Can Food Provide Natural Sun Protection?

Can eating certain foods help prevent sun damage?

Research suggests the answer is YES! Now don’t go throwing away your sunscreen yet, food is not a complete substitute for sun protection. Applying sunscreen before UV exposure will always be your best defense. However, when God created this earth, He did not overlook the details. He knew just what He was doing when He created the beautiful red bounty of fruits and vegetables in the time that the sun is the closest, hottest, and longest of the day. Those spring and summer foods with the reddish hue contain a chemical compound called lycopene.

What is lycopene, and does it really protect you from sun damage?

Besides being a chemical compound, lycopene is a natural red carotenoid pigment found in many foods that is responsible for giving them their red hue and possesses antioxidant properties that may slow aging. (1)  It can also be extracted and used to add color to other food products such as sauces, soups and even soft candies! (After all, who hasn’t had a food stain caused by tomato sauce, which is very high in lycopene…go figure!)

The biggest reason to get enough lycopene during the summer months, is for the inside-out protection it can provide through regular consumption. Lycopene helps destroy free radicals and fights cell damage, particularly from UV rays. In one 12 week study of 20 healthy women, researchers concluded that lycopene provided protection against severe and potentially longer-term aspects of photodamage in the test subjects that consumed tomato paste (containing 16 mg lycopene) daily. (2)

What are some fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of lycopene?

• Watermelon

• Guava

    

• Tomato

    

• Pink or Red Grapefruit

   

• Strawberry

• Papaya

• Sweet red bell pepper

• Rose Hips (most commonly found in herbal teas)

What are the benefits of consuming watermelon?

Although there are many benefits of consuming these tasty foods, such as vitamins and antioxidants, during the summer months, lycopene may be the most important reason. Watermelon is at the top of the lycopene level, topping out with a whopping 12.7 grams per 2 cups, cubed.(3) Also having an impressive 92% volume of water, (hence the name?) it’s no wonder the super-hydrating and sweet tasting watermelon has come to be known as America’s all-time summertime fruit.

Watermelon has a special place in my heart for a few reasons. For starters, it was the first fruit I tried growing on my own in our garden. (If I remember correctly, I maybe was 14 or 15 years old?) I planted Jubilee’s and Sugar Babies from seed and followed the directions on the packet to a tee. mounding up the dirt to make sure the soil drained well and planting them 3-5 feet apart, keeping them watered and weed free. Waiting with anticipation, it so was exciting when they poked out of the ground and especially thrilling to see them take shape into miniature melons, getting their stripes and growing their tiny curly-Q vines! After several weeks, I was a very proud watermelon parent, and the entire process brought me a great sense of accomplishment. I would recommend for any parent to teach or allow your children experiment growing something from seed, it’s a wonderful learning experience.

I was extremely fortunate that the deer didn’t find them before they were ripe…and speaking of ripe, the best way to test for ripeness is to thump the watermelon and listen for a deep, hollow sound and also the heavier, the juicier! Sun-kissed watermelon grown on your own is the best!

The second reason watermelon is so dear to my heart is it brings to mind my late uncle Benny, who grew THE BEST watermelons, hands down. He was the ultimate watermelon whisperer and his were the juiciest and sweetest! 🍉😋 I have dedicated a few watermelon recipes to him. He was a hardworking, good ol’ country boy and I’m sure these refreshing recipes would have hit the spot for him after a long hard day of work:

Recipes using watermelon:

Watermelon Mint Popsicles

Talk about a super cool treat, these will definitely give you that invigorating cooling sensation and naturally sweet satisfying taste. Bursts of flavorful blueberries mimic watermelon seeds and add nutritional value and antioxidants. Find the easy recipe for these Watermelon Mint Popsicles by clicking HERE.

Watermelon Tea Popsicles

Made with just two ingredients, watermelon and herbal tea, these are refreshing and full of lycopene to help prevent sun damage. Find the recipe HERE.

Watermelon Kiwi Quencher

Full of vitamins, electrolytes and lycopene, this Watermelon Kiwi Quencher drink is just what anyone needs to replenish themselves after a long day of playing or working outside. Find the recipe HERE.

In Conclusion:

Even though you might not be heading out for a sunbathing day at the beach or pool, the sun will seek you out in places you might not even think of. Ears, necks, ankles, feet, and face are much overlooked areas of our bodies that can be easily exposed and left for sun damage, especially during the long days of summer. Always use a sunscreen everyday as your first defense, but try adding foods with lycopene to your summer diet as a backup measure to assist with preventing sun damage and get your youthful “glow on” in a different way, for years to come!

Have a safe and super summer!

💜Julie