How To Avoid A Sunburn

As summer descends upon the world, a young Primal eater’s fancy turns to playful frolicking in the sunshine. And when you’re frolicking, the last thing you want to do is slather a bunch of horrible-smelling, greasy, overpriced sunblock all over your body. Too much sun today equals sensitive, red skin and lots of peeling tomorrow. So now that summer is in full swing and sunburns can happen when we least expect it, take note of these useful ways to avoid a sunburn.

The Best Ways To Avoid A Sunburn

  1. Wear a hat – wide brimmed and those with a flap at the back of the neck provide most protection.
  2. One of the easiest ways to avoid a sunburn is to eat tomatoes. Tomatoes have high lycopene content, especially when cooked, which can help protect the skin from sunburns.
  3. Keep covered up. Floppy hats and large umbrellas work well but so do beach cover-ups. Long-sleeved cotton shirts are excellent for hiking, cycling etc; see your sports store for special brands that allow breathing as well as cover-up.
  4. Green tea, often touted for its various health benefits, consists of polyphenols – a type of antioxidant – which could also protect the skin from UV rays. To reap these benefits, the polyphenols can be consumed as a drink, or they can be applied directly to skin.
  5. Vitamin D is important for numerous reasons, but it also helps protect us from the sun’s UV rays and might even help increase your tolerance of sun exposure. You can supplement with cod liver oil or through vitamin D rich foods such as dairy products, leafy greens or fatty fish.
  6. Put a small amount of oil or sunscreen in your hair so you will avoid burning your scalp. Or cover it with a hat. Some shampoos and hair conditioners contain SPF protection.
  7. Make sure you apply a shot glass worth of sunscreen to your body and a teaspoon to your face and neck at least 10 minutes before you go outside.