More on the sun and the skin!

I realize this is a frequent topic and it truly is because it's personal. Personal because I have fair skin and ignored that fact growing up because I wanted the perfect tan. So now I spend a lot of time and money trying to undo the effects of too much sun.

I like Dr Oz and watch his show whenever I'm in front of TV and he's on! Monday's show highlighted three foods that are good for the skin and specifically when it comes to sun damage. Thought I'd share!

Tomatoes: Lycopene is found in tomatoes and is easily absorbed by the skin. Lycopene helps in preventing skin cancers. However, it is not "dietary soluble" which means they need to be cooked for the greatest source of lycopene.

Arugula: Arugula or other "cruciferous" veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy and brussels sprouts have two notable substances that are good for our skin. One is Carotenes which protects against sun damage. The other is chlorophyll which brings large amounts of oxygen to all parts of the body creating an undesirable environment to viruses and harmful bacteria. It also supports healthy skin and limits potential of carcinogens.

Pomegranate fruit: My personal favorite simply because you can eat it and use it topically! An article in Skin magazine written by Kristie Leong MD cited several recent studies showing pomegranate's ability to improve wound healing, resulting in faster repair of skin. It also plays a positive role in the repair of skin damaged due to sun exposure and aging. The study indicates that extracts of pomegranate extends the life of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin.

She pointed out cheaper and more effective alternatives to expensive creams (that have small levels of active ingredients) would be to use a blender to make a thick paste from the seeds and apply to skin. Also buy pomegranate oil or concentrate and apply with cotton ball.

Can't wait to try it.