Dietary Interventions for Sun Protection

Food is essential to life, and beyond tasting good, some foods can affect our bodies ability to handle UV-damage. This article will discuss the effect that one’s diet can have on UV damage in the skin, in regard to skin cancer and photoaging. Various foods and dietary regimens will be discussed for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and AGE reduction effects.

Learning Objectives

• Recall the effect that the different UV wavelengths can have on the skin
• Recognize the different active ingredients that can have antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. 
• Distinguish the potential benefits of Beta Carotene, Tomato Paste, Niacinimide, Vitamins C and E, and Polypodium leucotomos
• Review the UV benefits of the Mediterranean diet and the types of food that constitute it.
• Identify the role that AGEs play in inflammation of the skin, and recognize dietary methods to reduce consumption of AGEs
• Recall that fasting forces healthy cells into stress resistance pathways that reduce their destruction in the face of UV damage