After an exceptionally long and brutal winter, Mother Nature has gracefully decided to bless the Northern Hemisphere with summertime weather finally. When that very last bit of snow finally melts, and the trees begin to bud once more, it’s as though everyone comes out of their hibernation mode and begins to bloom just as much as any spring lily.
People begin trying to eat better foods (if only because Farmers’ Markets open and become our main grocery stop on Saturdays), the various walking trails that looked all but abandoned (but for the tracks left by snowmobiles) during the coldest months start becoming populated again, and people flock to the beach in droves every chance they get to lay out in the sun all day and hope to return back home that evening with a slightly bronzed color.
Is sunbathing bad?
The sun’s reputation has been getting slaughtered quite extensively recently, especially now that the hottest months of the year are fast approaching. It seems as though just about everywhere you look, an ad or commercial is warning you that going into the sun is going to increase your risk of getting melanoma (skin cancer).
What those ads and commercials fail to tell you is that as much as 80% of melanoma cases are benign, and the spots are removed simply for aesthetic reasons.
That’s not to say that if you see a spot on your body that’s never been there before, you shouldn’t go to the doctor. You absolutely should. What you shouldn’t do is automatically assume that just because you’ve discovered a spot on your body that’s never been there before, you have skin cancer, and you’re going to die.
How much Sun is too much?
Just because not every little spot on your body needs to be removed doesn’t mean you can freely go out and bake yourself in the harsh afternoon sunlight without worrying about the world. While it’s true that the sun is crucial to the survival of the human race, reaping its (spectacular) benefits without heightening your risk of getting skin cancer isn’t the same thing as lying out on the beach and tanning.
If you want to gain all that the sun offers you, you must start out slow. If it’s been a long time since your skin has seen the sunlight, spending some time under a nice shady tree reading your favorite book is a good way to start. Increase your sun exposure by about five minutes a day until you’ve reached your comfort level.
The sun should never burn you; once you’ve hit a point where adding an additional five minutes makes the sun feel like it’s burning your skin, take those five minutes back off, and you’re at your comfort level. Coconut oil is great to keep on hand. There are countless plants and herbs that you can use for pre and post-summer skin care.
Aloe Vera is one hardy houseplant that will grow in just about any room of your home and can be used for a wide variety of different things from soothing irritations and insect bites to simply moisturizing your skin. Suppose you’re not a fan of commercial SPF products (and their associated health hazards). In that case, there are plenty of natural oils and herbal extracts that offer a decent level of protection against harmful UV rays and are perfect for low to moderate sun exposure.
You should try to avoid sunbathing for health (or any) reasons during the midday – Try to avoid going into direct sunlight between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm as much as you can because the sun is incredibly intense during these hours. If you have to go out in direct sunlight, protect your skin as much as possible. The optimal time to catch some rays for your health is in the morning hours.
What are the benefits, anyway?
We all know that the sun provides out bodies with vitamin D – Real vitamin D, not the kind we’re forced to take in pill form during the long winter months, but do you know just how good the sunshine vitamin is for you?
Not only does it promote strong and healthy bones and teeth, but it also plays an incredibly important role in our immune systems. It turns out that every single cell in the human body needs adequate amounts of vitamin D to function properly, yet over half of Americans have less of the vital nutrients running through their blood. Not having enough of the sunshine vitamin could potentially cause or contribute to heart disease, stroke, depression, obesity, diabetes, and more.
With proper amounts of vitamin D running through your system, you’ll be less likely to get sick, you’ll have more energy, your skin will glow, and your hair and nails will grow long and strong. You’ll feel better in general – There’s just something about the warm summer sunshine that makes you feel instantly happier.
Simply sunbathing is just one step though
Simply sunbathing is just one step thoughHaving enough vitamin D is great, but it won’t matter much if your diet is terrible and you’re inactive. In addition to getting your daily dose of natural sunshine, you should remember to eat organic and whole foods as often as you possibly can and drink lots of water and herbal teas. Staying active is equally important.
Feel free to get your sunshine while out taking a stroll, doing yoga or meditating.
The important thing to remember is that time flies, especially during the few months of warm sunny weather we get blessed with – Get out there and enjoy it any way you can!
