Eating certain foods can help protect your skin against harmful UV rays, an expert has said.
Dr Megan Rossi, who is an expert in gut health and nutrition, says that people can ‘eat their way’ to 40 per cent more sun protection by eating a number of red and orange fruit and vegetables, the Mirror reports.
Items such as grapefruit, watermelon and tomatoes contain chemicals called lycopene and beta-carotene - which can provide our skin with added protection against UV.
The Mirror reports that Dr Rossi’s theory has been supported by NHS GP and skincare expert Dr Raj Arora.
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Sharing the tip on Instagram, Dr Rossi said: “Although sun cream is always vital, what you eat can also guard you from UV damage thanks to skin-protecting chemicals called lycopene and beta-carotene found in fruits and veg like: grapefruit, watermelon, papaya, red peppers, as well as tomatoes.
"According to one study, those who ate 40g of tomato paste with olive oil every day for 10 weeks experienced 40 per cent less severe sunburn than those who did not."
She explained: "The lycopene in tomatoes can also protect us from other environmental factors such as pollution, radiation and smoke, which is pretty cool.
"What’s really interesting is that these chemicals are MUCH better absorbed by our body when combined with healthy fats (hence the olive oil being used in the study mentioned above.)"
"A great tip is that, to reap these enhanced benefits yourself, you can try adding some olive oil to your tomatoes, or full-fat yoghurt with a watermelon and papaya smoothie," Dr Rossi continued.
"I think it’s fascinating that plant foods don't just work internally to feed our microbes but also externally to better protect us."
She ended her message with an important warning about still protecting the skin with sun cream.
"The takeaway: Of course, don’t go skipping your SPF in favour of a Caprese salad! But it is interesting to know how you can dial up the protection of your skin, this summer," Dr Rossi added.
An NHS GP based in Surrey - Dr Raj Arora - has backed the claim, saying certain foods can help to boost our protection from UV damage.
"Studies have shown that certain compounds in foods such as carotenoids, polyphenols and some vitamins may improve the skin’s ability to protect from UV damage and also to help accelerate the healing process from sun damage to the skin," Dr Arora, who is also a specialist aesthetician at The Face Bible, told the Mirror.
"Some studies have shown that certain doses of these compounds found in foods like red and orange fruit/vegetables can provide protection."
Dr Arora makes note that the level of protection can depend on how long these types of foods have been consumed.
"A more important factor seems to be the length of time for which one has been taking the antioxidants in their diet," she adds.
"While more research is needed there definitely seems to be a role for diet in protecting the skin from harmful UV rays.
"Having said that, the sure way to protect skin is, of course, to apply sunscreen regularly, to wear sunglasses and of course a hat".
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