It's not just sunscreens that can protect your skin from sun damage. Plenty of common foods are laden with antioxidant compounds that protect the skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
According to Fox News, colored plants produce antioxidants to protect their own cells from untimely damage due to exposure to heat, air, light, moisture and time. When people eat these plants, we also consume the antioxidant compounds in them that help protect our skin cells. We listed some sun protective foods that can help you this summer.
Tomatoes
The antioxidant lycopene can be found in tomatoes and tomato-based products, Women's Health Magazine wrote. Lycopene, which provides the color red to tomatoes, lowers the harmful effects of UV radiation and can even improve men's prostate gland.
Carrots
Carrots' beta-carotene content protects and repairs skin cells from photoaging, which is damage sustained by skin from prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Carrots can reportedly lower sunburn intensity as well, according to the Reader's Digest.
Sweet Potatoes
Like carrots, sweet potatoes contain the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin A. These antioxidants help prevent various types of cancer and repairs skin cell damage due to excessive UV exposure. Moreover, beta-carotene and vitamin A can provide the skin with an internal protection against the sun's UV rays, StyleCraze wrote.
Aside from sun damage, sweet potatoes can improve skin texture, oily skin, dark eye circles and eye puffiness. Sweet potatoes can act as a skin moisturizer as well.
Colored Peppers
The bright colors of red, orange and yellow peppers are brought upon by natural pigments called carotenoids. The antioxidants in colored peppers protect the skin by impeding the deterioration of thin fat layers surrounding skin cells.
Watermelon
These juicy fruit has lycopene just like tomatoes. Experts said watermelon can lower your chances of getting sunburn and even treat it if you got one.
According to StyleCraze, watermelon acts as a natural toner that hydrates and moisturizes the skin. The fruit can also remove excess oil, cure acne and slow down signs of aging.
Blue And Purple Berries
Blueberries, dewberries, black currants, acai, cranberries, blackberries and elderberries contain strong purple elements called anthocyanins, which protects the body against a host of health disorders such as cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and urinary tract infections, Verywell listed. Aside from these benefits, blue and purple berries provide SPF protection from the sun.
Salmon
Healthy fats like salmon, tuna, flaxseed and walnuts are also important to protect the skin against the sun. These foods have omega-3s that strengthen the healthy layer of fat underneath the skin, preventing damage and aging, Men's Fitness wrote.
