Antioxidant-rich Foods for Natural Sun Protection

Clinical evidence suggests that antioxidant-rich foods may have a role in protecting the skin from the damaging effects of the sun and prevent skin aging.

For most people, sunscreen is synonymous with sun protection. Although the importance of external sun protection through creams, lotions and sun protective clothing is indisputable, natural sun protection through consumption of antioxidant rich foods takes sun protection to an entirely new level. Excessive exposure to the sun can damage the skin and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Several studies demonstrate that eating antioxidant dense foods internally fortify the skin and increase its ability to become more tolerant to ultraviolet (UV) exposure.

Research Studies on the Role of Antioxidant Rich foods in UV Protection

A 2006 German study published in The Journal of Nutrition concluded that a flavanol-rich cocoa drink increased the body’s ability to tolerate UV rays and improved skin health. The study recruited two groups of women who were randomly assigned to drink either a high flavanol or a low flavanol cocoa drink. After 12 weeks of use, the high flavanol group tolerated UV rays from a solar simulator more effectively than the low flavanol group. The women who drank the high flavanol drink also benefitted from increased skin density and better skin hydration at the end of the study.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the role antioxidants in internal sun protection. A 2003 study showed that eicosapentaenoic acid (also called EPA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid, reduced the risk of developing skin cancer by prolonging the time in getting sun burnt during UV ray exposure. A German study showed that supplementing with beta-carotene supplements for at least 10 weeks offered protection against sunburn.

A study presented in the British Society of Investigative Dermatology reported that eating a tomato paste-rich diet amplified the skin”s capacity to defend against free radicals and shield itself from the sun by about 33 percent. The researchers concluded that lycopene, an antioxidant abundant in cooked tomatoes, was responsible for the internal skin protection assistance.

Sunlight, with its role in creating natural vitamin D is essential for warding off disease and keeping good health. However excessive exposure to sunlight can have a detrimental effect on skin health. Free radicals that form when UV rays from the sun come in contact with the skin can cause premature aging of the skin and raise the risk of developing skin cancer.

Natural Skin Protection through Nutrition

Research studies have shown that an antioxidant rich diet can prevent UV induced skin damage and maintain skin health. While further research is necessary for more authoritative conclusions, preliminary evidence endorses their role in sun protection. Although eating antioxidant rich foods will never replace the need for topical skin sun protection, they will add an additional boost to it, according to Megan Witt, a registered dietician as reported by OptiDerma, and independent portal for skin care news.

Sources:

• The Journal of Nutrition; Long-Term Ingestion of High Flavanol Cocoa Provides Photoprotection against UV-Induced Erythema and Improves Skin Condition in Women. (accessed, April 11, 2010)
• Optiderma; Sun & skin damage: Is Nutrition Important in Sun Protection? (accessed April, 10, 2010)
• Smart Skincare; Antioxidant Nutrients and Skin Protection. (accessed, April, 12, 2010)
• Journal Carcinogenesis; Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid, an Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid, on UVR-Related Cancer Risk in Humans. (accesse, April,15, 2010)
• Natural News; Tomato Paste Found to Function as Internal Sunscreen. (accessed, April, 19, 2010)
• Bastyr Center for Natural Health; Cocoa-The Newest Skin Saver? (accessed, April 10, 2010)
• Photochemistry and Photobiology; Protection from Sunburn with Beta-Carotene. (accesse, April 14, 2010)