5 Foods That Protect Your Skin From Sun Damage

There are many commercial skin care creams that promise protection from sun damage, but the fact is that many of them contain chemical substances that can irritate sensitive skin. If you want to win this battle in a more natural way you should start using certain foods. We reveal 5 foods that protect your body from sun damages.

Although this might sound a little bit odd to some people, if you increase the intake of certain foods you will actually strengthen your natural shield (the skin) and you will be able to spend more time outside without worrying about the damaging effects of UV rays.

If you want to protect yourself from the sun by all possible means eat some of these foods:

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are food that we can freely label as natural sunscreen that we use from the inside. A recent study conducted on women aged between 20 and 47 years, showed that the women who have taken four tablespoons of mashed tomatoes and olive oil were significantly more protected from the sun that those who used only olive oil. Tomatoes are rich in an antioxidant called lycopene which reduces the damaging effects of UV rays.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are packed with beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes can be found in every market and they can be used in the same way as we use regular potatoes.

Carrots

One of the best things about carrots is that these vegetables will not only protect you from the damaging effects of the sun, but it will also turn these UV rays in your favor. The scientists that have conducted a study in Korea have given 30 mg of beta-carotene (about six carrots) to women for about three months on a daily basis. After this period was over, the results were amazing – their skin cells were not only more protected, but the damaged ones were restored to some extent.

Watermelon

You will surely be excited from the news that one of the favorite summer fruits – the watermelon – is very effective when it comes to sun protection. The watermelon also contains lycopene and reduces the risk of sunburns and redness. Eat it whenever you can because, in addition to protection from the sun, it will also support the hydration of the body. This is especially important during summer.

Green vegetables

You have probably heard that the secret of almost every healthy diet lies in the variety of colors. It is very important to eat foods of all colors. Green vegetables are unavoidable in case you want to protect yourself from the sun. There is an unwritten rule that darker colors in vegetables mean more nutrients, so try to consume more dark green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and kale.