Not only sunscreen creams can protect the skin from harmful sun rays. Such an effect is provided by some foods, including people’s favorite product – chocolate.
Sun Creams or Foods?
The best way to get protected from sunburns is being in the shade and using lotions. But the researchers have found that some foods provide good protection as well. Although they cannot replace sunscreens completely, they are beneficial in the fight against ultraviolet radiation.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are on the first place in this ranking. They have got their characteristic red color due to the lycopene antioxidant. According to the study, conducted in the UK, five tablespoons of tomatoes a day were enough to increase the protection against sunburn by 33%.
Yellow & Orange Fruits & Veggies
Peeled fruits and vegetables with a yellow and orange hue, like carrots, mangoes, apricots and cantaloupe, can also be called excellent means of sunburn prevention. Citrus fruits, berries, pepper, kiwi, black currant and watercress contain vitamin C and vitamin E, which protect the body from sun radiation, removing free radicals.
Foods Rich in Monounsaturated Fats
You should also add olive oil, sliced avocadoes, or unsalted nuts and seeds in the diet. They contain monounsaturated fats that accumulate in the skin and block the sun rays. These are the “good” fats that one should not worry about.
Chocolate
A bit of dark chocolate will not hurt you: 20 grams of chocolate a day during 12 weeks increase the resistance of the body to sunburns by 2 times. Just make sure that that the chocolate contains a lot of cocoa.
