Why The Sun Is Not The Enemy

Today, I am here to flip the script on something that will possibly undo everything you have been taught about the sun. Which is one of my favorite things to teach on might I add. 😁

For much of our lives we have been taught that we need to hide from the sun. “Don’t get too much sun or you’ll get skin cancer!” they say. “Don’t get too much sun or you’ll get wrinkly!” that’s very much true but point being, we have been taught to fear the sun and I’m here to clear up some rumors.

Yes, it is in fact true that if you get too much sun exposure you can get skin cancer. When you burn your skin from the sun you are damaging your skin cells. Just like any cell in your body some of these cells are cancer cells. Cancer cells can be “turned on” in the body for a number of reason. We all have these cancer cells it’s just a matter of many factors (mostly lifestyle) to why they get turned on.

Getting a sun burn isn’t the only reason why people get skin cancer. In fact, there was a recent study done that determined that the people who stayed indoors more, didn’t get much exposure to the sun were actually getting more cases of melanoma then those studied who did the majority of their job outdoors for most of the day. Why is that? Well, there are a number of reasons.

1. PUFAS or, polyunsaturated fatty acid are highly consumed daily in a standard American diet. This is said to be worse than SMOKING. Vegetable & seed oils are quite literally laced in so many of our foods it can be quite hard to get around. These oils are causing a lot of inflammation in the majority of people. In turn, this inflammation (not just from PUFAS) is causing more people to burn, turning on these cancer cells which then can lead to skin cancer.

2. Our body NEEDS sun exposure for overall wellness and foundational health. We are so privy to lathering ourselves up in sunscreen before we even hit the sun for a pool day but we are truly doing our bodies a disservice when we do this. Our bodies need contact with the sun. The sun gives us energy, natural vitamin d & c, sets our sleep cycle for better deep sleep, allows for a healthy circadian rhythm, a better cycle for woman, better body and emotional regulation, on and on I go.

3. It’s important to know how to get sun exposure the right way. Yes, sitting in the sun not protecting your skin for hours on end is not recommended but it’s time we learn some recommendations that don’t have to require 5 bottles of spray on sunscreen (which by the way those kinds of sunscreens have the most amount of chemicals in them)

How To Get Sun Exposure The Right Way:

-Getting 10-15 minutes of sun exposure to your EYES soon after waking up is the most beneficial tip I can give you today. Why? The sunlight in the morning is going to tell your body that it’s time to wake up, it sets your circadian rhythm to a natural and balanced state.

-If you’re going out for a pool day consider exposing your skin to the sun for the first 20 minutes. If you burn quickly even being under an umbrella is a good, indirect way to get some adequate sun exposure without being directly in the sun.

-Sun screen is laced with chemicals. Yes, there are “cleaner” version which I do recommend some and will list those on this post but consider getting rash guards from the neck down or covering up in over ways.

-Considering taking a peak into your diet and lifestyle if you burn easily. It is a proven fact that the more inflamed your body is, the more likely you are to burn. The sun has an endless amount of benefits but if you are turning into a lobster every time you step outside it’s probably time to look at your body within rather than loading up on sunscreen that causes you to be even more inflamed.

It’s no wonder that people are, in general, people are more susceptible to SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in the winter opposed to the summer when the sun is much weaker and almost seems to be in hibernation for much of the country. However, it is important that with sun exposure we do take the proper steps to soaking in those radiant beams of light. Making sure you are aware of your inflammation, what kind of sun screen you are using and considering other ways to protect your skin if you’re going to be out in the sun all day are all important to consider.

Sunscreen Recommendations:

Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 – 6.7 oz.: https://www.beautycounter.com/shanatetterton/?goto=product/countersun-mineral-sunscreen-lotion-spf-30

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer : https://www.beautycounter.com/shanatetterton/?goto=product/dew-skin-tinted-moisturizer

https://6j5z1.app.link/ZIQF5v2ktzb

BLUE LIZARD Sport Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, SPF 30+, Water/Sweat Resistant, UVA/UVB Protection with Smart Bottle Technology - Fragrance Free, Unscented, 8.75 https://a.co/d/gEJ3b4b