Sun-Fighting Foods!

With summer around the corner, the sun can wreak havoc on our skin. The best protection is still sunscreen but you can boost your natural UV resistance from the inside out.

Carotenoids provide protection from UVA and UVB ray damage by removing oxidized molecules during the process of photosynthesis. This gives many plants their red, yellow or orange color.

Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes. The best way to add lycopene in your diet is consuming tomato juice, tomato paste or tomato soup. While cooking tomatoes decreases vitamin C, it greatly increases the amount of lycopene. Pairing cooked tomatoes and olive oil, a healthy fat, helps the body better absorb and use this carotenoid.

How's that for a great reason to have a Sunday brunch Bloody Mary?

Other fruits and vegetables containing lycopene are bell peppers, carrots, papaya, pink grapefruit and watermelon. Eating these foods won't provide anyone with enough natural sunscreen so be sure you still slather up!