Natural Ways Of Avoiding Sunburn

Natural Ways Of Avoiding Sunburn

There are a good number of natural ways of keeping safe in the sun. And, the best ways of doing this won’t cost you a penny! And, better still, some of them will improve your health considerably…

Why Do We Need Sunlight?

We need natural sunlight like never before. We need it for our Circadian Rhythm, our vitamin D production and our immune system. We also need it for our Melatonin production, for sleep, and vitamin A assimilation, among a whole number of other crucial systemic functions.

Learn more about the benefits of vitamin A, and why it is so crucial.

Sunlight is also a vitally important source of natural EMFs, which keeps us healthy.

Being out in nature, and exposing ourselves to sunlight, also helps us to counter the ill-effects of non-native EMF. These unnatural electromagnetic fields, created by wireless technologies, are undermining our immune systems by exposing us to high levels of stress. Unnatural EMFs are thought to undermine our immune system by as much as 40%, and have been shown to affect blood integrity and voltage gated cells. The latter allows calcium deposits to accumulate, which causes a multitude of potential problems.

Sunshine Extends Life

A Swedish research paper published in PubMed outlines the outcomes of sunshine depravation…

Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort

Nonsmokers who avoided sun exposure had a life expectancy similar to smokers in the highest sun exposure group, indicating that avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor for death of a similar magnitude as smoking.

This 20 year prospective study of nearly 30,000 Swedish women showed that:

• The women who avoided sunlight within the study were 130% more likely to die than those who had regular sun exposure.
• The women who were sunlight deprived were also much more likely to develop an assortment of other serious medical conditions, as well as being twice as likely to get cancer.

This research is pivotal in understanding the importance of obtaining sufficient sunlight. It is especially compelling due to the size of the study, and the length of time the data was collected.

Add to this the fact that all conventional sun creams are carcinogenic, even the “green” alternatives, and it’s easy to see why our cancer risk is so high.

Ancillary Benefits

Sun bathing on the beach, or on the grass in the garden, helps us to ‘ground out’ non-native EMFs. This helps to restore natural immunity, reduce stress, and improve digestive and emotional issues.

Please read The Vital Importance Of Grounding for more information.

Circadian Rhythm

We also need natural sunlight for our Circadian Rhythm.

A malfunctioning Circadian Rhythm will prevent us from sleeping properly and will impair our ability to manage our natural energy levels throughout the day. Sun deprivation will also send our hormonal systems haywire, because Vitamin D is actually a hormone! And, so is Melatonin.

We need a minimum of 15 minutes of natural sunlight first thing in the morning, directly into our eyes, so our body can register what time of day it is, and budget our energy accordingly for the rest of the day. This process is known as our Circadian Rhythm

*Mobile phone screens, TVs and computers emit the same level of light as the midday sun in a hot country… so there’s no prizes for guessing why, in this modern world, we have energy slumps throughout the day, and why so many of us are insomniacs!

Additional reading :: Circadian Rhythm & Why We’d Be Dead Without It

Vitamin D & Vitamin K2-7 & Hormone Balance

Vitamin D and Melatonin are hormones which directly impact us at a systemic level. Without them we would not be able to manage our energy levels and sleep function, and we would have a profoundly compromised immune system.

Vitamin D is naturally produced in our bodies via exposure to the sun. So, it’s vitally important to expose ourselves to afternoon sun, especially at midday, when the sun is highest in the sky, as well as gaining 15 minutes of early morning sun to calibrate our circadian rhythm.

Again, we minimally need another 15 minutes of sun exposure, each day. Afternoon sun is best. We especially need sun exposure on parts of the body which rarely see any sun. This will really help to ensure we are producing enough vitamin D each day.

We also need to ensure that we are eating enough vitamin K2-7 to effectively use the vitamin D we get from the sun. A deficiency in vitamin K2-7 will have many negative impacts on our bodies.

Vitamin K2-7 is obtained through meat, eggs and dairy products, and vegans can get it through eating Natto.

Infrared rays, especially within the near infrared spectrum, trigger the production of Melatonin within our mitochondria.

Mitochondria are the energy factories within each and every cell of our body. The healthier we are, the more mitochondria we have in each cell. And, consequently, the more energy we are able to produce.

Melatonin is a potent antioxidant. It also increases glutathione, which is the most important antioxidant our body can produce.

Melatonin also increases mitochondrial efficiency and energy production.

What Is Sunburn?

Sunburn is essentially a process of oxidation within our skin. Oxygen and sunlight are oxidative. So when we are exposed to fresh air and strong sunlight, this promotes oxidative processes within our skin.

In fact, the reason why essential oils are kept in amber glass bottles, away from direct sunlight, with the lid firmly shut, is due to the oxidative nature of the sun and oxygen.

How To Prevent Sunburn

There are a good number of oils, which we can apply topically, that contain natural sun protective nutrients. These will help prevent sunburn if used correctly.

Vitamin C and other important antioxidants, in natural oils, provide excellent sun protection.

The cosmetic industry refers to these sun protective elements as sun protective factors, or SPF’s.

There are also some excellent essential oils that we can add to antioxidant carrier oils, which are extremely beneficial for skin health, and may prevent sunburn. Some reduce burning, others heal wounds and are deeply antioxidant also.

Of course, eating organic is key since GMOs also have been demonstrated to decrease glutathione — the master antioxidant — and increase oxidative stress, which is the basis for all chronic disease. If you’re prone to sun burn, it could be a sign that you’re eating too many seed oils high in linoleic acid (LA), so to reduce your tendency to get burned, cut out all seed oils from your diet. That includes restaurant foods, processed foods and condiments in particular, but also conventionally raised chicken and pork. A very low, virtually zero seed oil diet is probably one of the best ways to prevent sunburn, as well as chronic degenerative diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Adding in more whole food vitamin C can also be helpful for preventing sunburn.

Dr. M3rc0l4

How To Prevent Sunburn At Zero Cost

The principle of ‘a little and often’ is the best approach to keeping the cost of preventing sunburn to a minimum. We build up a natural resilience to the effects of the sun if we regulate our sun exposure levels… starting slowly but surely.

We need to increase our sun exposure gradually, so that we gain improved tolerance and avoid sunburning.

Using clothing to cover up is the best, most cost efficient, method of preventing sunburn. We should all own a wide brimmed hat!

So, if you need to stay longer in the sun than you have built up a natural resilience for, putting on long trousers, long sleeved tops and donning a wide brimmed hat is definitely the way to go.

Carrier Oils For UV Protection

There are a good number of carrier oils which have an unofficial SPF value. Some have been scientifically validated, however, including the deeply beneficial Organic Marula Oil and Organic Broccoli Seed Oil. Both of these oils can be used for facial and bodily application.

Raspberry Seed Oil is perhaps the most popular option, but those seeking facial protection should seriously consider using Organic Marula Oil.

Organic Marula Oil

Organic Marula Oil is perhaps the best oil to add to facial oils for added sun protection. It can also be used undiluted.

Organic Broccoli Seed Oil

Organic Broccoli Seed Oil can be used for face and body, and is best diluted with other oils. This is due to the fact that it is quite an aromatic oil.

Raspberry Seed Oil

Whilst it isn’t possible to make any scientific claims about the SPF values of carrier oils, there is a long tradition of people using Raspberry Seed Oil to protect their skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

Many believe Cold Pressed Raspberry Seed Oil is the best carrier oil to use as a sun bathing oil, especially for fair skinned people.

Others swear by Rosehip Seed Oil as an after sun balm, especially when blended with the essential oils known to be good for healing burns like Organic Lavender Essential Oil and Organic German Chamomile Essential Oil.

***Wild As The Wind sell several versions of each of these essential oils. To view them all, please use the search box at the top of the page using “Lavender” or “Chamomile” as your search word, to view all of the different options available.

Wild As The Wind also stock a fantastic Organic Raspberry Seed Oil.

Read the full article: Carrier Oils For UV Protection

This article includes information on the essential oils which also possess an SPF value.

I Use An Organic Raspberry Seed Oil Blend In The Summer

I personally have a lot of sun exposure in the summer because of the nature of my work. But, I am half Scottish, and so I am very pale skinned. Nevertheless, I would never use a commercial sun tanning oil, or cream, due to the health risks they present.

Instead, I like to use Organic Raspberry Seed Oil as a carrier oil with four very healing aromatherapy oils, which are excellent for skin health. I dilute the essential oils at a 2% dilution in the Raspberry Seed Oil, as I am always clothed when I am outside, so I don’t need comprehensive coverage. (If I were sunbathing on the beach, and therefore needing to cover myself from head to toe in my oil blend, I would use a 1% dilution.)

The essential oils I use are all very affordable:

• Organic Lavender Essential Oil… brilliant for burns
• Organic Sweet Orange Essential Oil… profoundly antioxidant (and NOT phototoxic like Lemon and Lime Oils etc
• Organic Geranium Rose Essential Oil… brilliant wound healer
• Organic Palmarosa Essential Oil… excellent for skin health, and smells amazing.

Learn How To Use Essential Oils

Why Use Raspberry Seed Oil In The Sun?

According to folklore, Cold Pressed Raspberry Seed Oil has an SPF of anywhere between 28 SPF and 50 SPF. Variations are likely to occur due to differing climatic conditions and soil fertility differences in the regions where the raspberries are grown. The more sun the better!

France, Spain and Russia are big producers of Raspberries.

Raspberry Seed Oil can be blended with other oils to further vary the sun protection factor. When blended with Pomegranate Seed Oil, which is reputed to have an unofficial SPF value of 8, and a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil, it makes for a very heavenly sun bathing oil.

It can also be added to Organic Wheatgerm Oil which is thought to have an SPF of 20. However, it does not work anywhere near as well as Raspberry Seed Oil.

Organic Wheatgerm Oil is best kept for healing scars and stretch marks!

Organic Sweet Almond Oil is considered to have an SPF of 6.

The fairer your skin the more Raspberry Seed Oil you’ll want in your mix.

Raspberry Seed Oil Is An Antioxidant Oil

Raspberry Seed Oil is an incredibly antioxidant oil, as it contains a lot of Vitamin E. This makes it an exceptional free radical scavenger.

It is also why Raspberry Seed Oil has been used traditionally to reduce skin irritation and rashes, including Eczema and Psoriasis.

There are several other antioxidants in Raspberry Seed Oil which also promote Collagen production:

Collagen is the connective tissue within our skin which gives our skin it’s integrity. High levels of Collagen in our skin leads to healthy, youthful looking skin. Low levels of Collagen leads to lines and other signs of ageing, such as crapey, dull looking skin.

The antioxidants in Raspberry Seed Oil that increase Collagen within our skin are:

• Tocopherols (Vitamin E)
• Carotenoids (Vitamin A)
• Ellagic acid helps reduce the degeneration of collagen.

These antioxidants stimulate collagen production whilst also protecting collagen integrity. They also stimulate cell repair and reduce the appearance of damaged skin.

Like Organic Sweet Almond Oil, Raspberry Seed Oil is also thought to be an excellent anti-inflammatory oil.

Sleep Problems

If you have sleep issues, and increasing sun exposure does not resolve them completely, you may be mineral deficient.

Please read Sleep Issues & The Mineral Connection for more information.

Eating For Hormone Balance

The next important blog post, that I am working on at present, provides more detail on the subject of hormone balance and what we need to do to achieve it. It will be entitled Eating For Hormone Balance. I will publish it soon.

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