We’ve been trained by the media and advertisers that the sun is the enemy and that slathering our bodies in sunscreen and wearing sunglasses are necessary for leaving the house on a sunny day.
But spending some time in the sun every day is good for your physical and mental health according to Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy.
Most people fear sunburn and skin cancer, however studies show that the body is more adept to recover from a sunburn than to process all of the toxic chemicals in commercial sunscreens, and that skin cancer is more common in people who have limited sun exposure than those who don’t! In fact, many of the chemicals in most sunscreens are carcinogenic, which means that they are more likely to cause cancer than the sun!
Additionally, laboratory research has shown that vitamin D (the “sunshine vitamin”) can halt tumor growth by promoting the factors responsible for cell transformation in the body. According to Dr. Robert O. Young, “UBV exposure is alkalizing to the blood and tissues and thus helps to reduce dietary and metabolic acids that can cause acidic or cancerous lungs or skin.”
Dangers of vitamin D deficiency
The truth is that the sun is one of the most natural and healing substances in our universe. Without enough sun exposure we put ourselves at risk for vitamin D deficiency, which has been linked cardiovascular disease, bone loss, cognitive impairment in older adults, severe asthma in children, cancer, and depression. As many as 90% of Americans are considered to be vitamin D deficient!
According to Web MD, “Research suggests that vitamin D could play a role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.”
Natural ways to prevent sunburn while getting enough vitamin D
-Stay hydrated by drinking half your body weight in ounces of water (preferably ionized alkaline water) daily.
-Moisturize regularly with coconut oil, which provides some natural sun protection.
-Aim to get 20 minutes of sun exposure without protection daily, but slowly work your way up to this number and never allow your skin to burn. Those with darker complexions will need closer to an hour of unprotected sun exposure to receive the same benefits.
-Because the body needs time to absorb the vitamin D generated on your skin, ideally you would wait 24-48 hours after direct sun exposure before scrubbing exposed areas of skin with soaps and body washes.
-Follow a healthy plant-based diet. Acidic foods lower your immunity and lead to mineral deficiency.
-Limit your use of sunglasses, because sunglasses actually trick our brains into thinking it’s darker outside and thus cause our bodies to lower our resistance to the sun, making us more susceptible to sunburn.
-Use a natural sunscreen free of toxic chemicals only after you’ve had proper sun exposure and you are going to be in the sun for extended periods of time.
-Avoid extended direct sun exposure between 11 am and 4 pm when the sun is at its brightest and cover up with hats and lightweight protective clothing.
Remember, the sun is not your enemy, but rather an essential and powerful healing tool when used safely and in moderation.