When you are stuck in that office all year with rain drops running down your window pane, artificial lights to brighten up your day, you cannot help thinking of summer. Apart from the coffee break smiles from your colleagues, these things do not contribute in cheering you up, improve your character, humor and certainly the feeling of total freedom. Going to Spain for example for some people still means, diving into the deep pools of Vitamin D, spending most of the day bathing yourself in the hot sizzling sun bringing back the color into your life. The question is how do you want to look after, beautifully bronzed all over or do you want to bring home the map of Spain on your back due to sunburn and skin damage?
How to protect yourself from sunburn
The best advice I can give you is to stay in the shade, by placing your sun bed or towel under a palm tree, parasol or other shady area. The idea is not to get tanned too quickly and do yourself damage.
Something as natural as the sun constantly appears to get bad press reports in the news. There always appears to be articles and warnings about the damage the sun can cause. The experts are constantly reminding us of the possibility of skin cancer etc.
Despite all the advice to stay out of the sun, it seems that we are not willing to take proper care of ourselves. There seems to be a lack of interest in people adhering to what is known as a healthy dose of solar power. A recent survey found that three quarters of us want to spend every day in the sun to get the “bronze look” if possible. For those of us who are die-hard tan seekers, it is wise to do what we can to protect us from the strong rays of the sun.
Although we take precautions by using sunscreen and shelter in the shade when the sun is at its hottest, it is only half of what we should be doing to protect our bodies. Scientists suggest that the methods we use to tan ourselves safely, is extent. A lot depends of what we put in our mouths each day. There is good evidence to suggest that we should raise our daily intake of specific nutrients which can help us in our quest to acquire a healthy golden tan safely.
Free radicals in our bodies cause a substance known as antioxidants many of which are available in the foods we eat. Antioxidants have the potential to reduce the risk of sunburn and are supposed to help combat problems in the longer term, such as changes due to aging and skin cancer.
An antioxidant that is believed to play a special role in protecting the skin is beta-carotene. Carrots, spinach, apricots, melon, cantaloupe and mangoes are rich in beta-carotene and the rate of good summer for that reason. However, supplementation with other beta-carotene may be a convenient and affordable for maximum protection of this nutrient. My advice would be to take 30 mg a day during the summer. Other antioxidant nutrients value of analysis of vitamins C and E. In one study, 2,000 g of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin E taken daily appeared to protect the skin against sunburn.
Other nutrients may help to help the skin to produce melanin – the pigment that darkens the skin while tanning and acts as a natural sunscreen. The melanin from an amino acid called L-tyrosine, and taking 1000 – 1500 mg per day of what a supplement can help the body naturally tan. The conversion of L-tyrosine to melanin is the support of certain nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin B6 and copper.
It is also highly recommended not to drink too many glamorous cocktails, but plenty of water instead, at least 1, 5 liter a day. When spending many hours in the sun you really need to take more water.
Make it your habit if you are a true sun seeker to bring lots of fresh fruits with you to the beach.
Have a good summer.
Mónica Luna
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