8 Foods and Drinks That May Help Prevent Sunburns
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8. Berries
Researchers at Hallym University in South Korea found that topical application of an antioxidant called ellagic acid led to a reduced inflammatory response to UV rays, according to an article from ScienceDaily. Ellagic acid is commonly found in raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries. The acid slowed the release of enzymes that break down collagen in the skin cells of mice and humans over the course of eight weeks. It isn’t clear if the effects are the same when eating berries, so further research is needed.
Foods That May Increase Sun Sensitivity
While you’re adding foods to your diet to help block UV rays, you might want to use extra sunblock if you’re a fan of the following foods, which may have the opposite effect:
Citrus Juice
While citrus fruit and juice are fantastic sources of vitamin C, an essential antioxidant, one study found that white people who consumed large quantities of citrus products were more likely to develop melanoma. Citrus fruits, including lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit, are rich in naturally occurring chemicals called psoralens and furocoumarins, which have been linked to skin cancers. Researchers interviewed subjects over a 25-year span and found that white people who ate grapefruit three times per week or more were at increased risk. Regular orange juice consumption posed less risk, though not insignificant.
Celery Juice
This may be less common in the average diet, but multiple studies over the past two decades show a link between high consumption of psoralen and skin cancer. A study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that “substantial exposure to psoralen [and] ultraviolet A dramatically increases the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer.”
Celery is especially rich in psoralen, though eating the vegetable itself doesn’t present enough of it to be a problem, says Katta. She recommends avoiding celery juice, though, because it can become a concentrated source of psoralen. “I always recommend whole foods over juicing,” she says.
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