'SPF-diet' that protects your skin from harmful sunrays revealed

Image
ANI London
Last Updated : Jul 11 2014 | 11:35 AM IST

A new research has found that eating particular fruits and vegetables daily, such as blueberries, kale and spinach can help one's skin build up a natural barrier to the sun's harmful rays.

Scientists have discovered that certain pigment-rich fruits and vegetables, which includes Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Blackberries, Black grapes, Figs, Oranges, Butternut squash, Dark green peppers, Kale and Spinach, have special compounds that can help protect skin from harmful UV rays, the Daily Express reported.

Researchers have placed an SPF value on diets, known as a Continual Dietary-Sun Protection Factor (CD-SPF) and said that CD-SPF could be a useful tool alongside appropriate sun cream use in achieving healthy skin all year round.

Dermatologist Iaisha Ali said that a form of base SPF from dietary and supplement sources would provide a degree of protection during relatively short sun cream-free times when invaluable Vitamin D production takes place naturally.

Scientists also found that to obtain SPF10 from diet alone, one would need to consume a portion of kale and almost a kilo of black seedless grapes daily and while eating these "super" foods contributes to protection from the sun's harmful rays, very few people actually eat enough of them on a daily basis to achieve a base level CD-SPF through diet alone.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 11 2014 | 11:23 AM IST

Next Story