The sun is only getting hotter and this calls for some protection for your beautiful face. Now, I know you are already aware that sunscreen is majorly important when it comes to protecting your skin from sun damage but did you know that antioxidants from the foods we eat also play a huge role? Antioxidants help protect your skin from sun damage (you know, the thing that ages us most and of course causes skin cancer) by neutralizing free radicals-the molecule that causes our skin not to function the way it should. So bring on the antioxidants!
Foods Rich in Antioxidants
1. Dark Chocolate: Cacao is the nut of a fruit of an Amazonian tree and is one of the highest antioxidant foods on earth.
2. Goji Berries: Goji berries contain carotenoids which are powerful antioxidants well known for their protection against free radicals and anti-aging benefits.
3. Pomegranates: Pomegranates contain polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant that contains nutrients that are found in other antioxidant rich foods like berries and green tea.
4. Spirulina and AFA Blue-Green Algae: Spirulina contains lots of minerals and phytonutrients such as tyrosine, vitamin E or tocopherol, and selenium. The antioxidants present in these nutrients slow aging. AFA blue-green algae is a wild-grown superfood that contains blue pigmented phycocyanin, another powerful antioxidant.
5. Dark Leafy Greens: Leafy greens contain high amounts of the powerful antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These nutrients help protect against sun damage including skin cancer.
As you can guess, some of these foods can not be found in your local grocery store unfortunately but there are lots of reputable brands found online.
Sources
Kulczynski, B., Gramza-Michalowska, A. (2016). Goji berry (Lycium barbarum):
Composition and health effects - a review. Pol J Food Nutr Sci 66(2), 67–75.
Retrieved from www.journal.pan.olsztyn.pl/fd.php?f=1441
Taylor, S. (Ed.). (2011). Marine medicinal foods, volume 64: Implications and
applications, macro and microalgae. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press.
Wolfe, D. (2009). Superfoods. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books