Eating certain foods can boost your natural body’s SPF and protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Here are 7 foods that can protect your skin this summer:
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in carotenoid, a plant-based antioxidant that’s responsible for its red color. Studies found that the body absorbs lycopene better when tomatoes are cooked than raw. Lycopene absorbs free radicals and protects against DNA damage.
Watermelon
Watermelon is also high in lycopene that can protect your body from free radicals, which come from sun exposure. They are also rich in vitamin C which repairs damaged skin cells and redness.
Green Tea
Green tea has anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and antioxidant effects on your skin. Green tea is rich in catechins, a polyphenol that protects your skin against UV radiation. Researches also found that a green tea bags can be applied directly on the skin, to reduce the sunburn cells after UV exposure.
Chocolate
Cocoa beans are rich in flavanols, a powerful antioxidant that fights inflammation and prevents oxidative damage to the skin. But, not all chocolates have this effect, that’s why it’s so important to choose chocolate with the highest cocoa percentage.
Fish
Many kinds of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are effective at warding off skin inflammation. If you add fish in your diet on a regular basis, your skin will be less sensitive to UVB light.
Carrots
Beta-carotenes found in all bright yellow and orange foods, including sweet potatoes, pumpkins, apricots, grapefruit and carrots can offer added skin protection. Beta-carotenes inhibit the gene that activates an inflammatory response after exposure to UV rays, but remember you will need to apply sunscreen on your skin, because unlike lycopenes, the protection from beta-carotene-rich foods is very modest.
Kiwi
Kiwi is rich in vitamin C that can also protect the skin cells against UV damage. When consumed, vitamin C helps stimulate the fibroblasts to quickly respond to and repair any damaged skin cells. It also helps build collagen and strengthen capillaries. That’s why kiwis are perfect body’s natural SPF.