Homegrown Fruits and Vegetables for Sunburn Protection

Reader Contribution by Veronica Worley
Published on August 25, 2020
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Summer at my house means spending many hours each week outdoors, with most of them tending to my garden and yard. But sizzling in the summer heat means exposure to ultraviolet rays that can cause skin damage. Even while summer is winding down throughout much of the United States, here in Alabama we have steaming heat and lots of sun through September and October.

When we think of protection from the sun, most of us think of sunscreen (30 SPF and above), avoiding the sun between 10 AM and 3 PM on a sunny day, covering up while in the sun, and of course, staying hydrated!  You want enough sun exposure to help your body convert cholesterol to Vitamin D3, but not too much so as to prevent sun damage. I worry that when I slather my skin with suntan lotion, I not only expose my body to toxins, but I will not absorb enough sunshine in order to convert to Vitamin D3.

But what if I were to tell you that there are foods you can grow and consume that will help prevent sunburn naturally? (And better yet, that these are foods that are easily grown in your backyard throughout hot summer months when you need the protection the most.)

Eat Your Vegetables to Protect Your Skin from Sun Damage

Research suggests that certain types of foods can help prevent sunburns and skin damage.  High fruit and vegetable consumption along with certain kinds of fish (Carcinogenesis, 2003), and daily green tea (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2001) may help prevent sunburn and skin cancer, like melanoma. And there is now research showing that slathering the skin with suntan lotions can actually harm the skin, potentially causing cancer as well as preventing Vitamin D absorption (Environmental Working Group).

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