Vitamin D X Sunscreen

And here I let the question:

Vitamin D or Sunscreen use?

Before we get in this discussion let's try understand some concepts first:

1) "What is solar radiation"?

Indeed there are a lot of previous studies about it, but the first and one most important was in the half of the nineteenth century when Joseph von Fraunhofer detailed, in 1814, a spectroscopic observations of the solar spectrum showing 574 dark spectral lines. And his explanation was based on the absorption in the Sun's atmosphere, which was given by G. R. Kirchhoff around 45 years later.

Excuse-me but I like a little bit of history! 

After these works some others came over, but based on mathematical equations to try define some process such as scattering, polarization and absorption of the light could affect and reach the Earth. 

In simply words, solar radiation could be defined as the light or energy which come from the sun in different ways. And as a results of those studies mentioned before, these "ways" were rearranged in the electromagnetic spectrum, that explains the different types of light waves. 

Light waves are vibrations of electromagnetic fields which shows low or high frequencies. The former has a low energy waves with long wavelength and the second shows the opposite, high energy and short wavelength. All of them are presented in our lives somehow, as shown the picture below.

    

As you can see at this picture the frequency is related to the energy somehow. Electromagnetic waves with longer wavelengths and lower frequency, have less energy than ones with shorter wavelengths and higher frequency. And here is the point! This is the reason why ultraviolet radiation could be dangerous. The energy is so high that may damage the cells DNA. 

2) "But, don't we need the solar radiation to produce Vitamin D and avoid diseases"?

Yes! Indeed we really need the solar radiation to keep us alive and warm in the Earth. It's essential for our biochemistry and for a nice feeling (mainly after a long winter!).

As I wrote some years ago, Vitamin D plays an important role to regulate calcium taken it by our food, that helps to build strong bones, teeth, send messages along your nerves and participate muscles contraction, as your heart beats, for example.

The ultraviolet light from the sun makes a type of cholesterol, found just under our skin, turn into something called vitamin D₃ or cholecalciferol. This Vitamin D₃ it's carried to liver changing into more active form called 25-hydrovitamin D₃. This molecule goes to kidneys and becomes more reactive form than before called 1,25-hydrovitamin D₃.   

Vitamin D is found in some foods as beef liver, egg yolks, milk, salmon, sardines and shrimp. However, it´s presented as Vitamin D2 or ergocalciferol. In supplements we can found cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol. It means that we this radiation to take the vitamin D in an appropriate form. 

The deficiency of Vitamin D affects bones, muscle, brain, prostate, breast, colon and immune cells health. The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D controls more than 200 genes, including genes responsible for the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. The orders disorders are: schizophrenia, depression, lung function and wheezing illnesses.

3) "Sounds good, but if it's needed to the biochemistry balance in our body, why do the people use sunscreen"? 

The purpose of the sunscreen is protect our skin from the ultraviolet energy shown above, that supposed to be high enough to cause cells damages. 

The two types of ultraviolet radiation are: UVA and UVB. The UVA has a longer wavelength than UVB.  

The UVA rays are up to 95 percent of the total UV radiation being more prevalent and then, they penetrate in the skin deeper than UVB. 

Recent studies showed that although UVB causes skin aging and wrinkling, the UVA rays affect skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, where the most skin cancers occur. This is the reason that the people advise you use the sunscreen, to avoid these damages.

However, the point is the quality of the chemicals inside the sunscreen lotions, already discussed in this fun page. Some of them instead of protect you could cause health problems like unbalanced hormone or irritate the skin. And lately, most of people are believing that if you use these protective lotions you could avoid the Vitamin D absorption and develop diseases. 

Sunscreen use X Vitamin D

I open now the debate. Based on the last posts and what do you know, what do you think about it?

I believe that everything should be balanced. It's possible to get your irradiation needed to develop the Vitamin D before 10 am and after 4 pm. Between this time the energy by the ultraviolet waves is too high and really cause damages. 

Related to the sunscreen, choose one with physical blocks, as titanium oxide, and more natural as possible. Choose one that not only protects you from UVB but also from UVA, called broad-spectrum. Don't let you and your kids get the sun of the noon time, when it is the maximum irradiation. 

Yes, I believe that you may balance everything. The Vitamin D absorption, the quality of the sunscreen and your moment to enjoy the sun. Get the pleasure with the responsibility.   

             

Have a great summer everyone!

Barbara F. 

References:

Coulson, Kinsell L, solar and terrestrial radiation, 1975

http://www.skincancer.org/

Brainwaves: The Quality of your thoughts _ Part II

Last post I gave a brief explanation and also described what is brainwaves, and finished writing that is possible to, at least, manage our thoughts and thus our brainwaves.

Indeed, there are a lot of ways to make it. Some people simply listen the brainwaves beats and feel comfortable with it. Others make affirmations quotes and read daily, mainly in the morning.

Now I ask you... What is there behind it?

If you are here, in this page, you probably read something about “how to be more positive” or “how to be happier” and the most of these reads give almost the same suggestions but they don’t explain exactly why it could be work.

I will try to help you understand it…

There is one thing that I always say in my workshops: “you generally wake up with same thoughts that you went to the bed the night before!”

And it’s true. If you go the bed thinking in problem, you will wake up with the same problem in your head, and if you don’t stop this thought, it could became a “believe” and you will fall in a negative spiral. Thus all of your day will be contaminated by this problem and in the most of cases, we don’t see the best solution and make a wrong or worst way to solve it.

All this event that I just described here is managed by hormones that could be released or suppressed according to our thoughts. Depending on these thoughts, the communication between neurons change and then, our brainwaves, will change in a way that could be hard to find a solution. This is the reason that is powerful you have the skills to manage your own thoughts to avoid this negative loop caused by a situation in our environment.

A suggestion that I give to here, is go to bed thinking about the things, events, people that you are grateful for. Try to get this gratitude energy, fill up your heart and spread it for all your body. Close your eyes and do it today! Your energy balance to sleep will really improve, and probably you will wake up better!

Our environment is very important. If it is too down chances are you find yourself in the same level, even if don't you want. This is the reason that is important to avoid toxic and negative people. All of us have energy spreading surround us and it’s already scientifically proven.

What's the message that I want to let here for you? 

I want that you pay attention about the quality of your thoughts. It’s very important, because some people say that think positively but they can not see much results. 

How to change it?

You can use the association of affirmation quotes and the use of brainwaves.

How?

First let’s see how an effective affirmations quotes could be. 

It’s important use the verb to be. I mean instead of you say,

“I want a new house” you can use “I am a new house owner”.

“I want to be a doctor” you can use “I am a doctor”.

“I want to lose weight” you can use “I am fit”.

Can you see the difference?

When we use the verb “want” we are putting our desires in the future and then you don’t have an idea when it will happen. And when it takes a long time to happen we can lose our hopes about that desire/wish/goals. When you are clear, objective and put the verbs in the present, you letting the things flow constant and faster. 

  

Second: imagine yourself doing what you want in your positive quote. And put your energy on it. Every. Single. Day.

Third: it is crucial because the most of people do the step 1 and 2 but they don’t practice the step 3.

Don’t worry in how to get or reach your goal/wish/desire! Because the worries create a stress barrier the avoid you reach your goals. I see a lot of people more worry about in HOW to reach their goals that they simply forget to work on it and the flow of achievement stops!

Now another question comes...    

How can you help this self-healing? How to dissolve this stress barrier?

The control of the brain waves could be important.

I will explain… Did you already pay attention the kid’s behavior, mainly between 2-6 years?

They usually don’t be worried or stressed too much about the problems. They solve their lives sometimes better than adults. The life looks like simple for them, right?

Why?

Because of the Theta brain waves. It’s dominant in kids. These waves put you in connection with yourself, improving your intuition, helping the solve problems, increasing the learning ability and long-term memory.

Why when they grow up they lose these abilities?

Because it is like a sponge in a child. It means that children can absorb easily the emotions from the environment from the adults who live surround them. However if we work on it, we can reach these brainwaves again.

We can use the waves for whatever we need. If you want to study for an exam you can use the gamma one. To keep awake you can use beta, for meditation you can use theta or alpha... 

So, for empower your thoughts, you can do:

1)      Use the verb in present tense to create your positive quotes;

2)      Put energy on your thoughts;

3)      Work on it, but don’t be stressed in how to get it. Listen the Theta waves it's very helpful.

I hope that this poster help you somehow.

We keep in touch! Take care!

Barbara Francisco

Brainwaves: Think healthier _ Part I

I have been seen many people talking about:

“You are what you think.”

But I have a question to you: Why is it so true?

It simple. It due to our brain.

Brain is a mysterious black box and still under studies. I have been studying some books and scientific papers that talk about it for the last years and now I will share with you some important topics that I learned and have been applied in myself, friends and who already attended to my workshops. You may see below some questions that I try answer in a simple way.

How does brain work to release waves?

Our brain releases waves. The waves are produced by neurons (cells brain) that communicate which other by electrical changes. This communication fall in a rhythmic fluctuation of electron potential between parts of the brain.  

Studies already found at least 5 types of waves that changes according to their frequencies. They are change from Delta type with slow, loud and functional frequency to Gamma which is fast, subtle and complex.

How does it change?

First thing that you have to understand is our brainwaves changes according to our activities and feelings. This is the reason the people say that we manage what we are think.  Our emotions are the key of this “brain-thoughts-waves” system.

What kind of wave do we have?

The 5 types of brainwaves are Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. They could vary the intensities inside the range of their frequency. It is a good deal try to keep them balanced, because too much or too low could really affect our lives.   

Gamma (27Hz and up):

It is associated with the formation of ideas, language and memory processing, and various types of learning. Who release too much Gamma could show high levels of intelligence, being compassionate, having high amounts of self-control, and feelings of natural happiness. This wave also linked to a perception of reality, boosting it through your five senses: the smells are more powerful, increasing your visual acuity, sharpening your hearing, and foods taste better. Powerful antidepressant-type brainwave.

Beta (12Hz-27Hz):

We usually produce it when we are awake.  It’s mental state of the most of people are in during the day and most of their waking lives. In this mode, you are able to think fast and quickly come up to logical solutions to problems. It´s ideal for solving math problems, conducting research, reading books, and writing articles. Many people with lack sufficient beta activity show mental or emotional disorders such depression, ADD and insomnia. Stimulating beta activity can improve emotional stability, energy levels, attentiveness and concentration. However the excess of this type of brainwave could let you stressful and  nervous. If this situation could even cause a Alpha Block phenomenon (very low or no Alpha wave production). 

Alpha (8Hz – 12Hz):

When it is dominant you could feel relaxed but not processing much information. Your brain thinking is slower and your mind is clear. At this point, your body has zero stress, tension and anxiety. It´s the state before sleep and when you just wake up in the morning. Also happens when you close your eyes. Associated with creativity, solve problems, better communication and clear thinking. Then it is associated with think positive.

Theta (3Hz-8Hz):

Light sleep or extreme relaxation. Most common in child which explain why they don´t feel stressful and why they don´t have afraid to try something new. When you access these waves you are trying an emotional connection with yourself. It is also related with strong intuition, advanced problem solving, learning ability, long-term memory improvement and the ability to hyper focus and boost immune system functioning.

Delta (0.2 to 3Hz):

It´s slow, loudest, deep and dreamless sleep. When is dominant your body is healing itself and resetting its internal clocks. You don´t dream in this state and are completely unconscious. When the delta waves increase you can release anti-aging hormones, increase empathy, heal the mind and repair your muscles and access the deepest possible states of relaxation, release the natural hormone for sleep, melatonin, and accessing deep states of spirituality. Very common in Tibetan monks.  

The type that each one most release, depends the lifestyle. For example, if you live under stress the most of time and sometimes you feel you can’t control it, it’s because you are producing too much Beta. If you feel slow, sad without a apparently reason and depressed you could releasing too much Alpha. The fact is all the brainwaves could affect the balance of hormones in our body and disturb or improve the biochemistry system inside us. 

Is it possible change the brain waves?

Yes. There are lot of ways. First you have to analyze your life style to figure out what kind of waves you probably release. Pay attention to your emotions and the roots of them. If you want feel less stressful, for example, find a way to put it out of you. You can try do an activity different that put yourself under this condition, like exercise, painting, yoga, play an instrument… Do what make you happier and relaxed. 

A other option is listen specific brainwaves beats according to what you want.

For this first part, I only show the main concept and how it works in you. For the second part I will show how can we use them in our favor, to help us think in a healthier way... 

Stay tuned, I will come back soon!

Barbara Francisco