SUN
No one can deny that they love the sunshine. It just makes us feel good, the warmth on our skin, the summer glow, and relaxation it brings. It's all wonderful! Unfortunately the powers that be have instilled in the general population an irrational fear of the sun. They claim it causes cancer and speeds up the aging of our skin. Basically, they strike us where it hurts the most, our health and our beauty. Surprisingly (or not so surprisingly) these are both false assumptions. I want to dispel these fears once and for all.
First, lets address why people say that the sun causes cancer. It all starts with diet. As a people our diet is, on average, absolutely terrible. The highly processed food we indulge in every day and our irrational fear of good and nourishing fats creates an ecosystem in our bodies that is out of balance. When our bodies are healthy they have a good balance of alkaline to acid. When we eat the standard American diet our bodies tend to be more acidic which is the perfect breeding ground for all manner of disease including, but not limited to, cancer. The other factor we have to take into account is the sunscreen we are so adamantly encouraged to use. Conventional and even more natural sunscreens are a mixture of toxic chemicals that we slather all over our bodies every chance we get! Our skin is our largest organ and it soaks up everything we put on it! Not only is it soaking up all the toxins that we put on it but sunscreen actually blocks vitamin D which is a potent anti cancer vitamin! A SPF 15 sunscreen blocks an average of 90% vitamin D! So you can only imagine that anything even the slightest bit stronger blocks it all. And I will hazard a guess that Any vitamin D you happen to actually collect on your skin when you use sunscreen you will simply wash away with harsh chemical soaps before it even has the chance to absorb into your body. Basically it's a chain of events that ultimately leads to the very cancer that you are scared of.
So what can you do?
There are several things. First of all, take a look at your diet. You want to be eating a whole foods diet (I personally recommend the WAPF diet). This diet will create the optimum internal environment and your skin will be less susceptible to burning and if you do burn your body will know how to handle it. Your body was created and designed to be able to not only withstand burning but also to use the suns vital nutrients but only if we eat the diet we were meant too.
The second most important thing you want to do is build up your skins tolerance to the sun. Go out every day and expose as much skin as you can for thirty minutes and slowly work your way up in time. Your skin will adjust. Now I understand that everyone is different. Some people have fairer skin than others. You have to decide what's right for you. Some people will only be able to start with ten minutes a day, others will be able to go out for an hour with no problem. It's all about listening to your body.
The third thing you want to do is take in specific nutrients when you know you are going to be exposed to a lot of sun, at the beach for example. Eating a lot of omega 3 rich fish is great for avoiding burns. Salmon, sardines, and trout are great examples. I want to go off on a little tangent here... Isn't it awesome that the one place you can really get burned and happen to need extra protection is the same place where fresh fish is readily available? You can be sitting on the beach getting some sun and then go inside and sit down to a fresh caught plate of seafood. Now of course there are different fish for different regions but the concept is still the same: seafood rich in omega 3's is a great protector against
sunburn. Ok, tangent over. Coconut oil is another great superfood in the fight against skin cancer, both internally and externally. Coconut oil makes a great all natural sunscreen! It not only protects the skin but helps you to tan faster and deeper and who doesnt want that?! (and again, coconut oil is a tropical food, its found where the sun is at its brightest and where we need the most protection!) Green tea and raw cacao contain antioxidants that also protect against sunburn and fight free radicals.
Ok so now you know why you don't what to wear sunscreen and what you can do instead but the question still remains, what is so awesome about the sun?
Oh. So. Much.
First lets look at the most well known reason. Vitamin D. Its known as the happy vitamin because it increases serotonin, it helps us absorb calcium and other vital nutrients, it protects our bodies against illness. When we are deficient in D we tend to be sickly and sometimes we can suffer from something called S.A.D or seasonal affective disorder. I, personally, suffered from this disorder almost every winter growing up and it's no joke. It makes you depressed, prone to sickness, and even chubby.
Another reason you want unadulterated sun is it can help fight skin disorders. The sun is naturally anti bacterial and healing, exposing your skin to the sun can help with these disorders. Not only that but it can give you a healthy glow!
Sunbathing also enhances liver function and circulation. It helps to break down toxins and increasing your blood cell count.
Hormone balancing is another great benefit of sunlight. It will ease the symptoms of PMS and menopause.
Being in the sun also stimulates the pineal gland of the brain, regulating its secretions, which may allow for more creativity, insight, and mindfulness, as well as helping to improve your mood.
The last thing I want to talk about is how the sun can help correct your internal clock. Being in the sunlight helps to reset this clock which is in your brain and helps your body produce melatonin more effectively. It is very helpful for people who suffer from insomnia to sunbathe regularly.
Shall I go on? The benefits of unfiltered sunlight are absolutely incredible and cannot be overlooked. Follow these steps and you will see the many great benefits it has to offer! Just remember that everyone is different. Listen to your body, it does communicate with you, you just have to be clear headed enough to hear it (which ironically, the sun will help with). When you have been in the sun too long your skin will tingle which means you are starting to burn and its time for a break.
I would encourage you, if you have small children, to start building their tolerance now. The younger they are the easier it is to start them on a healthy diet and reverse what small amount of damage that may have been done. Just keep an eye on them in the sun. I'm not saying that getting a sunburn is ok, it's not. But it's all about prevention and not reaction. Prevent the sunburn from being able to happen, don't just slather chemicals on your already weak skin.
The sun can be your best friend or your worst enemy, you do have a choice.
