Top 10 foods that protect your skin from the sun

If you’ve ever had a treatment with us, you have probably heard about foods that can improve your skin in various ways. We hope you’re drinking lemon water to reduce inflammation, for example. But did you know there are an army of tasty and powerful foods that can help protect your skin from the sun and repair cells damaged by sun exposure. Of course, we still recommend you use an effective sunscreen, such as the new Biologique Recherche Protection U.V. But with the summer rays beating down, why not take extra precaution and reach for these great foods—including dark chocolate!—when shopping for groceries?

1. Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant that provides long-term protection against UV-induced skin irritations.
2. Watermelon: Guess what? This sweet summer staple also contains lycopene so cut yourself a slice or make a refreshing watermelon salad.
3. Salmon: The Northwest’s favorite fish—as well as other fatty fish and some shellfish—contains high-levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, proven anti-inflammatory compounds that also protect cells from free radical damage and maybe even skin cancer.
4. Carrots and sweet potatoes: The beta-carotene in these veggies can protect and even repair cells damaged by the sun.
5. Fruits high in vitamin C: Reaching for oranges, kiwis and fruits high in vitamin C will battle the free radicals that crop up when cells are damaged by sun exposure.
6. Dark Chocolate: Yes, it’s true! Dark chocolate with a high raw cocoa content are chockablock with flavonoids, another antioxidant ready to do battle in the fight against certain types of sun damage, such as UV-induced sunburns.
7. Almonds and sunflower seeds: You probably already know the health benefits of nuts and seeds but these particular ones are loaded with vitamin E, which not only protects the skin but slows the aging of skin cells.
8. Kale: Kale is trendy and with good reason. Along with other cruciferous veggies like broccoli, kale is packed with antioxidants, which as you now know, takes on free radicals.
9. Red apples: The red peel of an apple is chockablock with triterpenoids, which can help kick cancer cells to the curb. Who knew?
10. Green tea: No list is complete without signing the praises of green tea. In this case, it’s a powerful polyphenol in the tea that takes on free radicals and can prevent skin cancer from developing.

 (Photo: secretlifeofachefswife.com)