The Best Foods to Prevent Skin Cancer
The old adage, “You are what you eat,” holds true in many ways. But did you know it can even apply to skin cancer prevention? It turns out that the foods we choose to put on our plate can affect the health of the skin. This is true for all kinds of skin cancer, from basal and squamous cell skin cancer to the much more threatening melanoma. To understand how this rather complex process works, we must delve into the world of free radicals and antioxidants. This article will explain both of these concepts to show that there are indeed foods to prevent skin cancer and other types of illness as well.
Free Radicals: An Important Part Of Food to Prevent Skin Cancer
Free radicals are substances found in the environment and our own bodies. They are lurking in environmental pollution, cigarette smoke and the sun’s rays. These free radicals can get under our skin, quite literally, and affect basic bodily functions. Free radicals have been blamed for everything from accelerating the effects of aging to increasing the risk of some diseases. Skin cancer is one of the diseases that can be caused by free radicals, particularly when talking about the harmful rays of the sun. The good news is that there are foods to prevent skin cancer by attacking those dangerous free radicals and stripping them of their dangerous power.
Antioxidants
Enter the fearless superheroes, the antioxidants. These nutrients can effectively combat the effects of free radicals, by keeping our bodies healthy and our skin glowing. Did you know a war like this was waging in your own body? The good news is that there is something you can do to tip the odds in the favor of those brave antioxidants. This is where the right foods to prevent skin cancer come into play. You can choose foods high in antioxidants to keep your body healthy and your immune system strong.
Where to Find Antioxidants
Antioxidants are found in many of the foods we eat, especially those found in the produce department. For foods to prevent skin cancer, check out berries of all kinds, including strawberries, blackberries, cranberries and blueberries. Another good source of foods to prevent skin cancer is found in the yellow and orange fruits and vegetables like cantaloupe and carrots. You can also find a high antioxidant content in beans and nuts. If you prefer, you can get your antioxidants from supplementation, but this is usually not as effective as eating the food to prevent skin cancer.
While your diet may not be able to prevent all illnesses, it can certainly play a part in protecting you from some. If you are looking for foods to prevent skin cancer, start with those all important antioxidants. Your skin will thank you.