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Ultraviolet Light (UV) Safety Month: Nutrition, Supplements and Sun Protection Advice
With summer in full swing, July is the perfect month to enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming, golfing, outdoor cooking, and Fourth of July celebrations. While improved fitness and mental well-being are among the many positive effects of outdoor exercise and relaxation, keep in mind that fun in the sun can also result in sunburn and heat exhaustion, as well as increase the long term risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
We're all aware of the benefits of sunscreen, sunglasses, and UV-protective clothing and hats, however few people know that there are dietary supplements that protect the body from the inside out. Antioxidant vitamins may help prevent or reduce the progression of cataracts, and ingredients included in your multivitamin, such as beta-carotene, offer protection to the skin. Special anti aging supplements have been designed to offer protection against the skin-aging effects of sun and stress in a daily encapsulated orally administered formula. Additionally, large studies such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2, have revealed that vitamins C and E, zinc, EPA, DHA, lutein and zeaxanthin are the best vitamins and dietary supplements to help prevent age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of visual impairment in older men and women.
Although sun exposure has been lauded by some authorities as the best source of vitamin D, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that vitamin D be obtained from naturally enriched vitamin D foods, fortified foods and beverages and/or vitamin supplements. More than being the major cause of skin aging, excessive sun exposure is associated with an increased risk of skin cancers, including potentially deadly melanoma.
During UV Safety Month, and any other time you plan to be enjoying the sun, don't forget the benefits of frequently applied sun protection lotion, ultraviolet protective sunglasses, and optimal nutrition to avoid playing now and paying later.
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Featured Videos
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UV Safety
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Eye Disease Screening at Age 40
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Dr. Shah discusses issues surrounding ultraviolet light and its effects on the body.
by nslijhs | |
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Getting your eyes checked is just as important as cancer or cholesterol screenings.
by geteyesmart | |
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UV Rays and Eye Damage
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Does the sun damage your eyes?
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Everyone knows to wear sunblock and a hat to protect against UV rays. But most overlook the importance sunglasses play in protecting their eyes against UV damage.
by Info4YourLife | |
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Real Questions: Does the Sun damage your eyes? Sun and Eye Damage explained by Richard Davidson, MD, Ophthalmologist at the University of Colorado Hospital.
by realhealthtv | |
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Nutritional Health Recommendations
Healthy Eyes and UV Safety
Healthy vision is accomplished through healthy eyes—and good nutrition is vital to healthy eyes. The eye is made of various structures working in concert to focus light rays from objects into images and send them to our brain via electrical impulses. The eye itself is protected in a bony orbit (socket). The socket provides protection against trauma, but it cannot protect the eye from internal injuries.
The front of each eye is covered by an eyelid, which blinks periodically to spread tears over the eye surface and remove unwanted material. The eyelids also have glands that secrete oil onto the cornea, forming a portion of the tear film of the eye.
Skin Aging
Skin is the largest organ of the human body, weighing approximately 10 pounds and covering an area of about 16 square feet. We generally take skin for granted and tend not to take very good care of it. Our skin is responsible for protecting our internal organs from the toxic external world. Our skin protects us from heat, cold, and physical injuries. It also provides us with sensory information about the nature of the external world and is our first defense against invasion by bacteria, viruses, and other toxic elements. The skin is also an excretory organ, removing toxins from the body via perspiration.
Although there are many diseases that can affect the skin, the most common problems that we all have are the effects of our exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun over time. Having a healthy tan has, in the past, been a sign of good health. In the last 10 years, with the changes in the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, it is clear that the effects of UV radiation from the sun are much more dangerous than originally thought. There are many causes for the accumulated cellular damage in the skin that we call aging. Among these are the oxidative processes and related free radical damage that result from UV sunlight, smog, toxins, cigarette smoke, X-rays, drugs, and other stressors. Young skin is also exposed to these potentially damaging changes, but when we are young, there is sufficient cellular energy (ATP) for DNA repair and cell renewal. Enzymes that provide antioxidant activity such as SOD and catalase are readily available. As we age, there is increased wear and tear, while at the same time the energy for cell repair and renewal is diminished and the antioxidant enzymes are less available.
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