We want our skin to shine bright and have a beautiful healthy sun kissed glow. But there's a fine line between "tan" and "glow." We need the sun to set our internal clock. In fact, our body systems revolve on the circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. They respond primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment. Sleeping at night and being awake during the day is an example of a light-related circadian rhythm. One of my recommendations for getting Vitamin D and for aiding in better sleep is to get outside first thing in the morning sunlight for about 30 minutes. So you see--sunlight is actually vital for us!
Just like everything else--too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing!
You can naturally protect your skin by following a few simple guidelines.1. Eat an anti-inflammatory whole food diet. To make sure the body has the proper building blocks for healthy skin and to reduce inflammation, consume enough healthy saturated, monounsaturated, and omega-3 fats while avoiding polyunsaturated fatty acids. Eat loads of antioxidants. You guessed it! That means more fruits and veggies--especially berries and less grains. Sun damage causes free radical damage and inflammation. Research tells us that antioxidants combat this damage, keeping our skin healthy and helping us look younger. Are you getting the recommended 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables every single day? Almost no one can get enough of what we need to maintain optimal health. That's why I supplement with Juice Plus. I use the trio and shakes, giving me a whopping 45 plants in my diet every single day. I know it's working because I feel great and Juice Plus has the research to prove it! 2. Wear sunscreen. I'm not a huge fan of conventional sunscreens. Have you noticed that there are a ton of sunscreens on the market, yet our skin cancer rates have not decreased? Between 2009 and 2019 the number of new invasive melanoma cases diagnosed annually increased by 54 percent. An estimated 7,230 people will die of melanoma in 2019. Your risk for developing cancer doubles if you've had more than five sunburns in your lifetime! I'm definitely in that category! Shouldn't our rates be coming down with the amount of sunscreen we are all slathering on ourselves and our kids? Do you know what's in your sunscreen? Again, the amount of toxins we put on our skin is staggering. These get absorbed into our bodies--good or bad. My solution--use a mineral based sunscreen or make your own. Check HERE for some options. Don't forget to reapply!
3. Cover up. A wide brimmed hat is really a great way to protect the delicate skin on the face, back of your neck and ears. There are so many options for sun shirts, sun suits for kids and umbrellas or tents. Have a place you can retreat when the sun is at its peak. That doesn't mean you have to go inside, but having some kind of cover that blocks the UV rays is best.4. Wear UVA/UVB sunglasses to protect your eyes for the rays. Look for sunglasses that block 100% of UV light. Wrap around glasses are best. Just like sunscreen, even on a cloudy day we still need to protect our eyes from damaging rays. 5. Water. We know we need to stay hydrated--drinking half your body weight in ounces every day. But being out in the sun means you need to consume more. Being outside for just 30 minutes can start the dehydration process. Salt water makes it worse. Drink more water than you think you should. 6. Gradual sun exposure. Work up to being outside for hours at a time. This seems logical but so many of us go from sitting in an office eight hours a day with no direct exposure to beach vacation! Laying on the beach for hours on end when your skin hasn't been prepped is not the best choice. I've seen too many sunburns that start just this way.
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