Aloha my friends!
For this week’s tip I’ll be continuing to share some of the content that I had to cut from my upcoming YouTube video on how to naturally optimize your anabolic hormone levels (because it would’ve been far too long).
When sunscreen was first approved by the FDA (it’s considered an over-the-counter drug and is highly regulated), it was thought that the primary active ingredients used in them to absorb UV light were safe… and that the chemicals didn’t make it into the bloodstream.
Recent research has shown that is NOT the case! By a long shot.
Randomized controlled studies like this one and this one found that those chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream, and at quantities that are 100-500 TIMES the maximum tolerable concentrations (established by the FDA) with a SINGLE application of the sunscreen!
(Toxic chemical in bloodstream)
The main problem with those chemicals in the blood is that they are what are called “endocrine disrupters”, meaning they mess with hormone production.
For example, one of the chemicals – oxybenzone (aka benzophenone-3) – has virtually the same structure as BPA (an endocrine disrupter in plastics that has been banned from many products), and has the same effects. Oxybenzone has been shown to lower men’s testosterone levels by as much as 19%, and does the same thing to estrogen in women.
The solution?
The best option is to just cover up. Nothing protects like long sleeves and a hat. However, if you’re going to be uncovered in the sun…
Use MINERAL-based sunscreen that’s either ZINC based (I like this one) or TITANIUM based (like this one). They essentially block UV light instead of absorbing it, have none of the negative endocrine effects that traditional, chemical-based sunscreens do (in fact they may even have positive endocrine effects), and are actually better for skin health as well. Current consensus is that Zinc provides slightly better protection than Titanium though.
They’re often marketed as “kids” sunscreens, mainly because kids’ skin is even more absorbent than adults’ skin, so the chemicals get into their blood at even higher concentrations and have even more negative effects. But YOU and all adults should be using these mineral sunscreens too!
Note that they are harder to rub in… which is precisely because they don’t absorb through the skin like the chemical-based sunscreens do.
And as an extra bonus, mineral sunscreens are far better for the environment if you’re swimming in the ocean.
Application: Boost your anabolic hormone levels (and get many other health benefits) by using mineral-based sunscreens instead of chemical sunscreens!
Relevant Previous FTF Tips (for All-Access Members):
1) Week 50 | How to Naturally Increase Testosterone Levels (in Men)!
2) Week 112 | Workout Timing: Is Morning or Evening Better??
Relevant Research Article(s):
1) Effect of Sunscreen Application on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients
2) Associations between benzophenone-3 and sex steroid hormones among United States adult men
Relevant Dr. Gains YouTube Video(s):
1) Coming soon!
Relevant Dr. Gains Program(s):
1) Techniques, Principles & Theory section of All-Access Basic
Dr. Gains 
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