Woodford Files
June 2009
Julia Woodford
Well, the table is set for a season of luscious local cuisine and thirst quenching herbal beverages. Shown on our cover this month is my favourite summer herb, lemon balm. Whenever I want a pick-me-up, I just lean out my back door and grab a handful of it from my city garden; the aroma is intoxicating. You can chop lemon balm into salads, steep a smooth cup of tea, or use it as garnish in a summer cocktail. To make the tea shown on our cover, simply drop some fresh lemon balm leaves in a cup of boiled water, throw in some honey, let it cool, add an ice cube.
This month ‘the sunshine vitamin’ takes centre stage. In fact, vitamin D is emerging as one of the most powerful disease-fighting tools ever conjured by nature. In her feature on the subject, Helke Ferrie delves into the latest research on D3’s health benefits, and goes on to explore the controversy surrounding sunscreens. With everyone from the well intentioned weatherman to your mom encouraging heavy use of sunscreen all summer, it may be surprising to learn that these products block our ability to create vitamin D from the sun. But the research doesn’t lie, and it will cause many Vitality readers to think twice before slathering on the screens.
Personally, I don’t use sunscreen on most of my frame; preferring to wear a big hat and use shea butter or coconut oil on arms and legs. But for my face I’m more fussy, since sun exposure can age the skin. So to minimize sun damage to facial skin when I’m outdoors for extended periods, I like to use good quality sunscreens containing titanium or zinc dioxide. These are relatively safe ingredients that block both UVA and UVB rays, which I think is okay since the rest of my ‘unprotected’ body is busily soaking up those rays and turning them into D.
On the subject of sunburns, Helke endorses vitamin E oil as her remedy of choice. I, on the other hand, have found aloe vera to be my best friend when looking for relief from burning and redness. It works fast to cool and rehydrate sun damaged skin cells, especially if a high quality aloe product is used.
One of the more intriguing points in Helke’s article is that influenza outbreaks in Canada directly correspond to seasonal lack of sunlight. This is further proof of vitamin D’s anti-viral powers, since summer sunshine seems to make us less vulnerable to circulating viruses of all kinds. This also points to the need for those of us living in the northern hemisphere to be vigilant about supplementing with D when our exposure to sunshine is limited, as this will keep our immunity strong year round, sun or no sun.
For those urbanites who crave a wee break from the noise and pollution of the big city, we bring you our Annual Getaway Guide – a window into the most sun-drenched escape destinations in Ontario. Some of them will pamper you with therapies from head to toe, others will challenge you to get into a canoe and get out on the water, while still others will lull you to sleep at night with the call of the loons and the twinkle of stars. Whichever destination you choose, it is only a few hours’ drive by bus or car. In taking the time to deeply unwind, we nourish our yin energy and recharge our batteries – making us better able to face the challenges ahead as we dance into the rest of the year.
Julia Woodford
Well, the table is set for a season of luscious local cuisine and thirst quenching herbal beverages. Shown on our cover this month is my favourite summer herb, lemon balm. Whenever I want a pick-me-up, I just lean out my back door and grab a handful of it from my city garden; the aroma is intoxicating. You can chop lemon balm into salads, steep a smooth cup of tea, or use it as garnish in a summer cocktail. To make the tea shown on our cover, simply drop some fresh lemon balm leaves in a cup of boiled water, throw in some honey, let it cool, add an ice cube. This month ‘the sunshine vitamin’ takes centre stage. In fact, vitamin D is emerging as one of the most powerful disease-fighting tools ever conjured by nature. In her feature on the subject, Helke Ferrie delves into the latest research on D3’s health benefits, and goes on to explore the controversy surrounding sunscreens. With everyone from the well intentioned weatherman to your mom encouraging heavy use of sunscreen all summer, it may be surprising to learn that these products block our ability to create vitamin D from the sun. But the research doesn’t lie, and it will cause many Vitality readers to think twice before slathering on the screens.
Personally, I don’t use sunscreen on most of my frame; preferring to wear a big hat and use shea butter or coconut oil on arms and legs. But for my face I’m more fussy, since sun exposure can age the skin. So to minimize sun damage to facial skin when I’m outdoors for extended periods, I like to use good quality sunscreens containing titanium or zinc dioxide. These are relatively safe ingredients that block both UVA and UVB rays, which I think is okay since the rest of my ‘unprotected’ body is busily soaking up those rays and turning them into D.
On the subject of sunburns, Helke endorses vitamin E oil as her remedy of choice. I, on the other hand, have found aloe vera to be my best friend when looking for relief from burning and redness. It works fast to cool and rehydrate sun damaged skin cells, especially if a high quality aloe product is used.
One of the more intriguing points in Helke’s article is that influenza outbreaks in Canada directly correspond to seasonal lack of sunlight. This is further proof of vitamin D’s anti-viral powers, since summer sunshine seems to make us less vulnerable to circulating viruses of all kinds. This also points to the need for those of us living in the northern hemisphere to be vigilant about supplementing with D when our exposure to sunshine is limited, as this will keep our immunity strong year round, sun or no sun.
For those urbanites who crave a wee break from the noise and pollution of the big city, we bring you our Annual Getaway Guide – a window into the most sun-drenched escape destinations in Ontario. Some of them will pamper you with therapies from head to toe, others will challenge you to get into a canoe and get out on the water, while still others will lull you to sleep at night with the call of the loons and the twinkle of stars. Whichever destination you choose, it is only a few hours’ drive by bus or car. In taking the time to deeply unwind, we nourish our yin energy and recharge our batteries – making us better able to face the challenges ahead as we dance into the rest of the year.
Julia Woodford