IMPORTANT FIRST SUN EXPOSURE
Spring has just started. It’s a beautiful sunny day so I expose my skin to the sun for the first time this year. I want to start early so my skin can build up its tolerance (pigmentation) for these vitamin D3 rich rays of goodness coming form the sun.
Vitamin D3 is formed in the skin in response to exposure to sunlight. However vitamin D is actually not a vitamin but a steroidal hormone precursor. On top of that vitamin D3 from the sun is water-soluble in contrast to the fat-soluble vitamin D3 in fatty fish and supplements. In a water soluble form, vitamin D3 is far more absorbable than in a fat-soluble form as it moves freely into the bloodstream.
Vitamin D is responsible for many body functions and for halting disease processes. Also, vitamin D (along with vitamin K2) is essential for proper absorption of calcium and other minerals into the bones and teeth. It promotes efficient neuromuscular functioning and plays a role in anti-inflammatory processes. Nardine Artimis from Living Libations has a great article on why the sun and vitamin D are so important.
The most natural and effective form of vitamin D is the type that we synthesize when our skin is exposed to the sun. BUT remember that is has to be without sunscreen. Nardine also writes, that the best time of day to get out in the sun for making vitamin D is mid-morning to noon. At this time, you only need 10 to 15 minutes to make a day’s supply of vitamin D.
The fear of the sun is currently very high, almost extreme if you ask me. It doesn’t make sense that something (like the sun) is harmful to humans only and not the animals and plants in nature. Think about how much life the sun brings with it in spring. There must be something else in our modern lifestyle that contributes to the bad rap that the sun has gotten in recent times.
Nardine explains that the sun protection factor from synthetic ingredients in sunscreens may also give us a false sense of security. They disable our skin’s early warning protection system against imprudent lengths of time out in the sun: burns. UV-B rays –- the rays blocked by sunscreens – are what cause sunburn. Yet, the current thought is that UV-A is the cancer culprit. By blocking UV-B rays, sunscreen tricks us into over exposing ourselves to UV-A rays. Glass also blocks UV-B rays! Think about how much time we spend behind glass in our home, at work and in the car. It certainly gives me food for thought about our relationship with the sun in modern times.
Of course we might also have altered the thickness of the ozone layer in the atmosphere and increased our exposure to UV light. This is why you more than ever need the natural warning sign that you’ve had enough sun exposure when your skin starts to turn slightly red. You then know when to get out of full sun exposure and into the shade.
This is how I see it. Humans have lived under the sun for millions of years. This is how we’re designed. If you’ve a light tone skin as me and were outdoors all day like our ancestors, we would build up our pigmentation starting in spring and slowly accustom our skin to handle the sun during summer. Also, my skin type isn’t accustomed to the sunlight in the tropics and vice versa.
To extend your time in the sun, you can use raw natural oils. To a degree, all plants offer a UV protection to their own tissue as well as us in the form of their raw natural oil. In particular raspberry seed oil has a high degree of UV protection but also jojoba, sea buckthorn and coconut oil will offer some UV protection. In addition, you can add some high quality essential oils to your raw natural plant oil. Studies have shown that sandalwood, geranium and frankincense essential oils are UV protective and therefore will extend your time in the sun, naturally. Note that citrus essential oils are photo sensitive and should be avoided during sun exposure.
A rainbow diet, foods rich in pigment, will also help you protect you as they’re high in antioxidants.
I use doTERRA essential oils because they’re food and therapeutic grade essential oils and the plants are grown in a region in which they’re indigenous and grown naturally for thousands of years, within nutritive soil conditions, air quality, weather/moisture etc. These conditions as well as the extraction process are reflected in the quality of the essential oils.
You can order doTERRA essential oils HERE and they’ll be sent directly to you. Or even better, if you want to buy the oils at wholesale price (25% of retail price), you can enroll with your own account. There is no monthly order required, no contracts or lock in and it can be cancelled any time.
Get out and enjoy the sun when you get the change during the spring months!
