It’s late july and it’s hot. The sun is beaming every single day and you want to get outside and go to the water. Your avoiding using sunscreen or sunblock because you’ve heard about the toxic chemicals and carcinogenic components of these creams and would rather avoid putting them on your skin all together and that is completely understandable.
We do need the sun, without something inhibiting it form absorbing into our skin. The sun is an excellent source of vitamin D3 and if your skin is exposed without any barrier then you get this beneficial vitamin absorbed into your skin. Unfortunately even in an extremely health aware community like HealthyWildAndFree.com most people do not know that they lose the vitamin D3 because it doesn’t absorb into their skin. Why? They wash it off with soap. Read this article to learn more about vitamin D3 absorbing into the skin from the sun and how to ensure you get the most benefit from your time in the sun.
10 Ways To Help Heal Sunburn Quickly:
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a great source of Lycopene. An antioxidant known to reduce sunburn by 25%. This is a great food for preventing and healing sunburn. Tip: steam the tomatoes for increased Lycopene absorption and faster healing of sunburn.
- Watermelon: Watermelon is also a great source of lycopene to help heal sunburn but it is also a very hydrating fruit. The plenty of water and hydration that comes with it helps to cool your skin and bring it back to homeostatis again.
- Papaya: Papaya is also another great source of lycopene. Noticing a trend yet? It’s very beneficial for healing and preventing sunburn.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera has beneficial properties for healing sunburn topically. We all know this! But did you know that by drinking aloe vera water you can help heal your sunburn faster as well? Drink the water and apply it topically. Here’s a great source of organic aloe vera.
- Peppermint & Lavender Essential Oils: Applying lavender and peppermint essential oils topically are very beneficial for healing sunburn. Take a few drops of each and apply to the sunburned area and massage them in with coconut oil, a carrier oil to help them absorb better and be more effective. Some people report their sunburn healing overnight by utilizing this method with just these two essential oils.
- Green Tea: Researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center found that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main antioxidant in green tea was beneficial for alleviating damage brought on by UV rays and was also beneficial in preventing the growth of skin tumors as well as anti-cancer properties. I recommend the company ‘eat green tea’ (here) for a great organic source that gives you the most nutrient density per cup.
- Carrots: Carrots contain beta-carotene which helps to protect the skin from excessive free radicals that harm the skin as well as harmful UV radiation.
- Almonds: Are a rich source of vitamin E which is an important antioxidant to keep the skin healthy, elastic and to heal from sunburn. It’s an important vitamin to have before and after sunburn so get it in your diet as often as you can. Almond, almond milk and almond oil (topically) are great sources of vitamin E.
- Any Leafy Greens: Leafy greens are a great source of vitamin A which helps keep the skin healthy and hydrated. It also prevents drying of the skin and fights free radicals.
- Cucumber: Cucumbers are right up there with watermelon as one of the most hydrating foods on the planet. It’s also a cooling vegetable which helps your skin cool down from the heat faster which aids in healing.
Last but not least, drink more water! Most people are dehydrated already and sunburn will cause you to be even further dehydrated. Your skin needs water to stay healthy, elastic and to heal from sunburn. Drink enough water each day and make sure that you’re adequately hydrated.
Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk684/108139247
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