Eat These Foods To Help Prevent Sunburn

Did you know that there are certain foods that can help to either prevent - or feed - a sunburn?

Because sunburn is a type of inflammation, your diet will have a crucial impact on the inflammation in your body. Taking a look at what you eat regularly is equally (if not more)  important than applying sunscreen before time in the sun. Plus, by making small tweaks to your diet, you will improve other areas of your health as well!

WHAT TO EAT TO PREVENT SUNBURN

1. Omega 3 Fatty Acids

This is found in organic pastured eggs, avocado, brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, flax and chia seeds, walnuts, wild caught fish, grass-fed meat, and free range chicken.

Omega 3 fats not only prevent inflammation – which can cause sunburn –  it helps with the redness and any aging effects caused by the sun. 

If you are going to be outside in the sun, you can double up on an Omega 3 supplement for an extra anti-inflammatory boost.

2. Antioxidants

Ssome of the benefits of eating a diet rich in antioxidants can include:

• Slower signs of aging, including of the skin, eyes, tissue, joints, heart and brain

• Healthier, more youthful, glowing skin

• Reduced cancer risk

• Detoxification support

• Longer life span

• Protection against heart disease and stroke

• Less risk for cognitive problems, such as dementia

• Reduced risk for vision loss or disorders, like macular degeneration and cataracts

• Prevention of oxidation and spoilage

Besides 🍫dark chocolate (🙏praise God in heaven!), some of the foods high in antioxidants are:

Fruits: Goji berries, Wild blueberries, Elderberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Kiwi, Cranberries, Tomatoes

Veggies: Kale, Red peppers, Artichokes, Beets, Red peppers, Broccoli, Sweet potatoes, Squash

I’d like to take this one step further and talk about the 2 types of foods that lead to inflammation and will increase the risk of sunburn… Carbs and sugar.

😱Dang it! I know! Two things that taste so freaking good! Carbs and sugar both turn into glucose in the body, and this can lead to inflammation.

Glucose is very necessary for good health, but not in the quantities that the SAD Diet (aka the “Standard American Diet” ) totes. 

The majority of glucose should come from fresh vegetables, fruits and some properly prepared grains. Unfortunately, sugar and processed grains are the leading culprits to having too much glucose.

What’s so bad about breakfast??

Breakfast is the most commonly consumed meal for most Americans. And what’s usually on the plate? LOT’S OF CARBS! Sadly, the American Dietetics Association actually recommends a breakfast of cereal, toast and orange juice!

However, because the juice, toast and cereal is all glucose (which = inflammation), it will spike your blood sugar. This then leads to a sugar and energy crash. And because there is zero protein in this meal, you will be hungry again very quickly….and will probably crave more carbs for a quick energy boost. 

Your Best Bet? “Eat Your Sunscreen!”

Be preventative by tweaking your diet and soaking up some of that Vitamin D that your body needs to thrive. 

You Can Also…..

1. Wear a hat and dark or a bright colored shirt when you go outside as these colors keep UV rays from reaching your skin. They absorb the rays, rather than allowing them to penetrate. That’s why these colors offer better protection than lighter shades. You can also wear a RSLA rash guard for the beach or pool fun.
    

2. Use Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide instead of traditional sunscreen. CLICK HERE to check out my blog post with my top 7 clean, natural sunscreens free of the dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.
   

3. You can also make your own sunscreen! Here’s how:
   INGREDIENTS:
   ¼ cup coconut oil
   ¼ sup shea butter
   1 tsp Carrot seed oil
   2 TBSP Zinc Oxide
   2-3 drops Hawaiian sandalwood essential oil
   
   INSTRUCTIONS:

4. Melt the coconut oil and shea butter in a bowl over warm water.

5. Add carrot seed oil, zinc oxide and combine.

6. Add in the drops of Hawaiian Sandalwood oil. Stir.

7. Place in a jar for storage and allow to cool for 30 minutes in the fridge before using.
   
   
   That’s all for today! I’d love to know how YOU like to protect your family from sunburns. Please share by commenting below!