How to eat your sunscreen

by Maggie Vink (Subscribe to Maggie Vink's posts)
Jun 11th 2007 7:05AM

Categories: Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements

So ... no. You don't want to chug-a-lug your bottle of SPF (although some of the coconut-scented stuff smells kind of yummy), but you actually can add skin protection by eating certain foods. While it doesn't replace the use of a high-SPF sunscreen, certain nutrients have been shown to help block ultraviolet (UV) sunlight.

Studies show that carotenoids, found in red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables, have reduced sunburn in humans. Good choices include pumpkin, red bell peppers, butternut squash, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe.
Perillyl alcohol found in tart cherries and peppermint leaves halted cancer formation in a study where human cells were placed under intense UV light.
Lutein and xeoxanthin found in spinach, kale, chicory, collard greens, lettuce, and green peas stopped UV-induced cell growth in animals.
The antioxidants found in green tea prevented DNA damage to skin cells exposed to light at a University of Wisconsin-Madison study.
Limonene, found in oranges, limes, and lemons, was found to reduce skin cancer risk by 34% in a University of Arizona study.
Fish oils protect against sunburn and DNA changes. Good sources include wild salmon, tilapia, and bay scallops.

Source

Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lynne Eldridge M.D. 6-11-2007 @ 6:33PM

Thanks for sharing this great information, especially now with the news about vitamin D and its role in cancer prevention making us want to head outside for fifteen minutes a day without sunscreen!

Another great choice that my kids love is artichokes, but the great variety you mention should provide any of us with choices to keep our skin healthier. Thanks.

Lynne Eldridge M.D.
Author, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer"
http://www.avoidcancernow.com

david 6-14-2007 @ 5:32PM

imagine the benefits of juicing all these great organic vegetables!
juicing breaks down the fiber of the fruit and vegetables, and lets the chlorophyll and pytonutrients into the blood stream for energy and detoxification!
chlorophyll cleans body, red fruits rebuild dna.

yes fiber is important also....but juicing is best...
do both! your health is worth it!!

david 6-14-2007 @ 5:31PM

skin healthier....
try these proven things...peer review studied...
most important...

omega 3 fish oils..also vegetarian sources flax borage coconut oil.
i use udos liquid oil, vegetarian and organic oil sources.

vitamin c... try gary null advanced suprema c. vitamin c will not build up in the body or liver. excreted thru urine.
www.garynull.com

grape seed extract... works with vitamin c in the body, they keep each other active in bloodsteam.
i use one from life extensions.

zinc also with food.

carnosine empty stomach with or juice. repairs skin better then anything else.

coq10

gary nulls red stuff and gary null green stuff! blend these powders with fresh pressed juice fresh... green with veges and red stuff with fruit...

HOPE THIS HELPED....

Crabby McSlacker 6-14-2007 @ 5:31PM

What a cool list, thanks for this!

Often I have something Crabby to say but this looks like a very informative post, thanks!

(Crabby has her own annoying health blog; today's topic is McDonalds. You're probably better off staying at That's fit instead of clicking on http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/)

atp 6-14-2007 @ 5:30PM

Interesting that science is now confirming things my mother knew years ago. At least 50 years ago my mother's standard treatment for Jersey shore sunburns was room temperature compresses of cloth soaked in brewed tea, left on the skin until the sunburn heat was gone, along with most of the discomfort. No one I've known from then has even gotten skin cancer despite serious sunburns, now the university study confirms the treatment's efficacy.

Beth 6-14-2007 @ 7:55PM

For the super pale among us, this is great information. Always looking for ways to prevent the summer sunburn- food is the most appealing (pun intended). Thanks!