One of the basic things you know when tanning safely is of course, to avoid sunburn. But how is this possible? The answer surprisingly does not lie in using commercial sunscreens. By making use of all-natural methods, you can protect yourself from sunburn and get optimal Vitamin D from the sun.
To help you tan safely, top nutrition expert, Dr. Joseph Mercola, recommends easy and natural ways that you can follow:
1. Have a Diet of Whole Foods – Fresh vegetables and fruits like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and goji berries are loaded with natural, powerful antioxidants that will improve the internal sunscreen of your skin.
2. Gradually Spend Your Time in the Sun – At the start of the season, sunbathe for as little as 10 minutes a day then gradually increase your time in the sun as you go along. This will allow you to have normal sun exposure in the next weeks, reducing your risk of skin cancer.
3. Wear Appropriate Clothes – To get enough Vitamin D from the sun, you have to expose at least 40 percent of your skin. This would mean wearing swimwear or other appropriate types of clothes that will expose other parts of your body, not only your face and hands.
4. Check your Skin Color to Determine If You’ve Had Enough Sun Exposure – You can also look at your skin for indications of tanning but these would depend on your skin complexion. If you are pale-skinned, just stay out in the sun until your skin turns the very lightest shade of pink. You should either get in the shade or cover up with clothes (i.e. a pair of pants, a hat and a long-sleeved shirt) that can protect most of your skin. On the other hand, if you are dark-skinned (i.e. Indian or African-American), you are required to spend two to five times more sunlight than those with pale skin to produce optimal Vitamin D levels.
5. Look for Safe, Natural Sunscreen Products – Keep in mind that sunscreens do prevent you from metabolizing vitamin D. But if you feel more comfortable when using them, only use non-toxic, sunscreen products that don’t contain petrochemicals. These can be purchased from your local health food store. Dr. Mercola, however, reminds you to use them with caution and to test your vitamin D levels first before using these products.
Use these five tips as your safe tanning guide. In this way, you can prevent sunburn and get adequate vitamin D that will keep your body’s immune system healthy and protected from many types of diseases.
Do you want to read more tanning tips? Always check this site for related resources.
