Winter veggies can help protect the skin from UV rays

During winter, the damaging effect of UV rays is heightened due to less humidity and a cloudless sky. However, winter vegetables are a great way to protect your skin from UV rays. Here are a few examples:

Red bell peppers repair the damage
Medium-sized red bell peppers provide more than 200 percent of the daily value of vitamin C. Eating more vitamin C-rich foods may help protect skin cells from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Researchers suggested that vitamin C can promote the repair of DNA that’s been damaged by UV rays.

Red tomatoes
Lycopene, the carotinoid that makes tomatoes red, can protect your skin from sunburn. A study showed that intake of 2.5 tablespoons of tomato paste daily can reduce the UV rays damage up to 50%. The same study also showed, lycopene supplement or synthetic lycopene weren’t significantly effective against sunburn.

Colourful Carrots
Carrots contain the carotenoids beta carotene and lycopene — both of which may shield your skin against UV damage. In one study, participants who were exposed to UV light had almost 50% less skin reddening after they drank about 1 ⅔ cups of carrot juice daily.

Green spinach
Spinach contains lutein, a carotenoid that protects your skin from UV damage. A new research about spinach, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reveals that spinach stored continuously under the light for three days boasted higher levels of vitamin C and preserved levels of vitamin K, E, folate and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

Source: dhakatribune.com