InnerMovement
A Five-Star Wellness Center
Call Today:
(818) 549-1300
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Happy Summer, Sunshine!
At InnerMovement our patients have been talking about vacations, kids camps and all kinds of
FUN in the SUN
activities! So we thought it would be a great benefit to learn about
9 FOODS that can heal & protect our skin from
Sun exposure
.
Eating these nine foods will not only protect the skin from sun damage, these foods can also help heal skin that has already been burned. WOW!
The hard working outer layer of our skin (epidermis) is a
highly regenerative barrier
that protects the body from the external environment, including protection from UV radiation and pollution. Evidence suggests that
diet can significantly alter how the skin responds to sun
exposure.
Yet another great reason to eat more fruits & veggies!
Skin-healthy foods should be enjoyed raw (when possible) to benefit from their bioactive nutrients.
However, if you don't like eating any of these skin healthy foods, your skin can also benefit from using them topically.
One of my friends loves to slather skin healthy foods on her face whenever cooking with them. And her skin looks AMAZING!
We hope you add some of these skin healthy foods to your diet & your kids diet this summer and experience the healing benefit of natural UV protection!
Looking forward to hearing more about your
Summer Fun!
Until our next visit,
Dr Heidi & the staff at InnerMovement
Note: Although these foods help naturally mitigate UV damage to the skin, reasonable precautions should still be taken on hot days, such as using an all natural sun cream, wearing a sun hat and UV protective clothing, as well as refraining from going out in the midday sun.
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9 Foods
with
UV Protection
&
Skin Healing
Benefits
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1. Guava
When we think of vitamin C, oranges often come to mind. However, there’s a tropical fruit that contains five times as much vitamin C as oranges. Guava is overflowing with vitamin C - providing a massive 419% of the daily value (DV). Vitamin C-rich foods protect the skin from sun damage because the antioxidants act as a photoprotectant. Vitamin C also helps to produce collagen.
2. Sweet Potatoes
Carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and lycopene, give fruits and vegetables a vibrant orange color and also provide the skin with antioxidants that act as a protective shield against solar rays. The body converts the phytonutrient beta-carotene to vitamin A, which has been shown to reduce sunburn. Beta-carotene also encourages the body to produce melanin which helps protect the skin from sun exposure. All potatoes contain high amounts of starch, which is thought to draw the heat out of the skin. For this reason, potatoes can be used topically to soothe sunburn.
3. Strawberries
Strawberries are a great natural sun block as they contain 108% DV of vitamin C as well as ellagic acid, which both mop up free radicals and reduce pigmentation caused by sun damage. The Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry
published a paper
on the photoprotective properties of strawberries. They stated that the anthocyanins in strawberries (flavonoids that give fruits their red color) might be the compound responsible for the fruit’s photoprotective properties.
4. Green Tea
Green tea can be consumed internally or applied externally to soothe sunburn, while providing a wide range of healing benefits that range from detoxification, reducing blood pressure and enhancing relaxation. When it comes to the skin, green tea promotes DNA repair due to the polyphenol Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). Green tea also contains catechins, which are polyphenols that have antibacterial qualities and help support healthy inflammatory pathways. Green tea is packed with vitamins B2 and E that hydrate and protect the skin.
All of the foods listed above can be used topically or ingested to yield skin-healthy benefits.
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Go outside and enjoy the sun, but don’t forget to pack your cooler with Photoprotective foods!
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5. Oatmeal
Oatmeal soothes sunburn due to its antioxidant, antifungal and moisturizing properties. Oatmeal contains free radical scavengers called saponins. Oatmeal also stimulates T-cell production - boosting the immune system and helping regenerate the skin. Oatmeal can be mixed with water and used topically on sunburn or as an exfoliator prior to sun exposure.
6. Cucumber
Cucumber helps the body produce collagen, the main structural protein in the skin. 96% of a cucumber is water, so cucumber is extremely hydrating. To benefit from cucumber’s skin care qualities the peel should also be consumed. The peel contains silica that firms up the skin. Additionally cucumber contains vitamin C, caffeic acid, potassium and vitamin K. Vitamin K helps the skin heal, so is great for soothing sunburn. Caffeic acid is high in antioxidants and helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and DNA damage.
7. Tomatoes
Similar to strawberries, tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a carotenoid that gives the tomato its red color. Lycopene is an antioxidant that protects the skin from cellular damage. Tomatoes are also high in vitamin C – just one cup of tomato juice provides 188.9% DV of vitamin C. Tomatoes are also rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and help balance the body’s pH.
One study
showed how the phytochemicals in tomatoes mitigated sunburn in animal models.
8. Water
melon
92% of watermelon is water, so they are great for keeping the skin hydrated. Watermelon is also filled with skin-healthy nutrients like vitamins A, B6 and C. Watermelon also contains the antioxidant lycopene and the amino acid arginine. Both help protect the skin from photoaging while aiding in blood flow and protein formation.
9. Carrots
Carrots are bursting with beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. Beta-carotene also reduces inflammation from sunburn. Sun exposure creates additional free radicals so the vitamin C from carrots is also great to protect the skin from sun damage. Carotenoids signal gene expression at a cellular level and offer
photoprotective qualities
that can mitigate sun damage.
All of the foods listed above can be used topically or ingested to yield skin-healthy benefits.
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Want
Glowing skin?
Detox Regularly
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Skin Healthy Supplement
to Pick up on your next visit....
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BioProtect : Packed with Antioxidants, Carotenoids , Nutrients & Enzymes to protect, hydrate & deflame
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Beta Carotene,
the major precursor of vitamin A, is a powerful lipid-soluble antioxidant able to quench singlet oxygen and to inhibit free radical chain reactions. Beta carotene is aided by other carotenoids to block free radicals and to boost the immune system. Recent studies indicate that natural mixed carotenoids (including isomers of beta carotene) are better absorbed and function as more effective antioxidants than synthetic (all trans) beta carotene. Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family which imparts a healthy red color to fruits and vegetables. Lycopene is not found in the natural mixed carotenoids found in the sea algae Dunaliella salina. BioProtect™ blends the lycopene produced from specially bred and cultivated tomatoes with the natural mixed carotenoids isolated from Dunaliella salina. Unlike the synthetic beta carotene or mixed carotenoids found in other products, BioProtect™ provides a full spectrum blend of the natural carotenoids, beta carotene, alpha carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, crytoxanthin, and lutein. Biotics Research Corporation was the first supplement manufacturer to incorporate natural, mixed carotenoids throughout its product line.
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Vitamin C.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a versatile water soluble antioxidant found in blood and tissues. Several organs and cell types, including adrenal glands and lymphoytes, accumulate high levels of vitamin C. Elevated serum vitamin C is associated with enhanced immune function, reduced heavy metal toxicity and increased liver clearance of toxins. Ingested vitamin C can inhibit the formation of nitrosamines and fecal mutagens. As an example of the synergistic effects of antioxidants, vitamin C can recycle vitamin E. Recent saturation studies indicate that the RDA for vitamin C should be increased to at least 200 mg for healthy young adults.
Coenzyme-Q10,
Emulsified. This lipid soluble nutrient is believed to protect mitochondrial membrane lipids from oxidation. As part of the electron transport system in mitochondria, coenzyme-Q10 plays an important role in oxidative phosphorylation. Suboptimal coenzyme-Q10 levels impair mitochondrial respiration and ATP production, especially in aging heart muscle. Clinical studies have shown that emulsification increases the efficiency of coenzyme-Q10 absorption by up to three fold.
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Vitamin E,
Emulsified. Vitamin E functions as the body’s major lipid-soluble antioxidant. It quenches free radicals and singlet oxygen, and it protects membrane lipids against free radical attack, and it reduces LDL oxidation in vitro. Vitamin E blocks the formation of nitrosamines and also enhances the immune system, including activation of phagocytic activity of white cells in elderly patients.
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Glutathione (GSH).
GSH quenches free radicals and helps regulate the redox balance of cells. The important defensive enzyme glutathione peroxidase employs GSH to reduce lipid peroxides and hydrogen peroxide. Glutathione transferase detoxifies potentially damaging chemicals as part of the phase 2 liver detoxification system. Consequently, toxic exposure can deplete the liver of GSH.
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