Food as sunscreen

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Now that the warmer weather has arrived, it's time to remind everyone that applying a good sunscreen before heading outdoors will reduce your risk of skin cancer and prevent premature skin aging. Foods such as avocados and tomatoes can also help protect your skin--but I'm not suggesting that you smear yourself with guacamole!

Eating certain nutrients can help protect your skin from the inside. Vitamins C and E are particularly effective in preventing and repairing ultraviolet damage to the skin.  Eating foods rich in these nutrients has actually been shown to help prevent or lessen the extent of a sunburn!

Here's the tricky part: These vitamins are much more effective together than either is by itself, but there aren't many foods that are high in both nutrients. Foods high in vitamin C include red and green bell peppers, guava, kale, parsley, collard greens, turnips, and broccoli.  Vitamin E is found in wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, safflower and sunflower oils, almonds, and avocados.

To give your skin maximum protection, you'll need to combine foods from both groups.  Guacamole with fresh red and green pepper strips would make a delicious, skin-loving snack! Try this guacamole recipe from Epicurious.com. Or, how about a crisp broccoli salad topped with slivered almonds? Here's my own personal recipe.   These foods help nourish and protect your skin, but remember to wear your sunscreen, too!