Have you already been warned about the sun? Most definitely! The media, doctors, mothers and marketing publications from pharmacies warn us about the harmful sun. But do you think we would even be on this earth if there was no sun? It was the sun that made life on earth possible in the first place!
And even today, the sun is essential for our survival, it gives us warmth and helps us to produce vitamin D in our bodies, among other things. This is one of the reasons why lifestyle experts repeatedly emphasize why spending time outside in the sun is so important.
Conventional sun creams can be harmful. Our skin absorbs substances incredibly well, so it's not surprising that experts now even advise us to only put things on our skin that we would eat!
Should we simply avoid the sun?
If the sun is so harmful to us and sunscreen isn't healthy either, should we just stay in the shade? I don't think so! Because in moderate doses, sunlight on our skin is simply good for us. For our mood, but also for our vitamin D levels, for example.
It's a lie: 80-90% of people who come to us for advice are deficient in vitamin D! And this figure is in line with the experience of therapists and doctors we know who regularly measure vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D deficiency can have serious consequences:
- osteoporosis
- depressive moods
- Increased risk of cancer
- high blood pressure
- coordination difficulties
- weakened immune system
In winter in particular, many people experience symptoms of vitamin D deficiency: We feel weak, tired and in a bad mood more often than in summer. Of course, it is sometimes difficult to get regular exposure to the sun, especially in winter. In this case, it is advisable to use Arktis vitamin D3 drops VITA D3 LIQUID to help prevent a deficiency.
Natural sun cream: a few tips
If avoiding the sun completely or using conventional sun cream are not particularly good alternatives, what else is there to do? Here are a few tips that I would recommend based on my current level of knowledge.
Exercise your skin in moderation
If you never spend time in the sun, your skin will become very sensitive. Just try to regularly spend a few minutes in the sun without applying sun cream. Of course, only stay in the sun for as long as you can tolerate without turning red!
My husband used to work in construction and always says that construction workers are good examples of this effect of exercise. Because no construction worker thinks to cover their skin with an oily film of sunscreen so that the dust and dirt sticks to it as well as possible... And yet the construction workers who stand in the sun all day don't get sunburnt! Because they're used to the sun.
It's important to remember that the best way to protect your face is with a wide-brimmed hat, because your face gets generally get too much sun rather than too little.
Eat a nutrient-rich diet
Time and again, people who have changed their diet tell me that their skin has become less sensitive to the sun. The Weston A. Price Foundation, for example, writes that a diet rich in sugar is said to increase the risk of sunburn.
Substances such as anti-oxidants, carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbates, flavonoids, minerals and fatty acids all increase our ability to protect ourselves from the sun. Tomatoes or even tomato paste and green tea are repeatedly mentioned in articles. Fruit and vegetables with a red, orange and dark green color and omega 3 fish oil capsules are also mentioned as helpful.
So we come back to a balanced and varied diet with real, natural foods, lots of vegetables, some fruit, good fats and little sugar, which I recommend anyway!
Wear protective aids
Sometimes it is unavoidable to spend long periods of time in the sun. During sport, for example, on outings or when your garden requires a lot of work. Put on a hat, wear sunglasses and light long-sleeved clothing that prevents your skin from being exposed to direct sunlight.
Nevertheless, I would like to point out that you can perhaps plan your activities so that you spend time in the sun in the morning and late afternoon and keep the most intense sun around midday just short enough for you to absorb enough vitamin D.
Using vegetable oils
Coconut oil and olive oil, when used regularly, are said to help prevent the skin from burning so quickly. This doesn't mean that you use coconut oil instead of sun cream before going out in the sun, but that you regularly care for your skin with it and make it less sensitive. I haven't tried this myself yet, but I think it's worth a try! By the way, I've been using coconut oil as a deodorant (mixed with baking soda) for months now and it works really well! If you even want to try making your own sun milk, there are various recipes on the internet.
Measure your vitamin D level regularly and supplement if necessary
I have already mentioned above why vitamin D is important for us. As long-term vitamin D deficiency is also associated with an increased risk of sun allergies, this is certainly another argument for measuring your vitamin D level and correcting it if necessary. The vitamin D expert and preventive physician Prof. Dr. Jörg Spitz recommends aiming for a level of 40 and 60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/l).
Please don't let anyone tell you that only women with osteoporosis or people over 50 need to have this level measured. My husband and I, for example, were both deficient in vitamin D and check our levels regularly. Thanks to modern laboratory analysis, vitamin D tests can now be carried out from the comfort of your own home, even with finger blood. So there is really no longer any reason not to know your vitamin D level.
My conclusion on natural Sun cream
I am just starting to read up on the subject of "natural sun protection" or "natural body care" in general. The purpose of this article is simply to raise awareness of the topic. However, the more I look into the subject of cosmetics, the clearer it becomes for me that I don't want potentially carcinogenic substances or preservatives such as parabens, which could interfere with my hormone balance, on my skin and therefore in my body!
My motto at the moment is: I hardly apply any cream at all, but only stay in the sun for as long as I can tolerate without sun protection. Otherwise, I protect myself with natural or man-made shade or appropriate clothing and take vitamin D and fish oil every day. In addition to my healthy diet in everyday life, of course :-).
Now, of course, I'm interested in your opinion and your experience with the sun! Have you ever noticed any positive effects of a healthy diet on your sun sensitivity? How do you protect yourself from the sun? Do you perhaps even have any recommendations for sun protection creams?
