Eat your Sunblock this summer?

Of course I don't actually mean EAT your sunblock, but there are loads of ways you can prepare yourself for a long hot summer from the inside. Protect yourself by including as many skin friendly foods in your diet as possible. Interestingly these foods are more available in the summer time. (Isn't nature amazing?)

• Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that fight off free radicals which can damage skin. They're also a major source of vitamin C to help prevent wrinkles from a day on the beach.
  
• Walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flax are all loaded with omega-3 essential fatty acids. Our bodies can’t make this skin loving fat on it's own, so it’s super important we get it through our foods. I have the hemp cream, but eating hemp is a lot better for your body to help fight aging. (Did I mention that I am all about not aging??)
  
• Carrots + leafy greens convert beta carotene into vitamin A, which is vital for skin health. Vitamin A is a natural retinol your body and skin will love.
  
• Green tea has been found to reduce skin damage from UVA light and protect our bodies from the decrease in collagen. At my age, firmness is what I need more than anything else, so Matcha Me Green baby!
  
• Cauliflower is a naturally sun-protective food thanks to histidine. This amino acid stimulates the production of urocanic acid, which absorbs UV radiation so eating more cauliflower is not only low carb, but saves your skin too.
• Watermelon is rich in lycopene, making it the perfect choice to protect your skin from sunburn and the chances of developing skin cancer. And who doesn't love a big ole slice of watermelon on a hot day?
• Tomatoes are also full of lycopene, and also abundant in summer. So make sure you are eating that bruschetta, caprese salad and other tomato dishes every day you can. Cooked tomatoes contain even more lycopene than fresh ones so go the tinned tomatoes where possible. Lycopene has other health benefits including improving the heart health and preventing diabetes. According to a study, if you eat four tablespoons of tomato paste in olive oil each day for three months it will protect you against sunburn. (Now there's a foodie challenge for me!)
• Oats; probably not the first food you think to eat in the summer, but try to use oats in a smoothie if you just cannot face the idea of a hot bowl of porridge. Oats contain free radical fighting antioxidant called avenanthramides that cannot be found in any other food.
• Cucumbers are mostly water which of course helps your skin stay hydrated. They also help you produce collagen, which will naturally fight skin cancer.
• Chocolate! Dark chocolate is the one to eat during the summer as it contains antioxidants called flavonoids (just like green tea). It makes your skin smoother and protect from the sun's radiation. Eat chocolate that is more than 70% for the best benefits...now don't say I never give you anything!