July is “UV Safety Month,” and August is known as “Summer Sun Safety Month.” What they both have in common is one thing – keeping ourselves protected from the risks that prolonged exposure to the sun can do to your skin and health.
Once you start to feel the warm rays of the sun, you know it’s officially summer season; which means more time outdoors and in direct sunlight. And while it may be tempting to want to get your daily dose of Vitamin D, thinking that getting in the sun will encourage radiant, glowing skin – think again! Spending extra time outdoors means you have to be vigilant and protect your skin from damage, including dry and itchy skin, sunburns and skin cancers.
At NJ Diet, we are taking the opportunity this summer to provide you with valuable information on how to take charge of your health and encourage overall wellness.
Why is Sun Safety Important?
Your skin is the body’s largest organ. It’s exposed to conditions that other organs are not because it’s on the outside instead of the inside of your body. This makes your skin vulnerable to weather and the environment, including sunlight. While skin cancer can appear anywhere, some of the most common places include your face, scalp, neck, ears, lips, and the backs of your hands. Since skin cancer can be a result of sun exposure over a long period of time, it is important to always practice sun safety.
Keeping Your Skin Safe — From The Inside-Out
During summertime, your skin is on display. While skincare products are a help and sunscreen an absolute must, truly great skin starts from the inside out!
However, with a little planning you can enjoy the summer sun and protect your skin at the same time! There are easy changes you can make to what you eat and drink to ensure your skin has a healthy glow all year long.
Similarly — your daily habits and what you put into your body can impact your skin as much as anything you might slather on it. To help ensure glowing skin, combined with overall good health, diet and wellness, you can make your summer a success!
Drink Enough Water
You can benefit your entire body, including your skin, by keeping hydrated – especially during warmer months. Your skin contains approximately 30% water, and is your body’s outermost barrier against the elements. Water is essential to hydrate your cells so nutrients stay in and toxins get out, and proper hydration also means you sweat more efficiently.
While drinking water hasn’t been scientifically proven to give you radiant skin, it has been shown to increase thickness and density. On the flipside, severe dehydration can reduce its elasticity. So make sure you stay hydrated by sipping water throughout the day.
If you want fabulous skin this summer, keep your water bottle handy! By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated, and that takes a toll on your skin.
Protect Your Skin
While getting some summer color might temporarily give you a glow, there’s actually no such thing as a “healthy” tan. Exposing your skin to UV Rays puts you at risk for both skin cancer and advanced skin aging — age spots, loss of elasticity, wrinkles and more.
The American Cancer Society has a fun way for you to remember how to stay safe in the sun. If you’re going outside, “Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap.” This means:
- Slip on a shirt.
- Slop on sunscreen.
- Slap on a hat.
- Wrap on sunglasses.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF every day. If you know you will be outside, make sure to apply 30+ SPF sunscreen at least 15 minutes prior to exposure, reapplying every two hours or immediately after swimming.
Have fun in the sun, but remember to stay sun-safe!
Follow A Balanced Diet
NJ Diet uses personalized genetic testing to assess each individual’s specific needs for essential vitamins, plus many more metabolic factors are assessed genetically to make sure you stay healthy for years to come.
What you eat is just as important as the SPF you put on your skin. As the food you eat is digested, it’s broken down into vital vitamins and minerals that your body can use to promote healthy skin!
Under the guidance of Dr. Arthur Turovets, NJ Diet has proven that his weight loss program, and how it works, can be a big step in a patient’s road to a healthy life. NJ Diet utilizes DNA testing to determine your ideal diet and workout plan. Using blood work, hair and saliva sample, patients typically lose 20-50 pounds in only 40 days.
Here are some other healthy eating tips you may want to follow, which not only helps you on the inside, but on the outside as well!
- Healthy Oils: Vegetable oils and processed foods are loaded with inflammatory; by simply swapping them for extra virgin olive oil and coconut or red palm oil you can make a huge difference in your diet.
Avocados, olives, and coconut milk also provide healthy fats that might help your skin to glow. Additionally, nuts and nut butters and fatty fish like salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids that can help prevent inflammation and skin aging. - Follow The Rainbow: Be sure there’s a rainbow of fresh fruits and veggies on your plate, as they provide valuable nutrients and antioxidants that support healthy skin on a cellular level.
You’ll want to get plenty from fruits and vegetables like broccoli, berries, and grapefruit. Fruits and vegetables also help with wrinkles, typically caused as your collagen breaks down with age. - Cut Back On Sugar: Sugar attaches to collagen, resulting in sticky proteins called “advanced glycolated end products” (also referred to as AGEs) AGEs can cause the loss of skin elasticity, which means you’re more prone to wrinkles. For overall health and wellness, satisfy your sweet tooth with low-sugar impact choices like berries, sweet potatoes, and coconut. Dark chocolate is another great option, since studies show it can also help prevent skin cancer!
- Increase Protein: Protein is also essential to detoxify your system and is responsible for ridding your body of toxins. Lean protein from sources such as wild salmon and grass-fed beef offers optimal amounts of collagen-building amino acids like lysine and proline. Animal protein also contains zinc, which provides excellent antioxidant. You can even get a boost of protein can even be in a smoothie with high-quality protein powder plus unsweetened coconut milk, berries, kale, and flax or chia seeds. It’s a fast, fat-burning meal that’s good for your health and also beneficial for your skin.
- Get Enough Sleep: Studies have shown that simply following your body’s internal clock—by staying active and eating during daylight hours, sleeping at least 7–9 hours per night and giving your body at least a 12 hour digestion break at night — can have a positive impact on your health. In addition to helping prevent obesity, diabetes and a variety of other health challenges, it can also improve the health of your skin. Getting into bed early at night can also avoid late night snacking temptations!
- Practice Self-Care: Taking the time to give yourself a little TLC may actually contribute to feelings of calmness and a reduction in stress when you’re feeling overwhelmed. A great way to practice self-care is to simply get your heart pumping! Studies show that exercising can help to reduce stress, as well as help body inflammation, which is known to speed up the skin’s natural aging processes.
This summer, enjoy the warmer months while protecting your skin —because taking care of yourself includes every part of your body!
For more information on how NJ Diet can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle and help you feel radiant this summer, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you for a consultation! Our program is not only aimed at promoting healthy weight loss, but aims to improve your total wellness — where the side effect is weight loss, but the end result is better overall health and well being!
