Is there a way to fight the damaging effects of the sun through diet? You bet there is! There are a number of healthy foods that can give your skin important nutrients that take the bite out of the sun’s rays. Although the sun can give you much needed vitamin D, exposure can also cause your skin to age, along with more serious problems such as skin cancer.
You can start giving your skin a protective boost by adding kiwis to your diet. Kiwi, the fruit that comes from down under, is one of the best sources of vitamin C, even when compared to other fruits and veggies. When you eat a cup of kiwi fruit, you get 275% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. And that makes kiwi one of the best wrinkle-fighting foods out there. Vitamin C is your body’s primary water-soluble antioxidant when it comes to the health of your skin. Sun damage can cause free radicals to form. And free radicals, in turn, damage collagen, which helps to keep your skin looking healthy, beautiful and young. Researchers have discovered that kiwi fruit can double collagen synthesis in your skin.
Green tea is another food that is great for fighting the damaging effects of the sun. Green tea is exceptionally rich in antioxidants that can protect against UVB rays in particular. UVB rays are a type of harmful radiation found in sunlight. UVB rays cause free-radical stress to your skin, causing injury and the formation of wrinkles. Antioxidants in green tea have been found to reduce the damage to skin and DNA cells from sunlight.
Asparagus comes next in the fight against free-radical damage. Asparagus contains silica, a trace mineral that strengthens your body’s connective tissue. Skin that is lacking in silica is generally weak and has lost its elasticity. When you lack sufficient silica, you will also notice that wounds take longer to heal. If you’re spending a lot of time in the sun this summer, make sure you boost your silica intake so that your skin can heal itself properly.