mmmm....Thanks for that Tasty Sunscreen, Mom!

Modern cosmetics and sunscreens are reeking havoc on our health, and now a new study shows that they are impacting our babies health, too.

"Research on the effects of endocrine disrupters (chemicals interfering with hormone actions) has shown that it is of utmost importance to obtain information on simultaneous exposure of humans to different types of chemicals because endocrine active chemicals can act in concert. Information on exposure is particularly important for the developing organism at its most sensitive early life stages. Human milk was chosen because it provides direct information on exposure of the suckling infant and indirect information on exposure of the mother during pregnancy," research team leaders Margret Schlumpf and Walter Lichtensteiger said in a media statement.

While breastmilk is ALWAYS less toxic than formula, it is important to note that there is much you can do to improve the quality of your milk and therefore your child's health.

So what to do instead? In the case of sunscreen specifically, there are many natural options out there that are just as effective as typical sunscreen and good for you, too:
1. Eating a lot of food high in beta carotene. Yellow, red, dark green and orange produce raises your bodies ability to protect against sunburn. *Stahl, W et al. Carotenoids and carotenoids plus vitamin E protect against ultraviolet light-induced erythema in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:795-798.
2. Get sun everyday! Ultraviolet light stimulates melanin (dark pigment) production. The pigment has the effect of absorbing the UV radiation in sunlight, so it protects the cells from UV damage. Melanin production takes a fair amount of time - that is why most people cannot get a tan in one day. You have to expose yourself to UV for a short period of time to activate the melanocytes. They produce melanin over the course of hours. By repeating this process over 5 to 7 days pigment builds up in your cells to a level that is protective.
3. Switch to natural sunscreens. Brands that are best use titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and PABA. They are physical barrier-type sunscreens and generally less irritating. Some brands I love are Aubrey Organics, Titania SPF 25 Full Spectrum Sunblock, Green Tea Sunblock, Logona Kosmetik's