Instant Sunburn Relief – 8 Natural Sunburn Remedies That Work

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Sunshine can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Getting your dose of vitamin D is crucial, but if you’ve gotten a little more than your fill, these sunburn remedies can help.

Sunburns may be caused by either too much sun exposure or too much ultraviolet (UV) exposure from a tanning bed. If you have light skin, eyes, or hair, or freckles, your risk for sunburn is even higher.

When you spend too much time out in the sun, your body will trigger your skin to increase its melanin production for protection, which could give you a darker and/or irregular color.  

Fun fact: Melanin gives color not only to your skin, but your eyes as well!

The protective effects of melanin are crushed when you have an excess amount of sun exposure. Your skin cells die, triggering your body to increase blood flow and causing inflammation to the area. Too much time in the sun triggers melanin production in your skin, which gives you that darker color.

Your skin is also largely responsible for regulation of your immune system, which is suppressed with high doses of UV radiation.

So if you’ve accidentally spent too much time at the beach, here are a few sunburn remedies to help combat mild, painful sunburns.

Note: if you have severe sunburns, especially the type with blisters, make sure to consult with your doctor before trying any of these methods.

Moisturize with Coconut Oil

Put a little coconut oil on your skin the next time you turn a little red from too much sunshine. The fatty acids found in coconut oil assist in reducing inflammation, while also adding moisture back to your dry and flaky skin. Coconut oil has also been found to function as a minor sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s UV rays.

Cool Down with Cucumbers

When you think of a spa, do cucumbers over the eyes come to mind? As it turns out, there is some science behind this.

Cucumbers are actually made up of about 95% water, so they literally have an immediate hydrating effect on your body. Cucumbers can decrease your inflammation and swelling when used topically or directly on the skin by blocking pro-inflammatory enzymes. These are the same enzymes that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin block to alleviate pain.

Take A Cool Shower

If you feel like your skin’s temperature is rising just after getting out of the sun, try taking a cool shower to lower your body temperature. Avoid using freezing cold water, as extreme temperatures are what you are trying to stay away from.

Also, make sure that you aren’t stepping into a shower with very high water pressure, as this could be painful to your skin. A gentle lukewarm flow of water is best for relaxation.

Be cautious when using products like bath oils or soaps, as these may irritate your skin and make you feel worse. Gently pat yourself dry when you get out and avoid any vigorous rubbing. Try immediately moisturizing with coconut oil for a double whammy!

Rub on Natural Aloe Vera

Grab a hold of these succulent leaves to relieve some of your pain and redness from sunburn. Inside aloe vera leaves, you will find the clear gel that relieves sunburn, moisturizes and softens the skin, and supports wound healing.

Use natural aloe vera instead of the store bought kind, which is often riddled with unnecessary chemicals and colors.

Be aware that many aloe vera gel varieties sold in stores contain additional chemicals, so aloe vera gel straight from the plant works best. Growing aloe vera is actually perfect for those without a green thumb, as it thrives on neglect!

Apply Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, ACV, has many home remedy uses, and you can add sunburn treatment to the list.

Several methods would work to apply the solution to your skin, including: bathing in cool water and diluted ACV, gently patting affected areas with a wrung-out washcloth that has been dipped in your ACV solution, or using a spray bottle to apply the ACV solution to your skin.

Whichever your method, be sure to dilute the solution, as vinegar is an acid and could sting if used on its own. There is no standard ratio of water to vinegar volume, but a 1:1 ratio is a good starting point.

Stay Hydrated

Don’t let your body experience a drought. The body is made up of mostly water, and your insides tend to dry out when you experience excessive UV exposure.

Counterbalance this by drinking enough water to prevent further dehydration, because a sunburn will force water to your skin’s surface and away from your body.

Get Antioxidants from Tea

Tea isn’t just for drinking – you can also use tea bags directly on your skin to help treat sunburns. Tannic acid and theobromine found in green and black teas in particular are the fire-extinguishing elements, as they have the ability to turn the heat down for your burns.

Green and black teas are both full of antioxidants that will defend against free radicals created by excess sun exposure, making for effective sunburn remedies.

Catechins are another helpful chemical embodied within these teas that help prevent and repair skin damage.

Try Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a vibrant yellow plant that was used by Native Americans to reduce inflammation and swelling. By distilling the good witch’s fresh-dried leaves, stems, bark or twigs with water, you can also extract tannic acid, similar to that found in tea. Try applying witch hazel directly to your skin for relief.

Watch this video – Natural Sunburn Remedies | 5 Natural Ways To Soothe Sunburn

Written by Liz Lang

Author Bio:

Liz Lang is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Southern California Institute for Research and Education in the field of Gastroenterology. Liz graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Public Health Sciences. She has an insatiable thirst to learn how the human body works in order to keep people healthy. When Liz isn’t in the clinic, she enjoys exploring nature, yoga, and trying new things (especially food!).

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

MCT Oil vs. Coconut Oil – 6 MCT Oil Benefits

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

MCT Oil: What Is MCT Oil and Is It Better Than Coconut Oil?

MCT oil is one of the fastest sources of energy available – and no, MCT oil isn’t coconut oil. Here’s how to supplement with MCT oil to fuel your body and brain.

If you’ve been visiting your local health food store lately, you’ve probably come across MCT oil. While it looks suspiciously like coconut oil, this supplement is much more than a simple culinary oil. Read on to discover what it is and its benefits.

What Is MCT Oil?

Medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, are a form of fatty acids found in certain foods like coconut oil and palm oil. MCTs are different from other types of fat because their chemical makeup is balanced in a way that makes them easier to absorb and break down. MCTs are also smaller than other fat particles, allowing them to be absorbed and used more efficiently by your liver.

MCTs unique ability to be absorbed more efficiently gives it numerous health benefits – which is probably why you’ve seen an explosion of it recently in health food stores and online as a “superfood” that can help with anything from brain health to weight loss.

MCT oil is colorless, odorless, and stays liquid at room temperature, which makes it ideal as a supplement to add to certain foods and dishes.

Different Types of MCT Oil

There are four forms of MCTs: caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid.

The main difference between these different types is how they behave in your body.

Caproic, caprylic, and capric acids go straight to your liver to be used for energy, instead of being absorbed in the small intestine and potentially stored as fat. This is why MCTs are reputed to be great for boosting energy and assisting with weight loss.

Laurie acid is different from these other forms in that it is slower to absorb. Both lauric and caprylic acid are highly antimicrobial as well.

How is MCT Oil Different from Coconut Oil?

Some people confuse coconut oil for MCTs, but they aren’t the same thing. While coconut oil is one of the most abundant sources of MCTs, MCT oil is a concentrated form of all four MCTs.

Additionally, while coconut oil contains MCTs, it does so in a different ratio than MCT oil. Coconut oil is mostly abundant in lauric acid (about 50 percent), while MCT oil contains more of the other three types of MCTs than coconut oil. This is one of the reasons many believe MCT oil is a superior source of MCTs than coconut oil, since the other types of MCTs can be more difficult to get from foods in a balanced ratio.

6 MCT Oil Benefits

Research has exploded lately on the benefits of MCTs. Check them out below.

1. Boosts Brain Health and Memory

Studies show that MCTs help improve cognition and boost memory. This is because MCTs produce ketones, and when they reach your liver, they act as an alternative energy source for your brain.

One major study in particular found that MCTs improved learning, processing, and memory in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, with another showing MCTs improved cognition in diabetics with hypoglycemia.

2. Helps with Weight Loss

The fact that MCTs are transported directly to your liver to be used as fuel instead of stored as fat has spurred on the theory that they may help promote weight loss by encouraging your body to burn fat as fuel.

Studies show there is some merit to this, finding that MCT oil supplementation has been able to increase the calories and fat burned in participants. In addition, another study found that MCTs can increase the hormones that reduce appetite and encourage the feeling of satiety.

3. Boosts Energy and Endurance

Many people supplementing with MCT oil claim it provides a boost of energy and increases endurance during their workouts. Considering the rapid transformation of MCTs by the liver into energy, it makes sense you could get a nice boost of energy from ingesting them.

One study found that athletes consuming food rich in MCTs, rather than longer-chain fats, improved the time they could endure high-intensity exercise.

4. Improves Diabetes Risk Factors

While the mechanism for exactly how this works is unknown, studies show that MCT oil can help improve risk factors for diabetes, such as insulin resistance, obesity and cholesterol.

5. Improves Heart Health

Studies show that MCTs can help prevent the development of metabolic syndrome – a group of symptoms including obesity, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance. This group of symptoms is directly linked to the development of cardiovascular problems and disease, so consuming MCTs could help lower your risk of heart trouble by preventing metabolic syndrome.

6. Kills Bacteria and Viruses

Lauric and caprylic acid (both types of acids found in MCT oil) have been shown to be potent antibacterials and antimicrobials that can help combat anything from candida to yeast. These acids work by disrupting the cell membrane of bacteria, leaving them susceptible to your body’s immune system.

Natural Sources of MCT

After coconut oil, palm oil is the second best source of MCTs. Dairy products like cheese, milk, butter and yogurt also have high concentrations of MCTs.

However, since most of these products are not Paleo, we recommend sticking with grass-fed butter as your only dairy-related source of MCT oil (if you can tolerate it).

MCT Oil Nutrition Facts

1 tablespoon of MCT oil contains:

• 125 calories
• 14 grams of fat
• 14 grams of saturated fat
• 0 grams of carbohydrates
• 0 grams of cholesterol

How to Find the Best MCT Oil?

The key to finding a high-quality MCT oil is to research the extraction process of each brand before you buy. Many companies will use hexane or other chemical solvents to extract MCTs from coconut oil, which could potentially contaminate the product. Check a brand’s website for clearly-stated manufacturing processes.

Another thing to look for when buying MCT oil is the ratio of the four types of acids in the product: caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, and lauric acid. Make sure these aren’t cut with any fillers, like sunflower oil.

How to Use MCT Oil (As a Supplement, in Cooking, etc.)

MCT oil can be used in nearly every recipe that requires a liquid. Think smoothies, soups and stews. You can even blend some up into homemade salad dressings!

Below are a few ideas:

• Use MCT oil in place of coconut or olive oil in baking recipes, such as muffins, cookies, and cakes.

• Roast and/or saute veggies and meats in MCT oil in place of coconut or olive oil.

• Add MCT oil to your coffee along with a dash or coconut or almond milk for a brain-boosting morning cuppa.

• Add MCT oil to smoothies or soups in place of other oils.

• Create homemade dressings, such as Paleo mayonnaise and salad dressings, by using ⅓ MCT oil in place of coconut or olive oil.

Watch this video – Real Doctor Reacts To Absurd MCT OIL & COCONUT OIL Claims

Written by Megan Patiry

Author Bio:

Megan is an inquisitive nutrition and wellness writer harboring an editorial love affair with the decadent and the nutritious. She is a dedicated researcher in all areas of ancestral health, a certified specialist in fitness nutrition, personal trainer, and professional almond milk latte addict.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook