Most of us know the importance of applying sunscreen before going out for a day in the sun. However, there must be more natural ways of boosting our body’s natural defenses against UV rays, right? Lycopene is your secret weapon to combatting sun damage.
Dr. Vikki Petersen, certified clinical nutritionist, chiropractor, and functional medicine doctor, highlights the importance of knowing how the foods you eat can affect your overall health and contribute to helping your body combat the harmful rays of the sun.
“Lycopene, a carotenoid found in red fruits, can protect your skin against UV radiation as it absorbs both UVA and UVB rays. Enjoying lycopene-rich foods can reduce sunburn and UV radiation skin aging,” Dr. Petersen shared with HOLA! USA. “The timing of consuming such foods aligns with the sun. In other words, enjoy them during the daytime to get the most benefit.”
For your next outdoor adventure, here are some foods that Dr. Vikki Petersen recommends to help fight against sun damage:
What is more delightful on a hot summer day than enjoying juice watermelon? Its UV protection takes a few weeks to build up, but enjoying this delicious fruit actually provides more lycopene than fresh tomatoes and can act as a natural sunscreen. Note: do not eschew topical sunscreen, but this internal protection is a nice benefit.
Half of the richest foods in lycopene are variations of tomato products. The winner is sundried tomatoes, followed by tomato puree, fresh tomatoes, and canned. Sundried tomatoes contain more than ten times the amount of lycopene as fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes are especially sweet in the summer and can be enjoyed on salads or as a side dish with most meals.
Guava beats watermelon for its lycopene content, placing third to sundried tomatoes and tomato puree. Interestingly, this traditional tropical fruit, along with papaya, the next one on the list, is common in warm climates where their sun-protecting capabilities are needed. Enjoy it as part of a fruit smoothie, summer salad, or healthy dessert.
Citrus fruits are particularly healthy, but the “pink” is a trademark for lycopene and is a delicious way to start your day and boost your sun protection internally.
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