Every year, it seems, the frequency of major climate events multiplies. Crippling heat waves roll across southern Asia in April, wildfires scorch the timber in New Mexico and catastrophic flooding has nearly wiped out farmers in parts of Queensland. The pace of extreme events is also picking up. Those once in 100-year floods are now predicted to occur every 1 to 30 years. Clearly, big climate events have now become the new reality, the norm.
These profound climate changes have also firmly planted themselves in our psyche. We understand, sometimes at an almost unspoken level, that we need to pay attention and things are no longer the same. This has triggered an awareness and interest in protecting ourselves from both current and future risks. One of the areas we are taking more seriously now is our on-going exposure to the sun.
Boost Your Antioxidant Intake
If you want to improve your overall health and protect yourself from harmful rays, it’s a great idea to increase your intake of antioxidants. Some of the foods to focus on include fruits such as raspberries, grapes and blueberries. Drinking green tea is beneficial, and dark green, leafy vegetables are too. All of these foods provided excellent nutrition as well as the protection you need.
UPF Rated Swimwear
When you plan on spending a lot of time at the beach or in the outdoors, it’s important to protect your body from overexposure to the sun. One of the ways you can do this is by choosing to wear UPF 50+ swimsuits that block 98% of both UVA and UVB rays. This allows you to extend your time doing what you love. The suits are beautifully designed, lightweight and dry very quickly so you can transition easily from beach to town.
UV Patch
To track your time in the sun, you can use a wearable sticker that is designed to monitor your overall UV exposure. It also connects to a mobile app so you can see exactly how much UV radiation you have received and track your overall risk. The app also provides a number of recommendations regarding safer practices for time spent in the outdoors.
Stay Out of the Sun at Peak Times
If you are fair-skinned or want to limit the times when you are exposed to the solar intensity, pay attention to the hours when you are outdoors or at the beach. Going to the ocean very early in the day or late in the afternoon or near dusk will give you a safer experience. The rays peak between 10 AM and 4 PM, so avoiding the midday exposure is key.
Sun Protection for Your Scalp
Be sure to wear a hat to protect you when you are outdoors or alongside the ocean waves. This will help protect some of your face as well as your forehead and scalp. If you prefer to go with sunscreen, you can purchase products that are especially formulated to be applied to the scalp.
When you want to enjoy lots of time at the beach or in nature, having great sun protection is key. Fortunately, there are great new products and choices that are available so you can safeguard your health from sun exposure during your time outdoors.
