A study conducted by professional researchers and scientists from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, promoting their findings within the sprout of broccoli. This research team found an extract that actually boosts your body’s natural ability to protect the skin from the ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer. With recent publications promoting the negative effects of sunscreen, this new finding is quite a revelation. If a product can be created from this extract, you may see the  elimination of sunscreen lotions and their harmful, cancer-causing chemicals from the market.

In 1992 the researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine first discovered the potential within 3-day old broccoli sprouts. These sprouts where found to have the highest concentration of sulforaphane, a natural plant compound. Broccoli, as you may already know, also contains high levels of Vitamins A, B and C as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber. In studies published in the past, it has been established that because of these high levels of nutrients and vitamins, broccoli has the cancer fighting abilities we need when consumed regularly within our diets.

The Sulforaphane found within the broccoli sprout has the ability to stimulate the cells’ production and introduce phase 2 enzymes to the body. These enzymes have been proven to neutralize the effects of ultraviolet rays when they are struck directly as well as reduce any inflammation, which can cause the onset of pre-cancerous cell formation. The researchers within this project tested their broccoli sprout extract on hairless mice and then exposed them to ultraviolet rays. The mice with the extract were found to have far less cancerous tumors then the mice that did not use the extract.

With this natural solution to sunscreen in mind, it is important for Americans to realize that a study was recently published stating that 97% of Americans are currently intoxicated with the sunscreen chemical, oxybenzone. After years of relying on sunscreen to protect us from the suns damaging rays, a study has been published revealing the dangers of sunscreen and its ability to actually promote skin cancer instead of protecting us from it. Sunscreen products offer hundreds of different cancer-causing chemicals and because of this many consumers are searching for the natural ways to prevent skin damage and cancer through boosting their antioxidant intake.

Eating berries and what are known as super foods is a great and simple way to boost your antioxidant levels in the skin, which can further protect you from the ultraviolet rays without any dangerous risks or side effects. Understanding that the use of sunscreen is now outdated and that it actually causes a Vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to a number of serious conditions such as breast cancer should be motivation enough to search for the natural ways to protect your skin. Although there are no current mainstream products on the market, visiting any natural health food store should be your first step to natural sun protection.