10 Top Tips To Protect Your Skin From Sun Damage & Cancer

The UV rays release free radicals in your body, which damage DNA and lead to the proliferation of cancer cells. While there are plenty of sunscreen products to choose from, eating a diet full of skin-protecting nutrients is the best defense against skin damage from the sun. Protect your skin with these natural resources.

1. Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is an extremely powerful algae-based antioxidant. The antioxidants come directly from the algae that protect themselves from UV rays whenever their habitat runs dry. It’s been repeatedly shown to combat all the tell-tale signs of skin damage from the sun, including brown spots, sun burns, wrinkles, fine lines and skin cancer. Researchers are now exploring astaxanthin as a sunscreen option due to its ultraviolet-light-absorbing properties. Human studies have shown that consuming 6 milligrams of astaxanthin per day for six to eight weeks can significantly reduce crow’s feet and the size of age spots while improving skin elasticity and texture. When it comes to protecting your skin from UV rays naturally, astaxanthin is the way to go.

2. Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that gives vegetables and fruits, most notably carrots, their color. Once ingested, the body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A. As an antioxidant, beta-carotene protects the body from free radicals, which are often fueled by over exposure to the sun. Studies have shown that people who eat four or more serving of fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene per day significantly reduce their risk for various cancers. In addition, beta-carotene can be used to make people less sensitive to the sun. It’s easy to add more beta-carotene to your diet with carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers and broccoli.

3. Lycopene
Lycopene is a phytonutrient found in red fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, grapefruit and watermelon. The pigment acts as an antioxidant which, as noted earlier, protects against free radicals. A number of studies have demonstrated that lycopene has a variety of health benefits, including skin protection. For example, a study presented at the British Society of Investigative Dermatology involving 20 people found that participants who consumed tomato paste had 33 percent greater protection against sunburns than participants who did not consume tomato paste. The researchers attribute the benefits of the tomato paste to its lycopene content, which is able to neutralize free radicals. If you want to prevent your skin from becoming red, try eating a red tomato.

4. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are packed with nutrients, including water, potassium, sulfate and vitamins A and C, that can help protect the skin in face of the scorching sun. In particular, the vitamin A and caffeic acid, two antioxidants in cucumbers, work together to protect against sun damage. Cucumbers have a high water content too, which helps keep the skin cool. The silica in cucumber skin also helps keep your own skin firm. In addition, cucumber extract can help neutralize free radicals, which can accelerate the aging process, especially when skin is exposed to the sun. It’s easy to make cucumbers into a facial mask at home.

5. Vitamin D
The sun is the primary source of vitamin D, but you can reduce your sun exposure with alternative sources of vitamin D. Nearly all cells in the human body have vitamin D receptors; they play a critical role in boosting the immune system. Nevertheless, vitamin D deficiency is a major problem for many Americans. You can increase your vitamin D intake with various foods including cow’s milk, eggs, shiitake mushrooms, salmon and cod liver oil. While these foods are a healthy source of vitamin D, they should not be used as a supplement for the sun.

6. Lutein
Lutein is classified as a carotenoid, which is a group of powerful antioxidants. This yellow-colored compound helps protects both the eyes and skin from UV damage. High concentrations of lutein can be found in dark, leafy green vegetables including spinach, kale, peas and broccoli. It can be applied as a tropical cream or ointment and has no known dangerous side effects.

VIDEO and ARTICLE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE BELOW