Health Preservation: Eat More Red and Yellow Fruits and Vegetables in Summer
During summer, around the time of Minor Heat, the sun is scorching hot. The skin that has just been whitened after a winter's protection is about to be sent back to its original state. This causes great distress for beauty-conscious women. In fact, in addition to applying sunscreen, many foods also contain "sun protection" ingredients, so it's a good idea to eat more of them during summer.
The first recommendation is red and yellow fruits and vegetables. Their color comes from lycopene, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. Tomatoes, carrots, papayas, sweet potatoes, and citrus fruits are all examples. These fruits and vegetables are also rich in vitamin C, which is a "timeless holy grail for beautiful skin," possessing strong antioxidant properties that can enhance the skin's resistance.
A British study found that consuming 16 mg of lycopene daily can reduce the risk of sunburn by 40%, and carotenoids can effectively block ultraviolet rays. Researchers also awarded the title of "best sun protection food" to tomatoes.
Eating more red and yellow fruits and vegetables, as well as dark green leafy vegetables, can also help alleviate and repair tissue damage from sun exposure. Supplementing with antioxidants, such as 1 gram of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 15 mg of beta-carotene daily, can also effectively repair sunburn.
In addition, red and yellow fruits and vegetables also have anti-aging and anti-cancer effects. Take tomatoes, for example. A study at the University of Manchester found that when skin is exposed to the sun and damaged by ultraviolet rays, it ages prematurely. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which can effectively combat free radicals.
In recent years, multiple studies have also proven the anti-cancer effects of lycopene and carotenoids. A 30-year survey of 1,899 middle-aged men by the University of Chicago School of Medicine showed a close relationship between prostate diseases and the concentration level of lycopene in the body. The lower the intake, the higher the risk of developing prostate diseases. The American Institute for Cancer Research points out that lycopene can also reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. Furthermore, men who eat more tomatoes and supplement with vitamin E can help maintain prostate health.