Summer brings to mind fun days at the beach, family vacations, baseball games, and lots of other outdoor activities. What doesn’t always come to mind is UV safety, and since July is UV Safety Month, it’s a good reminder that while we’re enjoying the best of summer fun, we also need to pay attention to protecting our skin. The obvious ways to protect your skin from the sun include applying (and reapplying) sunscreen and wearing a hat or long sleeves. But you might not know that certain phytonutrients, natural plant chemicals that enhance health, can also protect your skin against the negative effects of the sun.
Enjoying Summer Sun Safely: Think Bioflavonoids
One group of phytonutrients that research has found effective in supporting skin health and resiliency are flavonoids and bioflavonoids, plant pigments and compounds that are beneficial for health. Some act as scavengers for free radicals (the toxic results of oxygen metabolism), absorb UVA rays, and reduce damage to DNA in cells.
Researchers in a number of countries have reported the positive effects of bioflavonoids. In one Italian study, drinking tea every day and eating lots of vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits, reduced the likelihood of developing cutaneous melanoma, a common skin cancer. An Australian study looked at tea consumption and the corresponding reduction in the development of a precancerous skin condition called actinic skin damage. Clinical trials in the US revealed both short-term and long-term benefits from consuming bioflavonoids. The short-term benefits were increased circulation and hydration to the skin along with less skin roughness and scaling. The long-term benefits included decreased incidence of sunburn by 15% after 6 weeks of treatment and a reduction of 25% after 12 weeks of treatment.
While eating bioflavonoid-rich foods is optimal, sometimes it is difficult to consume enough to achieve the desired effects. This is where CardioMender, MD Nutraceuticals can help. The Bioflavonoid Antioxidant dietary supplement provides citrus-based bioflavonoids such as quercetin and rutin. One tablet daily offers 510mg of a citrus bioflavonoid antioxidant blend that is free of citric acid and grapefruit. Another CardioMender, MD Nutraceutical you might consider is the Hair Max Nails & Skin dietary supplement. Three capsules daily include 75mg Lemon Bioflavonoid Complex along with Vitamin C (known for its antioxidant properties) and other nutrients which support the growth of healthy hair, skin, and nails.
Even though we don’t like to think about the potential dangers of too much sun, we need reminders to take control of our health. When enjoying outdoor activities in the sun, make sure you take the right steps to minimize the negative effects of too much UV radiation. Along with sunscreen, hats, and appropriate clothing, consider increasing your consumption of tea, vegetables, and fruits. And if you need a little help getting enough bioflavonoids to offset any negative effects of the sun on your skin, we can help. Check out CardioMender, MD Nutraceuticals, especially the Bioflavonoid Antioxidant and the Hair Max Nails & Skin supplements!
References
Evans, J.A., & Johnson, E.J. (2010). The role of phytonutrients in skin health. Nutrients, 2(8), 903-928. doi: 10.3390/nu2080903
