Can foods help protect our skin from the summer’s harmful rays? Jaya Jaya Myra, former immunologist turned mind-body wellness expert and bestselling author, joined us to share 5 sun damage blocking foods to add to your summer diet:

• Watermelon has a high lycopene content that can make your skin more photo-protective over time, absorbing both UVA and UVB radiation, acting like topical sunscreen. Lycopene is also an antioxidant which helps prevent sun damage from occurring, helping ward off skin cancer.
• Dark Chocolate contains flavanols, which improve skin texture and resistance to UV radiation with regular consumption.
• Carrots contain beta-carotene which help protect the skin from UV damage, while supporting skin repair.
• Green Tea and matcha contain catechins, particularly EGCG, and are high in antioxidants which reduces inflammation and DNA damage from sun exposure. Green tea may also prevent photoaging.
• Pomegranate contains ellagic acid and punicalagins, which help inhibit UVB-induced skin damage and pigmentation.

Eat up, and don’t forget your sunscreen for more sun protection!

For more great health information, visit Jaya’s website.