Eat Tomatoes To Guard Against Sun Damage

You should always wear sunscreen when you head outside this summer, but you can give yourself some extra, built-in protection by introducing tomatoes into your diet.

Not that it should need to be said, but let me make it clear that eating tomatoes is not a substitute for wearing sunscreen. With that out of the way, Gabrielle Taylor at WonderHowTo explains that the lycopene that gives tomatoes their red hue can make your skin somewhat more resilient against UV rays, if you consume it consistently. Researchers even found that regular consumption of tomato paste actually increased sun protection by 30% in women. The study used a small sample size, so you can take the results with a grain of salt, but they're certainly eye-opening. If you aren't a fan of tomatoes, you'll also find a ton of lycopene in watermelon and grapefruit, so you have some options here.

Again, if you're going to be outside for more than a few minutes, you should really wear sunscreen. If you're just taking a short walk though, or you're worried that your sunscreen might wash off before you can reapply, it's nice to know that your diet can give you a little bit of added protection. Be sure to check out the source link for more foods that can protect you from the midsummer sun.

How to "Eat" Your Sunscreen: 10 Nutrient-Rich Foods That Will Increase Your Sun Tolerance | WonderHowTo

Photo by Graphic79 (Shutterstock).

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/I2csP5vtmpw/eat-tomatoes-to-guard-against-sun-damage-929036540

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