If you’re still searching for natural ways to protect yourself from sun during these peak summer months, I’ve got some good news for you! Research around the world, from England to Alabama, is showing that what you put into your body makes a huge difference in how resistant your skin is to sunburns and the other damage caused by UV exposure from the sun. Today I’ll be sharing with you some foods you can eat that will help protect your during these peak summer months. If you’re already eating these then more power to you. If you’re not, then adding these into the mix should be fairly easy. Happy munching …
Carrots
These crunchy veggies are like an orange magic wand for your body. You might already know that carrots are chock-full of beta-carotene, a substance that is touted for its effects on the eyes. What you might not know is that beta-carotene is also good for your skin. Beta-carotene turns into Vitamin A inside the body which is responsible for skin cell maintenance –it works to make new skin cells while also repairing cells that have been damaged. Don’t like carrots? Don’t worry, beta-carotene can be found in other orange veggies like squash and yams.
Leafy Greens
Green leafy vegetables are another one of those foods that can help your body in numerous ways. Some of you might already know that veggies like spinach and kale can improve digestion, but they can protect your skin too. According to the International Journal of Cancer these foods can reduce the risk of some forms of skin cancer by as much as fifty percent! While broccoli won’t offer the same level of protection that sunscreen would, it offers protection that won’t wash off while you swim. It’s easy to incorporate the benefits of broccoli for skin cancer protection, you just need to eat half a cup of the stuff every day. They go great in salads or with dips. Not a broccoli fan? Plenty of leafy greens to choose from, and all are nutrient-dense and beneficial.
Tomatoes
It’s no mere coincidence that tomatoes grow best in hot weather: we were meant to eat them in the summer. If you’re looking for another reason to buy or plant your own, consider this: the lycopene that gives tomatoes their beautiful red colors has been linked in a number of cases to lowered risk of being burned by the sun, most recently by the University of Michigan. Studies show that cooking makes it easier for lycopene to be transported in the blood, so if you want to get the most out of your tomatoes, add more tomato sauce or paste to your diet. And if you’re not a fan of them, you can opt for other red foods like papaya and watermelon.
Almonds
Is there anything this super food can’t do? Besides being a great addition to pretty much any diet, these nuts are packed full of Vitamin E which can help your skin in many ways. Vitamin E mainly serves to protect the surface of the skin, which is why it’s so useful for preventing sunburns. And if you do manage to get burned, the Vitamin E in these nuts boosts the effects of beta-carotene –which improves cell growth and regeneration– helping your burn heal faster.
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