Summer Skin

What Foods Help Protect Your Skin From the Sun?

Sun protection does not stop at what you put on your skin. What you put on your plate helps too. No food replaces your sunscreen, but eating with your skin in mind gives your body a stronger foundation to defend itself in the summer sun.

Can what you eat really protect your skin from the sun?

Think of it as support, not a substitute. When you are out in the world every day, your skin is up against the sun, pollution, and dirt. A good diet helps your body act as more of a barrier between your skin and everything outside, working alongside your sunscreen rather than in place of it.

Are carrots really good for your skin in the sun?

They are one of the best places to start. Carrots, and fresh carrot juice, are especially high in beta carotene, which converts to vitamin A once your body digests it. They are also very high in vitamin C. Those two vitamins help keep your skin strong against the sun damage you pick up over the course of a normal day.

How does diet help against everyday sun and pollution?

It is not only the beach that adds up. Even walking down a city street, your skin meets pollution, sun, and dirt all at once. Eating well helps your body defend itself against that daily exposure, which is why a diet rich in antioxidants is worth thinking about all summer, not just on vacation.

What about supplements like bilberry extract?

Bilberry extract is another thing that is very high in vitamin C and antioxidants, and it comes up a lot in summer. One word of honesty on it: the idea that a supplement will stop you from burning or hand you a safe tan is not something to count on. What is fair to say is that boosting your diet with antioxidants helps your body defend itself against sun damage while you are out in the sun.

The bottom line

Pair an antioxidant-rich plate with the right topical routine and daily sunscreen, and your skin has real support against the summer sun, inside and out.

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