I typically only subscribe to the “Champagne Diet”, but I am sharing another “diet” that I highly recommend this summer!
I’m talking about top foods that actually work from within to provide your skin with additional protection from the sun (because SPF, always! Not sure about this? Book a Call with Savannah or Sarah!)
Full transparency, as a girlie with higher levels of melanin I use to skip the sunscreen. It pains me to even type these words, and I feel I should text Savannah and thank her for saving my skin by telling me to wear SPF in our first skin consultation! But, it’s the truth and now as I am in my 30’s I am doing everything in my power to protect my skin and that includes sun damage prevention!
When I heard that there were actually foods out there that could prevent sunburn I had to get into research mode and figure out how the heck this works. If you’ve worked with me, you know that I recommend using food to get the nutrients you need for amazing skin healing and anti-aging. And when the foods in your diet aren’t enough, we have amazing supplements to back us as well (Check out my post about supplements!) Sunburn prevention is no different. Here is the how and what behind the sunscreen diet.
Our mini science lesson for the day… Lycopene is the reason certain foods can work from the inside to protect your skin. Don’t worry, lycopene is a natural compound and even better, it acts as an antioxidant that is fighting against cell damage in your skin. Simply put, lycopene belongs to the carotene group which gives certain fruits and vegetables their pigment. A.k.a lycopene makes the reddish pink color in certain foods. So if you see this color in your fruit or vegetable, it’s going to help protect against UV damage!
Keep in mind that eating foods with these antioxidants is not a singular form of sunburn protection. The skin needs to be protected from the outside with the perfect SPF and frequent cover (I love these Columbia shirts!)
If you want an extra boost in UV protection during these summer months, look for reddish pink fruits and vegetables to add to your snacks and meals daily!
Here is a quick list of foods and supplements that promote sun protection:
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Red bell peppers
Grapefruit
Carrots (cooked)
Red cabbage
Comments