Summer is here! We are inundated with sunscreen information and this is the perfect time to shine a light on what is available to us to keep us safe.  An untapped source of protection; our gardens! They are a treasure chest of wonderful foods that contain an ingredient called “plant carotenoids” or “phyto-chemicals”. These colorful foods contain a secret to our health by preventing disease and repairing our bodies from harmful invaders. These plant carotenoids are naturally found in our fruits and veggies which give us a boost of protection by the same process that they protect themselves! They are able to shield themselves by absorbing harmful oxidative chemicals that are produced during photosynthesis. You may have heard of antioxidants and these gems are the built in protection of our colorful foods. Many studies have consistently shown that eating carotenoid-rich foods protect us against damage from ultraviolet irradiation (UVA & UVB) from the sun. Sun damage causes not only burning but also premature ageing of the skin, wrinkles, hyper pigment and skin cancer. A diet rich in lycopene and high in antioxidants has been found to significantly lower the risk of burns to the skin. Picking fresh produce for you and your children has a remarkable benefit for your skin and your health.
Skin cancer is on the rise, along with Vitamin D levels being the lowest we have seen in decades. Healthy sun exposure assists our bodies in the production of vitamin D and strengthens our immune system. Knowing some proactive measures to keep us safe is detrimental. When we look at the impact of the skin from sun exposure compared between a person who has a diet that has an abundance of fresh colorful fruit and veggies, versus a person that has a diet that is filled with junk food, we see that the skin is less reactive with redness, couperose and hyper pigment in the person with a whole food diet.
- Fill your pantry with the following and consume them a regular basis. The more often you have these gems in your diet the better results you will see in your skin. Your intake needs to be consistent to see remarkable results. Tomatoes (lycopene) wild yam (phyto-chemicals beta carotene), red peppers, orange peppers, mangoes, carrots (alpha and beta carotene), pumpkin, kale (lutein and zeaxanthin), spinach (lutein), rich leafy greens
- Investigate your sunscreen and choose a lower SPF and apply more frequently.
Many sunscreens contain harsh chemicals to allow them last for hours or to be waterproof. The higher the SPF the more chemicals are in the product. This may be a matter of opinion but there is supportive data to validate the overuse of chemicals in our sunscreen products may cause other health risks.
- 10-15 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen and sunglasses in indirect sunlight will assist your body’s production of the vital Vitamin D that we need to support our immune function
Dawn Tardif has studied Anti-Aging nutrition and holds a degree in Ayurvedic Medicine. She is the Founder of BodiScience Wellness Center & Spa and welcomes questions on any wellness related topic.