Yes, you read that right. Getting the perfect glow this summer can be hazardous to your health – and not because you may overdo it and get burned.  The sunblock you so liberally apply to yourself and your children – thinking that you’re protecting your skin – may be chock full of chemicals that can make you sick.

Thankfully, we can arm ourselves with some knowledge about which chemicals to avoid when we head to the store to stock up on sun protection this season.  The Environmental Working Group’s 2012 Sunscreen Report evaluates over 1,800 SPF products including sunblock, lip balms, moisturizers, and makeup and identifies potentially harmful toxins that you should avoid if possible.  Among the chief offenders to look for on the ingredient list of your favorite products:

Oxybenzone – This ingredient’s primary purpose is to absorb ultraviolet light.  However, some research studies indicate that the chemical is absorbed through the skin and is linked to hormone disruption. It is also known to trigger allergic reactions.  Even though the FDA rates this chemical as safe, I’d suggest that everyone –children and pregnant women especially – avoid it.  Why risk your health and the health of your family by introducing this controversial chemical into your body when safer alternatives are available?

Retinyl Palmitate – In 2009, a study by U.S. government scientists suggested that retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight.  While these studies were done on mice and not humans, and the results were inconclusive, many manufacturers began voluntarily removing the ingredient from their products. 

Sunscreens with greater than SPF 50 – these are simply a waste of your money.  The FDA is on the record as saying that products with SPF values higher than 50 would be “misleading to the consumer,” given the absence of proven efficacy beyond that number.  There is also a potential for harm to consumers who are led to believe that the higher SPF will protect them from burning and encourage them to stay in the sun longer.

So what ingredients offer a healthier choice for sun protection?

• Choose products labeled with broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. 
• Look for products that contain zinc and titanium minerals as key ingredients. These perform best when it comes to filtering UV rays.  These are also not considered hormone disruptors.
• Make sure that your kids wear a hat and shirt whenever possible to protect their delicate skin.  Moms and dads should follow suit!

For a complete list of the best beach and sport sunscreen products evaluated by the Environmental Working Group, click here.   And enjoy your summer – safely!

Keeping with the theme of healthy holidays, today I’d like to focus on Thanksgiving. I am sharing some delicious recipes to include with your Thanksgiving feast next week that are sure to keep your hormones happy and your weight on track. These sides are the perfect complement to your turkey.

Roasting is a very healthy and delicious way to cook vegetables. It enhances the flavors of the vegetables without losing any of the nutrients. Drizzle the vegetables with heart-healthy olive oil, season with a little Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper. You could also use some fresh or dried herbs, a squeeze of lemon, etc. 400 degrees is the optimal roasting temperature for vegetables – cooking time depends on the vegetable and how it is cut, but plan to turn once midway. Good choices for this cooking method include asparagus, carrots, brussel sprouts, parsnips and squash.

Many people may think it isn’t Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes, but a creamy cauliflower puree may be a better option for you. Make this in addition to mashed potatoes, but leave the potatoes for your kids and you opt for this alternative instead. Sweet potatoes are also a Thanksgiving staple and on their own sweet potatoes are very healthy with a low GI, but when loaded with brown sugar, tons of butter and little marshmallows, they’re not so healthy anymore. Instead use skim milk, a little unsalted butter and cinnamon. Cinnamon has been shown to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar, so it is a better choice than brown sugar. Looking for a green bean alternative to the traditional casserole? Try sautéing green beans with caramelized onions, garlic and sliced almonds. For the complete recipes and directions for these healthy side dish alternatives, click here.

When you’re sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner next week, a good rule of thumb is to fill your plate with mostly veggies and some turkey. Pass on the starchy casseroles and avoid going back for seconds. And gather everyone for a post-dinner walk around the neighborhood or friendly game of touch football instead of sinking into the couch in a food coma.

In today’s society, we place so many demands on our bodies that the natural functioning of our hormones is being disrupted, causing a wide range of symptoms such as lack of energy, loss of zest for life, weight gain, mood swings, hot flashes, loss of sex drive, sleep disturbances, fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness and many more. We are living longer lives and with that come more responsibilities. Women are multitasking as caregivers while carrying on challenging careers. To say our lives are stressful would be an enormous understatement. Our lifestyles can place additional stress on our bodies, with inadequate nutrients in our food, too many unhealthy calories, lack of physical activity and toxins in the environment. It is no wonder our hormones are out of balance.

Many people don’t realize the impact our hormones can have on our overall health. Our hormones are designed to work together to do different jobs. Hormones deliver messages from one part of the body to another, from the cells to the brain, from the brain to the glands and from the glands to the cells. So when one hormone malfunctions, it sets off a chain reaction that interferes with the functions of the others, bringing about hormonal havoc. Harmony is restored by getting all the right parts back in balance.

Believe it or not, just by making changes in the way we live, we can remove the triggers of imbalance – eating the wrong foods, being overweight, chronic stress, exposure to too many toxics, getting too little or too much exercise and lacking the optimum amounts of essential nutrients – and we can regain hormonal balance to achieve optimal health.

Here’s your A to Z guide to achieve and maintain your hormone health.