Defy Age Naturally

I live in England, and we don’t exactly have the hottest most predictable summer on the earth. But when it’s nice, the whole country goes outside and enjoys it. We can finally rip off our jackets and feel free. Since summer is not a particularly long season here, it is essential that we make the most of ever sunny day.

Here are 5 fun ways to keep well and make the most of the summer (no matter where you live.)

Rawvolutionise

Enjoy as many raw foods as possible. While cooked food tastes nice, especially on a cold winter’s day, vital nutrients are damaged and lost. Further, cooking adds chemicals that aren’t particularly natural to our bodies. Summer is the perfect time to introduce as many raw foods as possible in the diet.

Raw salads and smoothies will keep you going in the summer. A greater variety of fruits and vegetables means more nourishment for your body and better for your health. It also means that you won’t waste valuable sunshine time standing over your cooker, and you may find that you look more gorgeous than ever in your summer frock (or suit…)

Berrylicious!

By now, most of us know that blueberries are great for health. But there are plenty of berries that grow wild all over the world which can give us many of those same nutrients and antioxidants.

I find it funny when I see a small amount of blackberries on sale in the supermarket for quite a hefty price, and they are growing all around us for free. No matter where you live in the UK, there are berries growing in the summertime. I have been amazed at the amount of blackberries to be picked even in big cities like London. Find out if there are any wild berries or edible items for your raw salad growing near you! It will save you money and add a new dimension to your food.

Sun Drenched

Sunscreen is a tricky subject. On the one hand we know that overexposure to sun causes aging skin and even cancer, we also know that the best way to get vitamin D, which is essential for our health, is through the sun. Studies are also continuously showing that many mainstream brands of sunscreen contain chemicals that are no good for our wellbeing. Here are a few ways to deal with the sun:

* Make sure your sunscreen is organic.
* Cover up…a hat will not only protect you from the sun, it can add style and flare to your outfit!
* Studies show that lycopene is extremely beneficial in protecting us from the negative effects of the sun. Lycopene is plant nutrient found primarily in tomatoes and tomato based products such as juice and puree, as well as watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya, and red bell pepper.
* There are also some interesting studies to suggest that broccoli sprouts (which you can sprout yourself or buy at a health food shop), are beneficial for warding off harmful sun rays.

The Best Drink on the Planet

It is crucial to drink plenty of water all year long, and no time is it as refreshing and necessary as in the summer months. We are primarily made of water, and drinking plenty of plain agua will ensure that we feel well and vibrant during the hot months. Just watch a wilting plant in the sun come alive when it gets watered.

Get a Move On

Generally speaking, we can be outside all year long in England, but no time is more pleasurable than the summer. If you have wanted to get in shape and get into some healthy exercising habits, there is no better time than now. Figure out what you enjoy doing, and do it 4-5 times a week.

Bicycling, skateboarding, running, or just walking regularly for 20 minutes can make us feel better and improve our health…not to mention how we look and feel with our winter jackets off.

Related Posts

• Broccoli Sprouts Safer and More Effective than Sunscreen

• Long Living, Flu Fighting Super Foods: Bee Pollen

• Sunscreen Causes Aging Skin Problem

• Healthy Smoothie Recipes

• Why Eat More Raw Food Super Foods?

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has shown that broccoli sprout extract boosts the body’s natural ability to defend against the ultraviolet solar rays that cause skin cancer.

Recently I wrote about the toxic effects of sunscreen. Perhaps this is the answer we have been waiting for…. A carcinogen free sunscreen made of broccoli sprouts.

Broccoli Sprouted Sunscreen

Scientists applied broccoli sprout extract to the skin of hairless mice before exposing them to ultraviolet sunlight. These mice developed significantly fewer skin cancer tumors than mice that were not applied with the extract. Even the treated mice that did develop tumors had far smaller ones than the unbroccolified mice.

More recently, a study was conducted where six healthy humans were exposed to ultraviolet sunlight on two areas of their backs. One location had been smeared with broccoli-sprout extract one to three days previously.

The areas smeared with broccoli-sprout extract developed an average of 37 percent less redness and inflammation than the areas that had not been smeared. The reaction to the extract varied widely by individual. Some only had an 8 percent reduction in redness, while some had a 78 percent reduction.

What is it about Broccoli Sprouts?

Scientists have discovered that if you apply sulforaphane to the skin, it as powerful a sunscreen as any.
In 1992, researchers discovered that broccoli is a rich source of a compound called sulforaphane. All cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, mustard, turnip, radish and watercress) contain sulforaphane, but the highest concentration is contained in three-day-old broccoli sprouts. Broccoli is also high in other health promoting nutrients such as vitamins A, B and C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, dietary fiber and folic acid. Other studies reveal that it is a powerful cancer fighter. Read more about how broccoli fights cancer

Sulforaphane activates the cells’ production of what are known as “phase 2 enzymes.” These enzymes have been shown to neutralize the DNA-damaging compounds that are produced by the skin when it is hit by ultraviolet sunlight.
Sulforaphane can also produce proteins that suppress tumours.

And the great news is that unlike sunscreen, broccoli-sprout extract does not actually block sunlight from hitting the skin. This means that the body still absorbs the ever so essential vitamin D. Most people are deficient in this nutrient, which is vital for protecting against diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, depression, and osteoporosis.

And as we have actually been getting some sunshine here in England, I am looking forward to trying this out. Scientists say they are working on a broccoli sprouted sunscreen and I will be the first to try it out when it goes on sale.

For now I will enjoy eating the broccoli sprouts that I buy at my local health food shop!  I desperately miss them when I run out…they are tasty and add so much flavor and goodness to my food.

Related Posts

• How to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally with the Breath

• Broccoli and Tomatoes Together Fight Prostate Cancer

• Healthy Smoothie Recipes

• Sunscreen Causes Aging Skin Problem

• Microwaves Cause Illness and Disease

• Best Super Foods: Asparagus