Now that summer is here, you are probably stocking up on sunscreen and straw hats to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. But did you know that you can also stock your fridge to save your skin?
That’s right, there are certain superfoods that have the power to boost your skin’s ability to stave off free radical damage that comes from the sun. Of course, this is not an excuse to skip sunscreen. Instead, munch on these fruits and veggies to give your skin an extra boost when you’re spending a lot of time in the sun this season.
Strawberries, oranges and kiwis
These may sound like a delicious garnish to a summer cocktail, but they have some serious punch when it comes to protecting your skin, too! The high levels of vitamin C in these fruits fight cancer, staving off those free radicals that your body creates in response to cellular damage caused by the sun.
In fact, almost all fruits and veggies have powerful antioxidants that can protect your skin from sun damage. Just stick to this rule of thumb in the grocery store or farmer’s market: the darker the color of the produce, the more valuable its antioxidants to reverse free-radical damage.
Carrots and sweet potatoes
These orange veggies look festive on a summer plate, but they also have serious skin benefits – they might even reverse sun damage on your skin. These veggies contain beta-carotene, and they are loaded with quantities so high that they have actually been proven to protect and repair cells damaged by photoaging (caused by good ole Mr. Sun).
Tomatoes and watermelon
Nothing says “summer” like a plate of watermelon or a salad with fresh tomatoes, and now you have even more reason to indulge. These fruits are loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant that has been proven to provide long-term skin protection against radiation caused by UV rays. Even tomato sauce and tomato juice have these benefits!
Those veggies kabobs and fruit salads at your next beach barbecue will taste even better when you know how much their nutrients are helping your skin!
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By: Lauren Stewart
Lauren Stewart is a freelancer writer from Michigan. She enjoys writing about beauty, health and fitness! She is passionate about learning new ways to take control of her health and wellness and is a makeup and skincare junkie! You can contact her by emailing lrstewar@gmail.com.