6 Foods That Will Protect Your Skin From the Sun
There are many ways to protect our skin. We
can use special lotions that enhance its natural defenses, but they
don't last very long and require re-applying. They can also add up to
quite the expense. You can wear protective clothes, but in the summer it
gets hot and stuffy. You can stay home, but that takes all the fun out
of the season.
Here's another idea - eat right. These 6 foods contribute something to
the fight between your skin and the harmful UV rays of the sun. Learn
about all of them, and start protecting your skin against damage and the
formation of cancer.
1. Strawberries vs. wrinkles
Strawberries have one of the largest concentration of vitamin C and have
the power to hold off wrinkles, as well as help prevent the loss of
skin elasticity that comes with the years. These are the findings of the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - the power of vitamin C to hold
off wrinkles comes from its ability to get rid of those free radicals
created by the sun's ultra violet rays as well as its role in
manufacturing collagen, the material most responsible for the health and
vitality of our skin. You can find lots of vitamin C in red peppers,
broccoli and citrus fruit as well.
2. Coffee vs. Skin Cancer
A study published in the European Journal of Cancer discovered that a
cup of coffee once a day can decrease the risk of skin cancer. The study
checked 93 thousand women and discovered that a daily dose of coffee
significantly reduced the risk of the disease. The caffeine, also
existing to a lesser degree in tea, helps kill off pre-cancer cells and
damaged skin cells by blocking the protein they need to make fast
replications (which can lead to cancer).
3. Tomatoes vs. Sun damage
The red color of the tomato is its secret weapon for protection from the
sun's harmful rays. It is a pigment, a carotenoid called lycophen, that
filters the radiation of the sun and prevents the tomato from being
damaged. This same effect works for the human body as well, as proven by
a study that examined how an addition of tomato sauce to your daily
diet affects the skin's resiliency.
The study discovered that 2.5 tablespoons of tomato sauce a day is
enough to significantly decrease the damage our skin takes from the sun.
This same effect can be achieved by drinking 1 and 2/3 of a glass of
carrot juice every day, as carrots also contain carotenoid pigments. In
fact, all red-orange foods will give this result, such as pumpkins,
certain yams, etc.
4. Soy beans vs. Flabby skin
Soy is rich in a group of chemical compounds called isoflavones. A
recent American study found that these compounds help prevent the
wrinkles that occur as a result of ultra violet radiation. The
isoflavones prevent the deconstruction of collagen, the material that
keeps our skin tight and flexible. This compound exists in all soy
products, such as soy milk, tofu etc.
5. Corn vs. Sun Damage
Corn has a yellow pigment called Lutein which is quite similar to the
pigment found in tomatoes. Like the tomatoes, this is a chemical
mechanism humans can benefit from, and the pigment supplies the skin
with the protection it needs against the sun's rays. Lutein can also be
found in egg yolk and spinach, and not only does it help the skin, but
also the eyes, keeping them safer from macular damage.
6. Salmon Vs. Pre-Cancer cells
The omega-3 fatty acid found in salmon has many health properties. One
of the most important ones is protecting our cells from free radicals
caused by UV light. Research published in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition kept track of 1,100 Australians, who got a lot of sun
exposure, for 5 years, checking their eating habits. Findings showed a
whopping decrease of 30% in the formation of pre-cancer cells for those
living on a diet rich in fish with high omega-3 levels, such as salmon,
tuna and sardines. In addition, omega-3 helps the body keep its collagen
levels.