Sun protection isn’t just about choosing the right sunscreen or keeping out of the sun when it is at its strongest. Your diet also plays a major role in protecting your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. These 5 foods will help you to protect your skin from the sun by naturally increasing your skin’s ability to protect itself against UV damage.
1. Citrus
Thanks to their high content of vitamin C, citrus fruits like orange, tangerine and lemon protect our skin against UV light exposure by neutralizing the free radicals that damage our cells. Vitamin C also reduces inflammation associated with sunburns + it keeps your skin strong and firm looking. Don’t like citrus? Berries, kiwi fruit and papaya are also loaded with vitamin C.
2. Green Leafy Vegetables
Leafy green vegetables & fresh herbs such as spinach, chards, kale and parsley are nature’s little fountain of youth. They are packed with antioxidants that protect your skin from DNA damage and keep it young & fresh. Leafy greens stimulate the growth & repair of body tissues, and therefore help to prevent skin cancer. So load up on those salads & green smoothies ☺
3. Carrots
Carrots and other orange fruits & vegetables like sweet potato, butternut squash and cantaloupe are loaded with beta-carotene. This powerful anti-oxidant does not only help to prevent sun damage, it might even reverse it. Several scientific studies have shown that just 30 milligrams of beta-carotene a day (about six carrots) has the ability to prevent the skin from being sunburned. Enjoy carrots as a crunchy sweet snack (they taste great with some tahini!), add them to your daily salads and wraps, or prepare yourself a delicious fresh carrot juice.
4. Green Tea
Green tea is a miracle product. Not only will it boost your metabolism (read: help you to burn fat), regulate your blood sugar levels and detoxify your body, it will also protect your skin from the sun. The reason? EGCG, a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, decreases sun-induced redness in the skin and might even prevent the development of skin cancer. Enough reasons to replace your cup of coffee with green tea!
5. Coconut Oil
Did you know that coconut oil acts as a natural sunscreen? It blocks about 20% of UV rays when reapplied often, while still allowing the ‘good’ UV rays to enter your skin in order to increase your vitamin D levels – instead of most commercial sunscreens that completely block your vitamin D production and therefore your body’s natural defence against the sun. Ironic, isn’t it? But there’s more… Coconut oil will also nourish and protect your skin from the inside out thanks to its high content of lauric acid (a healthy fat) and vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that speeds the healing of sunburn. Make sure to get a high-quality extra virgin coconut oil to really reap the benefits of this aromatic healthy fat.
Now I would love to hear from you! How do you like to protect yourself from the sun while still allowing your skin to soak up some vitamin D? Let me know by leaving a comment down below.
