Upping Your Sun Protection from the Inside Out!

Feb 3

3 min read

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If you've been paying attention over the past decade or so, you'll have noticed the importance given to regular sunscreen usage. For everything from protecting the skin from skin cancer to slowing down the signs of aging, we've all been educated on the importance of daily sunscreen usage as well as the need to reapply. However....as with most things in life, reality is quite often different from recommendations, and we often fall short in one area or another when it comes to proper sunscreen usage.

What if there were a way to increase our natural sun protection factor (SPF) internally? Well, to be fair, there already is to an extent when we ensure a diet rich in plant foods with skin-protective nutrients and antioxidants*. But what if we could amplify that with another level of protection?

Well, guess what?

We CAN!

Thanks to the brilliance of indigenous peoples in Central and South America who discovered the power of this plant many years ago, the rest of the world can now harness the power of this potent fern! Taken internally, extracts of this fern increase the body's defenses against the harmful rays of the sun as well as promote tissue repair from exposure. The extract is known as polypodium and can be taken in powder form.

*Are you getting enough fresh produce in your diet? Join the Eat the Rainbow program and take advantage of Mother Nature's protective nutritional rainbow!

vibrant foods — *Join here🌈💧:* **Eat the Rainbow, Drink the Rain**

How it Works

The fern extract Polypodium, like many plants, is high in antioxidants, polyphenols and other powerful plant-specific components that are likely responsible for its ability to protect, and even expedite the healing process of, our skin. Polypodium contains ferulic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid to name a few of its powerful antioxidants. Why is this important? Antioxidants are substances that fight damaging free radicals which can harm cells and proteins in the body. Free radicals come from things like environmental pollutants or ultraviolet (UV) rays and can cause damage to the skin.

Recommended Dosage

So, what is the correct dosage to take for maximum benefits and safety? According to studies, taking between 240mg-480mg prior to sun exposure seems to be both well-tolerated and beneficial. And the good thing is you don't have to take it every day to accumulate the benefits! You can take it the evening before or the morning of a day when you know you will be receiving a lot of sun exposure. Continue to use your topical SPF on a daily basis and supplement it with the extract for even more protection when you plan to be outside for extended periods of time. Use it when going to the beach or gardening, for example. Keep in mind, it's not an alternative to topical sunscreen usage, but can be a powerful add-on for additional sun protection!

Contraindications

It's important to remember that supplements are not regulated by the FDA so be sure to do your research and look for brands that are third-party tested to ensure integrity. Although there are no known contraindications with using polypodium, keep in mind that medicines and supplements that are processed by the liver may be affected by this supplement. It may affect the rate at which this processing happens, possibly leading to a change in the medication's effectiveness.

Recommendations

Now, on to the FUN stuff! Let's give it a try! I've researched quite a few different options and have chosen these two** for a variety of reasons to include the correct dosage amount, being third-party tested AND being dermatologist-approved!

Try this vegan option formulated at the recommended dosage (240mg):