Healthy Sun Exposure and Protection

I used to sunburn easily and often. I learned to avoid the sun, which over time made me even more sensitive to burning. As I rebuilt my health, I found I could handle more sun exposure without burning.

Getting out in the sun without anything blocking the sun from touching our skin is important. This allows us to make our own Vitamin D from the sun. At the same time, it is also important to avoid sunburns. Everyone is different in how they respond to the sun. Some might have just a few minutes and others hours before they begin to burn.

Here are some general tips to enjoy your time in the sun and reduce your risk of sunburns:

1. Start slow with your sun exposure and gradually increase your time out. This allows you to find your personal sun limit and minimizes your risk of burning.

2. Increase your intake of healthy fats. Some examples are:
Butter from pasture raised cows, goats, and sheep
Tallow from pasture raised beef and lamb
Lard from pasture raised pigs
Chicken, duck, and goose fat from pasture raised poultry
Cold pressed olive oil (ideally eaten raw)
Cold pressed coconut oil
Cold pressed sesame oil
Cold pressed flax oil (eaten raw only)
Fish, wild
Cold pressed cod liver oil

3. Eat more antioxidants like berries, green leafy veggies, and green tea.

4. Avoid chemical sunblocks and sprays, which are highly toxic and interrupt hormone function. If you need sunblock, seek versions with zinc oxide or titanium oxide. These do not absorb through the skin and will not interfere with your hormone balance.  Find a non-toxic sunblock at the EWG’s Skindeep Database.

5. Cover up. After you have reached your sun limit, consider moving to the shade, and putting on sunblock or clothing. Wear large hats, long sleeved shirts and pants.

As always, thank you for reading and sharing this post. If you know someone who can benefit, please pass this information along.

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Now get out there and enjoy the sun responsibly!

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In Health,