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The Sun is our friend and what a blessing to have the sun! I love the warmth of sunshine, even though in southern Arizona at this time of year the mid-day temperatures are usually 110-120 degrees and too hot to enjoy. But today's article may spark some interest concerning the sun and its use and abuse to the body.

At this time of year the cabin and mountains are calling me. My family and I will be spending most of the next two weeks enjoying the pines, one of my favoite places to be. I love the serenity of the mountains and being able to connect with nature. I will be taking a short break, but will resume with a newsletter in mid-August. I hope your summer has been going well!

There are many who think tanning is good for their health and looks. But in reality, a tan does not prevent sun damage, it already is sun damage! When the UV rays penetrate the skin, the pigment cells are injured and with continuous tanning and burning, the damage increases causing premature wrinkling, dehydration of the skin (leathery, aged look) and skin cancer. Tanning salons are just as harmful for your skin or worse than the sunlight. Many times tanning equipment has been shown to go deeper into the skin and can contribute to more extensive skin damage.

Now on another note, what are the functions of the liver? The liver is the largest gland in the human body and its main functions are to help the body digest and use food, as well as purify the blood of wastes and poisons. Digested food travels from the small intestines to the liver. The liver stores some of the digested food from the blood and releases it back into the bloodstream when needed. The liver filters wastes and poisons from the blood, then must process it and dump it into the urinary track. When liver becomes overloaded and full of toxins, it is released back into the body through the blood, and dumps it out into the fascia under the skin.

Now what does all this have to do with the sun and our skin? With a dirty toxic liver, which is caused mainly by eating unhealthy, polluted foods, the blood stream ends up carrying these wastes through the body that settle in the skin. As our skin grabs the sunlight, it pulls up toxins to the surface, creating sunspots, or liver spots. We blame the sun for these ugly spots, whereas in reality, an unhealthy toxic liver is really to blame.

So to remedy the problem, we follow the given instructions of rubbing on sunscreen every time we enter the sun. However, sunscreen can create more problems than it prevents. First of all, most sunscreens are made with creams that block the pores so the skin cannot breathe and cleanse as it should. Sunscreens also block the absorption of vitamin D from the sun. Therefore, if you use sunscreens regularly, you may need to take supplements of Vitamin D. Research also suggests that sunscreens have been found to produce free radicals, which is what exposure to the sun itself creates.

So what are the answers to the sun and our skin?

1. First of all, take care of your liver. If you are eating a typical junk food diet, then you probably have a liver that is toxic and working over time. You can have a healthy liver by doing several things:
• Eat a good healthy diet of lots of raw fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, good whole grains, raw nuts, etc., and cut out the processed refined foods, fried foods, and milk products.
• Drink lots of water: 4 oz. on the half-hour, or 8 oz. on the hour. Water hydrates the cells and flushes the body of its toxins and wastes. We can not have a clean healthy system without good pure water.
• Add fresh lemon juice to the water too. Lemon juice is a great cleanser and is so good for cleansing the liver.
• Antioxidants, goldenseal, vitamin C & E, and liquid chlorophyll are all good for keeping the liver clean too.
2. Olive oil feeds, mends and heals the skin from the inside and out. It is really one of the best oils to consume internally, and to rub on the skin for protection. It is also good for eczema - for mending and healing, and acne - which actually suppresses the internal oils from surfacing. So go ahead, rub it on.
3. Stay out of the direct sunlight between the hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm year round, even on overcast days. If you know you will be out in the sun during those hours, seek shade or even a parasol, protective clothing, and hat for protection.

Remember, the skin is a reflection of what is going on in the inside of the body. We will have healthier skin by taking care of our system internally through good healthy eating habits.

Respect the sun. We need it. Be in it when it is good for you, and protect your skin naturally by treating it with care so it can heal, breathe and cleanse toxins. Know when enough sun is enough by listening to your body.

To Your Best Health, Erleen Tilton

What are in apples that make them so good for you? Apples are a food that contain a wide range of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids and high antioxidant properties. Many researchers believe they reduce the risk of many chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease. It is interesting to know that over half of the apples consumed are consumed raw which tells us that people overall do eat more apples fresh than in pies, apple sauce, juice or any other prepared method.

So go ahead. Enjoy a big juicy apple for breakfast. I slice it up and spread it with raw almond butter and it is a very complete satisfying meal. Then for an afternoon snack, same way - it is more filling and satisfying that any other food.

Two apples a day are even better than one!

Erleen loves teaching people down-to-earth principles of nutrition as she sees the positive changes in others lives as they live the principles of good health and eating. She has a passion for wholesome foods and their life giving qualities. Her many personal experiences and years of study and research qualify her as an expert in health education, speaking, and consulting. Contact her now for your next conference, for health consultations, or for an upcoming event!

"The Ultimate Healthy Lifestyle!" is a TEN CD series with all the information you need to begin your journey towards a Healthier Lifestyle! Erleen serves as your guide, distilling over twenty-five years of health education and research into easy to listen to lessons on how to begin, where to begin and more! Check out this CD series today!

Sprouting is great indoor gardening. Learn to sprout easily with the Sprout Master, the best sprouter on the market. And it is a super simple process. Just soak the seeds overnight, drain and pour into the Sprout Master, now just rinse and drain 3 times daily (at every meal). It's that simple! If you want to start out right with some seeds, we also have alfalfa, lentil, mung bean, clover, radish and sunflower. These are all organic too! Check out The Sprout Master and seeds here!

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