Expert Rx

Eat These for a Truly Healthy Tan – UV Free

While overall health is impacted by diet, skin is significantly affected by everything put into the body as well. With summer nearing, you are probably already searching for solutions to help your skin look its best. If you’re the household chef, take a second look at your grocery list before heading off to the super market. To keep your skin looking healthy and naturally glowing throughout the summer without soaking up damaging ultraviolet rays, fill yourself with food and nutrients your skin, and body, will love.

Eating nutrient rich fruits and vegetables that contain beta-carotene gives skin a healthy golden glow, according to a study done at the University of Nottingham. The same study also showed that people found this diet produced skin tone to be more attractive than a tan obtained from UV rays, which can cause skin cancer and premature aging. Beta-carotene is a member of the carotenoids, which are highly pigmented (red, orange, yellow), fat-soluble compounds naturally present in many fruits, grains, oils, and vegetables. It is also an antioxidant that helps reduce damaging compounds produced by daily stress. Beta carotene is not only good for immune system and reproductive health, but it’s the key to healthy glowing skin.

Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey is a huge advocate of eating fruits and vegetables to keep skin looking great. According to Dr. Bailey, not only are fresh fruits and veggies good for a glowing appearance, but by eating these more than dairy, carbohydrates and junk food, other skin problems such as acne can improve as well. Dr. Bailey also recommends purchasing fresh and organic when able because fresh and organically grown produce contains more nutrients. “Eating your fruits and veggies really fresh is key, because beta carotene is fragile and gets lost when the fruits or veggies are processed or stored,” writes Dr. Bailey in her blog post Skip The Tan & Eat Your Veggies For Beautiful Skin Color. Dr. Bailey suggests eating beta carotene foods with a little fat or oil to absorb the beta carotene better.

According to Dr. Bailey, foods high in beta-carotene include:

Yellow/orange vegetables: carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash

Dark green and/or leafy vegetables: kale, broccoli, spinach, collard greens, turnips and their green leaves, beet leaves, mustard and dandelion greens, watercress, cilantro, chicory, endive, escarole

Yellow/orange fruits: apricots, cantaloupes, papayas, mangoes, nectarines, peaches

Also: summer squash, asparagus, peas, sour cherries, prune plums

So instead of tanning at the beach or salon this spring, head to the farmers market or your local foods co-op, and add an abundance of colorful produce to your meals. Create the bulk of your dishes with fresh beta-carotene rich ingredients, and your skin with have a health glow throughout the summer.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nataliemaynor/2539111053/

Disclaimer: The information provided by Coolibar and its contributors is general skin care information and should not be a substitute for obtaining medical advice from your physician and is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific medical problem.

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April 16, 2012
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2 Comments

  • Cynthia Bailey MD, Dermatologist

    What a treat to find my post here. That beta carotene rich warm skin tone is definitely in style and the ashy brown of a UV induced tan is out. It’s why more and more of my patients are loving Coolibar clothing to keep the sun off their skin without needing to apply and reapply sunscreen to skin they can cover with clothing.

    • aoberg

      Hi Dr. Bailey,

      We adore your blog and insights here at Coolibar! And thanks for being a supporter of sun protective clothing!

      Amanda

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