Block UV Rays With A Skin Healthy Diet

Sunscreen and big, floppy hats might not be the only things that can help protect you from harmful rays this summer.

NY1's Kafi Drexel filed the following report.With the summer season approaching, dermatologists say certain foods can also serve up a healthy dose of sun protection for your skin.

"When you think about sun damage it affects the epidermis which is only 20 percent of the skin. That's where sunscreens work. Eighty percent of your skin is the dermis. It's what you eat that makes a big difference. All kinds of studies have demonstrated that what you eat can make a big change in the damage that you get from the sun," said UCLA Associate Professor of Dermatology Dr. Howard Murad.Murad, who also created his own skin care line, says eating foods that are rich in antioxidants can make a huge difference because they help prevent free radical damage.

Free radicals are tiny chemical particles which can break down skin cells. And when it comes to the best sources of protection, Murad says broccoli and pomegranate are king and queen. "The broccoli has all kinds of benefits. It has a sulfur containing radiant that minimizes cancer cells. We've been learning it has these other agents in it. It has vitamin C and other things that really has been proven to show that. And pomegranates are terrific.

The problem with pomegranates is that they're not generally available. The seeds are more important than anything else. So eating the pomegranate is best and maybe taking a supplement that contains pomegranate extract is next best," Murad said.Murad says foods containing lycopene, an organic pigment that is reddish in color, are also big protection boosters."Lycopene comes for example in watermelon, pink grapefruit, but tomatoes are very good.

Regular tomatoes are good but you get more lycopene when the tomato is processed. So eating a can of tomato paste is going to make a difference," Murad said. It's important to note that while all of these things may be great to add to your diet, they don't replace sunscreen or covering up to protect yourself. "You definitely need to use sunscreens as well as this.

Think of sunscreens as taking care of the top layer of your skin. But the bottom of you skin, which is connected to the rest of your body by the way has to be treated with what you eat," Murad said. You've heard of that old saying 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away.' Well eating these foods keeps the skin cancer away."

source: ny1