Nothing beats the feeling of warming sunlight on your skin, especially after a cold winter.
On one hand, the sun helps us produce vitamin D, a hormone that is necessary for bone health and immune function, among other things; on the other hand, too much sunlight can be harmful to the skin. Due to this paradox, we need to find a balance between getting enough sun and avoiding damage from overexposure. Regardless of what you might have heard before, this doesn't always require sunscreen. Sunscreen can actually reduce our body's ability to produce vitamin D.
Sun Protection Begins with Your Diet
What you put into your body is very important – or more important – than the protection you place on your skin. Antioxidants are potent natural UV protectants, and specific sources of them can help protect the skin. Eating vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients (what makes fruits, berries, and vegetables colorful) improves skin protection. Think vegetables, sprouts, algae, fruit, and berries. Colorful! Here are some of the many ways you can protect your skin when you are in the sun:
Sunny Spices
Exciting research in plant biology has discovered the synergistic protective effects of turmeric and ginger on skin health. Both ginger and turmeric contain powerful antioxidants and soothing properties that help protect the skin against both UVA and UVB rays.
Become a Tea Connoisseur
Brief exposure is all that's needed for direct UV light to activate collagenase and elastase, two enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of the skin's collagen matrix. Studies have shown that white tea, one of the least processed varieties of tea, inhibits these two enzymes, likely protecting against early wrinkle formation. White tea also provides a high level of antioxidants. Green tea is rich in antioxidants as well.
Load Up on Tomatoes
One of the most studied compounds in tomatoes is lycopene, and for very good reasons. A number of studies point to lycopene's ability to protect against free radicals caused by too much sunlight. Natural tomato purée seems to contain the highest levels of lycopene compared to raw tomatoes. Tomatoes also contain a number of other antioxidants, including vitamin C, which works as a complement to lycopene's protective effect.
Supplements That Can Help
Certain herbs and natural nutrients can be an excellent way to protect your skin from sun damage. Here are some of our favorites:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is often cited as a potent protection against UV damage.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is another powerful antioxidant that can inhibit DNA mutation after direct UV exposure. Promising studies show pomegranate extract can protect keratinocytes from UV-induced oxidative damage. Resveratrol can be found in Cell Fuzion, a very effective antioxidant blend.
Omega-3
Omega-3 is a healthy fatty acid that helps strengthen circulation and elasticity in all body cells, and in this way also strengthens the skin's "self-defense".
Beta-Carotenes
Beta-carotenes provide extra protection against the sun's harmful rays, can inhibit the onset of sun rashes, and contribute to a faster and more even tan. Beta-carotenes can be found in parsley, sprouts, carrots, spinach, kale, dill, papaya, spirulina, and other algae such as Dunaliella salina.
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid (antioxidant) that comes from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis. Astaxanthin is a very powerful antioxidant that can counteract free radicals. Astaxanthin is the compound that gives the pink color to salmon, shrimp, and flamingos.
Collagen
If the body is exposed to large amounts of UV light from the sun or a tanning bed, collagen production will be inhibited. Collagen is important for healthy and elastic skin. Nowadays, there is a vegan-friendly variety called Vollagen that contains the same 18 amino acids in the same proportions as human collagen but in free form, which makes them easily absorbable.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening Primrose Oil contains essential fatty acids that help repair the skin, and it can also inhibit specific enzymes in the skin that break down collagen, potentially delaying wrinkle formation.
A Good Organic Sunscreen
If you prefer to protect yourself with a sunscreen lotion, we of course have the very best, natural and organic products for you! You can find Alga Maris 30 SPF with physical protection that is suitable for both face and body. This sun spray has a light consistency that makes it very easy to apply and quickly absorbs into the skin. It contains sunflower oil and coconut oil that nourish the skin, and titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that protect the skin against the sun's harmful UV rays.You can find Suntribe SPF 30 which is a physical sunscreen. The sunscreen is lightly tinted to blend into your skin tone. It offers broad-spectrum protection (UVA+UVB), is water-resistant and provides sun protection factor 30 (blocks 97% of the sun's UVB rays).
You can read more about the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens here.
