We’ve
been told for decades that we need to slather ourselves with sunscreen all day
long — whether it’s sunny or cloudy, winter or summer — in order to protect
ourselves from the damages and health risks imposed by the sun.
We
need sunshine to survive, but somehow we've made it the villain and declared
ourselves helpless victims.
The
problem is that this sunscreen obsession isn’t helping. Not only are we scrubbing toxic chemicals into one of
our largest and most sensitive organs (our skin), but wearing
sunscreen hasn’t reduced skin cancer cases. In fact, melanoma rates have tripled since the
1970s.
We
need sunshine to survive, but somehow we've made it the villain and declared
ourselves helpless victims.
The
sun is our primary source of vitamin D, an important vitamin that strengthens
our bone health, helps balance our hormones, boosts our immune system and
nourishes brain function. But when we apply sunscreen, we block the sun’s rays
and subsequently, the production of vitamin D in our bodies. Sad, no?
So
what’s a sun-loving, vitamin D-craving gal or guy to do? I’m a sun baby myself
and I certainly won’t be holed up inside this summer, nor will I be dancing in
the rays wearing oxybenzone-laden sunscreens (a chemical commonly used in
sunscreens that actually becomes carcinogenic when heated.
Yes. Heated, like by the sun!).
With
these simple tips, you can protect yourself from toxic sunscreen chemicals and
reap the sun’s benefits at the same time!
1. Get your sunshine
during off-peak hours.
The
sun can cause the most damage when it’s high in the sky: anywhere from 10am to
4pm., but that may differ slightly depending on where you live.
Stick
to the sunshine early in the morning or later in the day, with one little
caveat: spend 10-15 minutes in the sun during peak hours to get your daily dose
of vitamin D. This is all the time you need to grab your essential amount of
vitamin D.
2.
Don't wash off the vitamin D.
Vitamin
D is formed on the surface of your skin when it's exposed to UVB rays from the
sun, but that vitamin D doesn't sink in right away — it can take up to 48 hours
to absorb the majority of it. But at the end of a sunny day, most of us are in
the shower scrubbing off the sunscreen, sweat and sand ... and sending all that
lovely vitamin D down the drain.
I'm
not telling you to stop showering, but try to rinse your body in the shower
with just water if you can. Limit your soap usage to just your pits and your
bits.
3.
Eat your sunscreen.
UV
radiation increases free radicals in our bodies. And what counteracts free
radicals? Antioxidants! Boost your consumption of antioxidant-rich foods like
berries, leafy greens, walnuts, hemp seeds, black beans, bell peppers, carrots,
green tea, raw cacao, garlic and salmon.
There’s
a reason nature offers us such a beautiful bounty of foods like berries in the
summertime. Sure, they're delicious, but they'll also help us boost our
consumption of important free radical-fighters.
4.
Avoid sunburns and cover up.
Wearing
sunscreen lulls us into a false sense of protection. We believe we can frolic
through the surf for hours in tiny bikinis and we’ll be 100% shielded from the
sun. This is how sunburns happen, people!
No
one wants to end up looking like a leather handbag. Don’t spend too much time
in the sun all at once, and wear lightweight clothing that'll allow you to
cover your skin and still beat the heat.
5.
Make your own natural sunscreen.
If
you feel naked or uncomfortable going without sunscreen, try making a homemade version instead.
Add some zinc oxide to batch of DIY sunscreen to help deflect the sun from your
skin.
Remember
to include nourishing fats like almond oil and shea butter will keep your skin
supple and smooth, and toss in some lovely essential oils to smell sweet.
By
using these sun protection strategies, you can get the essential sun nutrients
that will ultimately benefit your health and well-being.
