Cosmopolitan

Friday, August 20, 2010

The sunscreen diet

Apparently sunscreen isn’t the only thing that can protect you from the suns harsh rays – your diet can too.

Researchers from Israel have revealed that a diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, like the diet eaten in Mediterranean regions (where melanoma rates are extremely low despite all the sunshine) may help reduce your skin cancer risk.

The foods eaten on the so-called "Mediterranean diet," (which isn't really a diet at all – it just involves just eating like people in the Mediterranean do, which means lots of fish, veggies, nuts, olive oil, and healthy dairy, like Greek yogurt!) is not only good for your heart, but may help you live longer and recently has been linked with a lower prevalence of skin cancer.

The rates of skin cancer are on the rise (scary), particularly in Australia, and according to ScienceDaily, "The sun's rays damage both the skin and the immune system by penetrating the skin and causing photo-oxidation, affecting both the cells themselves and the body's ability to repair any damage."

Basically the diet encourages you to "go Greek" with Greek foods in order to fight the oxidizing effect of the sun.

It’s worth a shot, but with Australia’s sunny climate, we recommend combining the diet with your SPF 30+, just to be on the safe side!

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