From One Sun Lover to Another- Part 2

In my last post I said that I would share some interesting new research I've read on skin cancer prevention, but first I want to pose a question.  Have you ever wondered why it is that sunscreen is promoted now more than ever and skin cancer incidence is rising?  I know that some say it's because the ozone is being depleted so the sun's rays reaching Earth are stronger now, but I have wondered whether the incidence is growing right along with obesity, chronic disease, and other types of cancer.  I can't answer my own question definitively, but I can say that there is mounting evidence that diet plays a powerful part in promoting or preventing obesity, chronic disease, and other types of cancer, so I don't know why skin cancer would be different.  

Then I started searching for research connecting diet and skin cancer in any way.  There's not a lot, but the following summarizes what I've found.  The way I look at it, it might not be backed by concrete evidence yet, but why not adopt it in addition to the standard prevention tips such as wearing sunscreen and avoiding tanning beds, etc.?

There is fairly new research indicating that some foods have sun protective properties.  The most beneficial foods are ones with a high content of omega 3-fatty acids and antioxidants, which is achieved easily through adapting an anti-inflammatory or Mediterranean diet.  Here is a non-exclusive list of foods that reportedly contain high levels of omega 3-fatty acids and antioxidants:

• Red, pink, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables
• Leafy green vegetables
• Blue and purple berries
• Wild-caught salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout, and herring
• Brazil nuts
• Turmeric
• Green tea (avoid bottled green tea containing natural or artificial sweeteners)

This is exciting news to me!  Hopefully more research will be done on this topic.  Be safe in the sun, and enjoy these foods frequently to increase sun protection from the inside out.

Follow the links below for more information on the research, diets, and skin cancer.

General information about skin cancer

Mediterranean Diet Basics

Anti-inflammatory Diet Basics

Study 1

Study 2

News Article

From One Sun Lover to Another- Part 1

I love the sun... its warmth, golden light, and of course the bronzed glow it leaves on my skin.  I don't know about you, but being in the sunlight and having a tan just makes me feel fabulous.  Therefore, as a child I spent nearly every summer day at the pool, worked as an outdoor lifeguard for four summers in high school and college, frequented tanning beds in the winter, then moved to Florida for five years.  You can imagine how much time I spent in the sun there!


As they say, sun overexposure does significantly increase risk for skin cancer.  The skin biopsies began at age 14. At age 20 I got my first "bad" biopsy report.  I had a minor surgery to remove more skin and all was well.  I went right back to my sun loving ways.  I've had a few more biopsies here and there over the past years, but all were benign.


Fast forward to six weeks ago.  A close family member, also a sun lover, went to the dermatologist for the first time to have a few moles examined.  Turns out that one was melanoma, reputed to be the most deadly of types of skin cancer.  Making a long, painful story short, she had to have several surgeries to have more skin removed as well as four lymph nodes removed to make sure the cancer hadn't spread.  Thank God, it hadn't and she doesn't have to have any other treatment.


Her experience gave me a kick in the pants to get myself into the dermatologist for my yearly checkup (for which I was four months overdue).  Three biopsies, and three bad biopsy reports later, here I sit.  Luckily only two require additional surgery, which will leave me with sizable scars in comparison to the many small biopsy scars I already have.  I'll take the scars over the alternative.


My intention in sharing all of this is not to type on about myself for paragraphs, but to simply raise awareness about skin cancer and provoke people to start thinking more about prevention.  I have always considered myself a fairly health-conscious person, and I knew all about the risks associated with too much sun exposure.  But I didn't think skin cancer would ever happen to me (I apparently didn't get the hint 9 years ago!).  


Look for Part 2 of this post for some interesting prevention information that goes beyond "Avoid the sun and wear sunscreen."

Thots, Traumas, and Toxins

Nearly 100 years ago, one of the first chiropractors wrote about the concept of the 3 T's: "thots," traumas, and toxins.  Don't be alarmed--as a former English major, I know that the proper spelling is "thoughts," but apparently  B.J. Palmer didn't :)  In a nutshell, Palmer was saying that negative emotions and stress; trauma; and toxins (whether in the form of pollution, poison, street and pharmaceutical drugs, or even in foods we eat) are the three main things that wreak havoc on our health.  Unfortunately, we can't always avoid trauma or exposure to environmental exposure to toxins.  However, we can do the best we can to eat well, and minimize stress and negative emotion.

Properly coping with stress and negative emotions has been a topic of interest to me lately.  As a spiritual person, I do rely heavily on my faith and prayer.  Exercise is a fantastic outlet for stress as well.  Last week, I was introduced to the work of personal and business development coach Deb Erickson, and I'm excited!  If you ever feel that your "thots" could use a pick-me-up, I highly recommend her!

Information on Deb Erickson

Diet Isn't Just for Health

As a chiropractor, nutrition has always been a fascinating topic to me.  Research shows that diet plays a huge role in overall health, influencing far more than weight.  Diet affects muscle tone, bone health, pain levels, predisposition to cancer and other chronic diseases, reproductive health, and much more.  To most people, however,  the ideal diet is a very confusing concept.  Coffee is bad for you.  Coffee is good for you.  Eat eggs.  Don't eat eggs.  Use margarine.  Never use margarine.  This is my favorite recent nutrition-related news headline: according to Congress, pizza is a vegetable!  Turns out, the ideal diet really isn't confusing at all.  The most nutritious foods are the ones that have been processed the least: fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats.  When it comes to fats butter, olive oil, and pure coconut oils are the best choices.  There are several names for this diet, including the Anti-Inflammatory Diet, Paleo Diet, and Caveman Diet.


As a chiropractor and beauty consultant, I get excited when I read new research showing that nutrition affects skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, psoriasis, and eczema.  These conditions are more than skin deep--living with them can chip away at self-esteem.  While makeup can minimize the appearance of these conditions and improve self-esteem, adopting a healthy diet can actually cure them.


Learn more about the Paleo Diet

My hope

Sometimes I look back at the past eleven years and think, "WOW...what a ride!"  I graduated from Purdue University with an English degree, moved to Florida for four years to attend and graduate from Palmer College of Chiropractic, moved back to Indiana to practice chiropractic and acupuncture, and am currently a beauty consultant for a well-known cosmetics company.  From the outsider's perspective (and my own at times :) ), it may be difficult to see how it all fits together.  My hope is that this blog blends my experiences into something that helps each person who reads it find beauty from the inside out.