Protecting your skin from the damaging rays of the sun is important for all people, but even more so when your job is in front of the camera as a web performer. Most people do not want to look at splotchy, wrinkled, and leathery looking skin.
One way to protect your skin from potentially developing skin cancer is to add a version of vitamin B3 to your diet called nicotinamide. This supplement has been tested in studies on people with a high risk for skin cancer and showed a 23% reduced incidence of skin cancer vs. the group that was taking a placebo.
Studies have also shown that high antioxidant fruits and vegetables can help repair sun damaged cells because they contain carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and resveratrol. You find these nutrients in the following foods:
Carotenoids
Apricots, carrots, watermelon, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, and turnip greens.
Flavonoids
Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, kale, red cabbage, dark chocolate, soybeans (preferably organic non-GMO), and citrus fruits like grapefruits and oranges.
Polyphenols
Blueberries, blackberries, artichokes, spinach, and red onions.
Resveratrol
Red wines, grapes, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, dark chocolate, strawberries, and blueberries.
The above list is not exhaustive, but it gives a good idea of which foods can help you to fight sun damage from the inside out.
Keep in mind there are many supplements in the marketplace that claim to heal skin damage from the sun, or they claim taking their supplement will avoid damage from the sun’s rays. These statements haven’t been scientifically proven. In addition, the best way to reap the benefits of a food’s healthful properties is by eating the actual food. Supplements are not created equal, and many times the body doesn’t fully metabolize the pills. Therefore, it’s important to eat a healthy balanced diet to allow your body to function at its best.
A great way to incorporate all these healthy foods into your regime is by adopting a Mediterranean type of diet. Mediterranean diets not only include foods great for fighting sun damage to the skin, but they have been shown to be one of the best diets to follow for overall good health. Studies have shown that they help reduce cardiovascular issues, diabetes, improve gut and brain health and reduce the chances of getting cancer.
A few simple changes to daily food choices can put you on the road to better looking skin and a longer, healthier life. Plus, when you feel better about yourself it shows on the “outside” as well as the inside. The better you feel, the more likely you’ll be to put on better shows and this can make your bottom line look better, too.
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Gabriella Vita is from Las Vegas, NV and has been writing for over ten years under multiple pen names. She believes variety is the spice of life, which is why she enjoys writing on a plethora of subjects. Email her at gabby@ynotcam.com.
Main photo credit: iStock/vlg
Center photo credit: iStock/AlexRaths
