Foods to screen your skin

A new study published in the journal Nutrition Reviews has found certain foods can be added to your diet and work as a natural sunscreen according to an August 16 American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) announcement.

Niva Shapira, MD, RD at Tel Aviv University has discovered "a diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, like the diet eaten in Mediterranean regions where melanoma rates are extremely low, can help protect us from skin cancer."

She recommends you "go Greek" with your diet by upping your intake of Mediterranean staples including olive oil, fish, yogurt, whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, plenty of water and a bit of red wine "to fight the oxidizing effect of the sun, as well as regular applications of sunscreen and appropriate body coverings such as hats, beach coverups, and other sportswear."

There is also a list of foods to avoid: "red meat, processed foods, and alcohol (red wine is preferable), and be wary of foods that contain the photosensitising compound psoralen, such as parsley, celery, dill, cilantro and figs."

Keeping your skin out of the sun is one way to fight off signs of aging. Here is a more specific list of foods you may want to incorporate into your diet to stay looking young and healthy adapted from the advice of various dermatoligists and health professionals via the online beauty blog section of the magazine Fitness:

Daily
- Half cup of blueberries daily can keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay
- A cup of green tea to get rid of brown spots
- One tablespoon of olive oil "improves circulation, rosy and supple glow"

Weekly
- Three cups of spinach/kale protects against sun damage and firms skin
- Half cup of pomegranate seeds helps to soften your skin
- Two to six (170 g) portions of cold-water low mercury fish (Sardines, salmon, mackerel) to reduce redness
- One to two cups of watermelon for a fresh "dewy complexion"

Also increasing your daily intake of "fruits and veggies with a high water content, such as cucumber and apples" will keep you looking young.

Full Study, "Nutritional approach to sun protection: a suggested complement to external strategies" originally published in the January online edition of Nutrition Reviews: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00264.x/abstract