. When I am planning to be outside for longer than thirty minutes, I opt for the 50 SPF.

After my first reaction, I asked the staff at my local Natural Food Pantry for a recommendation for sunscreen for sensitive skin. I purchased the So Good brand in both a cream and a stick. If your skin is sensitive, choose sunscreen that does not contain benzophenone-3, known to cause allergic reactions in some people.

I love how smoothly the So Good sunscreen applies to my skin, even though it has zinc in it (zinc is notoriously sticky to apply). I still experienced a rash and prickly neck after switching sunscreens though. I will continue to use it as I don’t believe my sunscreen was the issue causing the sensitivity to the sun. You can purchase both the 30 and 50 SPF through Amazon as well.

Face Moisturizers

My moisturizers were also suspect, even though I had not changed my routine. After the first episode, I switched to a product also recommended to me at the Natural Food Pantry to moisturize and heal my skin.

sensivity to the sun
Nature’s Aid Moisturizing Skin Gel

This moisturizing gel has worked wonders on my rashy, burned skin. I love it. You can order Nature’s Aid Moisturizing Skin Gel through Amazon if Natural Food Pantry is not convenient.

Foods That Can Cause a Sensitivity to the Sun

Research (Summahealth.org) told me there are several foods that can cause sun sensitivity, with citrus fruits at the top of the list. Other culprits include:

  • Celery
  • Parsley
  • Dill
  • Figs
  • Fennel

Well, it just so happens I had recently started adding celery and lemon peel to my morning smoothies, for their purported memory and anti-aging benefits, respectively. The plan is to leave the celery and lemon out for a few weeks to see if I have any more reactions.

Fingers crossed!

Team Planting Introduces Essential Oils

~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

Team Planting has recently added essential oils to its lineup of products. If you read my posts you will know I am enamoured with their jewelry line crafted from natural crystals. I’m also a fan of essential oils.

What Essential Oils Can Do for You

I use essential oils for many purposes including bug spray, (especially for mosquitoes), air freshener, fragrance (rose hip is my favourite), skincare, and more.

Natural Pain Relief

Team Planting is currently promoting a potent blend of five essential oils called Sandalwood that promises maximum pain relief:

  • Sandalwood oil: acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, reducing pain associated with internal inflammation.
  • Tea tree oil: Contains methyl salicylate, known for its ability to relieve pain. You may recognize the compound salicylate, commonly known as aspirin.
  • Osmanthus oil: also an anti-inflammatory, used to alleviate pain in arthritis sufferers.
  • Jasmine oil: also contains analgesic (pain relief) and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Peppermint oil: Known to cool and reduce pain associated with headaches, cramps, and injured muscles.

This combination of essential oils is capable of soothing even the most severe arthritic (both osteo and rheumatoid versions) and back pain (including sciatica) as well as debilitating pain associated with fibromyalgia, migraines, osteoporosis, neuropathy, menstrual cramps, muscle soreness and/or injury.

Conclusion

Many people, including myself, don’t like the side effects of prescription drugs for pain management.

If you suffer from chronic pain, essential oils might be the natural alternative you’re looking for to manage your discomfort and pain.

This is convenient timing for me as I have had issues with my previous essential oil supplier. If you decide to order, be sure to use LOREEEBEE my coupon code.

team planting

Himalayan Salt, What is it and Why is it Good for You?

Himalayan Salt
~ Loreeebee ~ 6 Comments

Himalayan salt consists of pink crystals from the sea salt beds within the pristine conditions of the Himalayan mountain range in Asia, reportedly the purest salt available in the world.  

Contains Minerals, not Toxins

The absence of toxins and contaminants plus the presence of numerous trace elements makes Himalayan salt much healthier than highly processed, bleached, and chemically cleaned table variety.  The 84 minerals and elements present, including magnesium, potassium, sulfate, calcium, and sodium chloride, are already naturally occurring in our bodies, meaning their consumption does not expose our organs to unwanted, unnatural, and potentially dangerous ingredients.  These elements and minerals within Himalayan salt are present in colloidal form which means they are easily absorbed by our bodies.

Health Benefits of Himalayan Salt

  • prevents muscle cramps, cellulite, arthritis, kidney or gallstones, and gout
  • improves lung and vascular function (circulation) as well as sleep patterns
  • increases hydration and libido
  • reduces blood pressure and signs of aging
  • creates a healthy cellular pH
  • eliminates heavy metals and other toxins
  • strengthens bones

Why Table (Iodized) Salt is Not Healthy

The only minerals that table salt contains are chloride and sodium; all others are stripped in processing.  The iodine added to table salt is synthetic or unnatural so our bodies cannot absorb it properly.  Table salt also contains chemical agents to prevent the product from caking in the container it is packaged in.  Unfortunately, these chemical agents also prevent table salt from being absorbed efficiently in our bodies so the chemicals deposit and build up, creating potentially dangerous conditions within our organs.  Our cells then have to use up to twenty times the amount of water to neutralize the sodium chloride within the table salt.

Sea Salt vs Himalayan Salt

Sea salt from elsewhere in the world is healthier than regular table salt, but our oceans are becoming increasingly polluted from oil spills and chemical dumping. Sea salt is now also processed heavily as well.

Conclusions

The crystals of Himalayan salt are also beneficial as a bath soak, promoting relaxation and rejuvenation of the skin.

Himalayan salt is by far the healthiest salt available to us today and is readily available in most grocery stores.   If you love the taste of salt added to your food, try it soon to take advantage of the many health benefits this small change can add to your life.