(beep)
Pack your pomegranate, kids. We’re headed to the beach.
(beep)
(heart thumping)
Thousands of people are gearing up for the summer and sure to
have plans to make their way to the beach and soak up some sun,
six-feet socially distanced, of course.
Sunblock might be the most effective way
to prevent sunburn and harm caused by UVA and UVB rays.
But did you know there are certain foods that you can actually eat as
an added prevention from getting a sunburn?
Hey, everyone.
I’m Doctor Wagner.
I am a board-certified Emergency Physician, and on my show, I answer your urgent medical
questions and clear up myths about certain ailments and deadly diseases
If you haven’t already done so, please make
sure to hit that subscribe button now and turn your bell notifications on.
That way, you’re instantly alerted whenever I post a new video.
First, what is a sunburn?
A sunburn is the skin’s natural response to
extreme ultraviolet (UV) rays and indicates severe damage.
Within as little as ten minutes of UV exposure,
your skin acts as a defense against these harmful rays.
You probably experience a lot of redness as the skin is fighting off these UV rays.
This is the body’s inflammatory response.
Blood vessels are dilating and screaming, “HELP ME!”
The skin will then start to lose moisture and hydration,
which will result in it feeling tight.
Slowly, skin cells will start to thicken and the pigments within
your skin will darken in an attempt to stop the UV rays from penetrating
through to the deeper layers and damaging the DNA of the cells.
Aka a tan or a sunburn.
So, what six foods can you eat to prevent a sunburn?
Let’s dive right in.
Number one: Red wine
No, I’m not lying.
And obviously disclaimer you should be over the age of 21 if you live
in the United States before drinking wine.
Not only does it combat the sun’s harmful UV rays, but it also works over-time to prevent melanoma.
Red wine assists in building up your antioxidant storage
and is packed with a nutrient called flavonoid.
In nerd terms, flavonoids prevent the skin from forming
something called reactive oxygen species, or ROS.
According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, these molecules exert
a variety of harmful effects by altering key cellular functions and may result in cell death.
But it should be said that if you drink too much red wine,
that may come with a whole list of other complications.
Liver damage, dehydration, etc.
So please, everything in moderation, people.
Number two: Sweet potato
I had mentioned earlier that the sun dehydrates you.
And when you become dehydrated, your body naturally craves sweets.
Don’t opt for candy or ice cream impulsively when craving something sweet,
instead, opt for a more healthy continuous food, like a sweet potato.
Not only is a sweet potato a sugar craving cruncher,
but it’s also jam-packed with beta-carotene which is useful
in building a defense shield against the sun.
Number three: Pomegranates
Those little suckers are packed with antioxidants
that protect your skin’s protective lipid barrier from free radicals.
A study conducted by Texas A&M reported that pomegranate seeds protect cells from
being damaged or destroyed after exposure from UVA and UVB rays.
Number four: Strawberries
According to a study conducted by an assistant professor at the Vanavarayar Institute of
Agriculture in Pollachi, India, vitamin C plays a main role in fighting against
free radical species that are the main cause of numerous negative skin changes.
Pack a container of these bad boys in your beach
bag and pop ‘em in your mouth as you soak up the rays beachside.
Number five: Avocados
Avocados are potent with vitamin E, similar to vitamin C.
Vitamin E is also a potent antioxidant that protects your skin against free
radical damage that could be caused by the sun.
Not to mention, vitamin E is also a key player in anti-aging.
So, when you eat an avocado not only are you potentially preventing your
skin from wrinkles brought on by UVA rays,
you are also combating the effects of biological aging as well.
Hey! Which one’s cheaper: avocados or botox?
I’m the doctor, but I’ll let you be the judge on that one.
And finally, Number six: Salmon
The chances of catching a glimpse of a wild salmon at the beach are slim to none.
You might want to consider packing these Omega-3 vertebrae when planning your next beach trip.
Notoriously known for improving the risk of heart disease,
a small British study discovered that fish rich in Omega-3s shield
against sunburn and any changes in the DNA that might lead to cancer.
That’s it for this video.
Please leave me a comment below,
if your go-to summertime snacks have changed after watching this video.
And as a reminder, these are not a replacement for sunblock.
Outside of not going out in the sun,
sunblock is the best way to protect your skin against the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up.
Thank you so much for watching.
Until next time, I’m Doctor Wagner,
Stay healthy my friends.