The heat is on. July is next week, and with it, the Fourth—that holiday where we all gather for barbecues, fireworks, good cheer and Americana. Oh yes, and sunburn.
Here, Jessica Cassity, Prevention contributing editor and author of ‘Better Each Day’ shares a little-known tip from her book on how certain foods can help protect your skin from sun damage. So when you shop for your July 4th BBQ, protect your friends with some skin-saving foods!
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Protect Your Skin from the Inside Out
Along with your sunscreen, shades, and big straw hat, research shows that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants is a powerful weapon against skin damage brought on by UV rays. You can build up your body’s natural defenses against the sun’s rays by changing your diet. In a recent study, people who ate foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, particularly red-pigmented carotenoids like those found in carrots, watermelon, and tomatoes, showed less skin damage than those who did not. The impetus for this study was fueled by the low rate of melanoma in Mediterranean countries, where people typically eat diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. While the results by no means suggest that you’d be safe to go out into the sun without protection following a big Mediterranean-inspired meal, a steady diet of this sort may help buffer your skin from damage over time.
Stay tuned for Jessica’s watermelon salad recipe. We’ll be posting shortly.
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Jessica Cassity is the former fitness editor at Prevention magazine and the author of Better Each Day. For more information on Jessica and her book, click here.
