In addition to weight loss, sun protection is a hot topic in the summer. When it comes to sun protection, women rack their brains every year on how to cover their bodies, all in an effort to reduce UV exposure. Some women even buy various brands and types of sunscreen, treating their bodies as a testing ground, which can sometimes lead to skin allergies.
Steamed Loofah with Garlic
2 types of gourds to eat in the summer to prevent skin from getting tanned
Actually, summer sun protection doesn't have to be so complicated. Sunscreens from major brands are largely similar; the key is to understand the sun protection factor (SPF) and PA index. In fact, besides using sunscreen and covering up with clothing, you can also protect your skin from sunburn, tanning, wrinkles, and acne through food. Let's take a look at which types of gourds and beans can help with skin care in the summer.
1. Loofah
Every beauty-conscious woman probably knows that the sap from a loofah has beauty and skin-moisturizing benefits, but many people are put off by its taste. In fact, whether eaten or applied topically, loofah has certain whitening and skin-caring properties. First, loofah is rich in vitamin C, which most women know can inhibit melanin synthesis, thereby providing a whitening and sun-protective effect. At the same time, the B vitamins it contains can prevent skin aging and are effective against skin aging caused by sun exposure.
Secondly, loofah also has anti-allergic properties. Modern research has found that bryonolic acid, discovered in loofah, has anti-allergic effects. Coupled with loofah's antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cooling and analgesic properties, it helps to soothe skin redness, swelling, and allergies caused by sun exposure. Additionally, loofah water is also known as "beauty water." From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, loofah also has the effects of promoting body fluids to quench thirst, relieving summer heat, resolving phlegm, and treating sores. In "Compendium of Materia Medica," it is recorded that a mixture of loofah juice and face powder can be used to treat eczema.
2. Winter Melon
Winter melon is a diuretic and heat-relieving vegetable in the summer, and it is particularly high in vitamins C, B1, B2, and B3. Vitamin C can whiten the skin; vitamins B1 and B3 can treat rough skin and have a regulatory effect on skin damage caused by UVA in UV rays; and vitamin B2 can prevent cheilitis, angular stomatitis, and glossitis.
In addition, winter melon is also a food that beautifies the skin and aids in weight loss. "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that eating winter melon often can "improve one's complexion... and with long-term use, make the body light and slow down aging." "Materia Medica for Dietotherapy" describes it as follows: "For those who want a slim and agile body, they can eat it often."
3 types of beans to eat in the summer to prevent skin from getting tanned
1. Peas
In daily life, people may not eat peas very often, usually using them as a side dish. However, we should not overlook the beauty benefits of peas. First, as early as in the "Compendium of Materia Medica," peas were recorded to "remove dark spots from the face and make it radiant." Modern research has also discovered that the reason for peas' beauty and whitening effects is their rich content of provitamin A, which moisturizes the skin and has a whitening effect, helping to regulate tanning and rough skin caused by UV exposure.
Secondly, peas also contain pisumsaponin, phytohemagglutinin, etc., which have certain anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and skin-metabolism-boosting effects. Therefore, peas can also be used topically as a mask to reduce swelling, relax the skin, and reduce wrinkles. In ancient times, peas were also one of the ingredients used to make "zaodou," a type of cleansing powder.
Stir-fried Peas with Shrimp
2. Potatoes
The biggest difference with potatoes is that they are rich in vitamin C and carotene, which are not found in other grains and coarse grains. The amount of vitamin C in potatoes is 10 times that in apples, and it is heat-stable. It can not only prevent tanning, but the rich B vitamins can prevent skin from aging due to sun exposure, and the vitamin E it contains can remove spots and prevent skin oxidation.
In addition, women are probably no stranger to potato masks. A raw potato mask can effectively whiten and soften the skin, promote the disappearance of melanin, reduce summer sun spots, and treat eczema. A cooked potato mask can relieve skin fatigue and soothe wrinkles. However, if you have sensitive skin or are in the middle of an allergic reaction, it is best not to use a potato mask.
3. Soybeans
Soybeans are a "best friend" for women who want to maintain their youth. On one hand, soybeans are rich in vitamin E and soy isoflavones, which can resist free radical damage to the skin and prevent the appearance of spots. At the same time, they can prevent the accumulation of melanin in the skin, which is helpful for sun protection in the summer. Therefore, drinking soy milk or eating soy products regularly has a dual effect of whitening and anti-aging.
On the other hand, women who often eat soy products can also achieve a better figure. The phytoestrogens can supplement estrogen, aiding in breast enhancement and ovary maintenance, making you more feminine. So, women who feel too skinny to wear a bikini in the summer might as well eat more beans. They help maintain youth and beauty, shape your figure, and also provide protein, calcium, and dietary fiber.
Peas, shrimp
Garlic silk melon