Summer is officially here!  (At least in England.)  The weather has been amazing the last two weeks.  I really hope it sticks around for a while.

However, with the sun comes some responsibility to take care of your skin.  We are all aware that we’re supposed to wear sun cream while in the sun…and reapply every couple of hours or after swimming…etc.  But, what else can we do?  Can our diets help protect our skin?

Absolutely.

I believe that what we put into our bodies can do magic.  Not literally, but I think proper nutrition makes a great difference in all aspects of our health – our immune system is stronger, we maintain normal weight more easily, we have better concentration, and the list goes on.

Anyway, I read an interesting article today, which suggests 3 fruits to eat to help protect our skin against sun damage.  So, I thought it was worth sharing, from www.realage.com:

Eat These 3 Fruits for Great Summer Skin

Slather on that SPF every chance you get this summer. But for extra sun protection points, eat plenty of these fruits as well: cherries, nectarines, and watermelon.

These juicy treats not only cool your mouth in warm weather but may shield your skin from warm weather, too. Compounds in the fruits may boost your skin’s natural resilience against wrinkles and sun damage, according to Allison Tannis, author of Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles.

In-Season Skin Savers
What’s so special about this trio of fruits? Check out their unique protective benefits.

• Cherries: Eat a daily handful and you may enjoy fresher, less puffy skin. It’s all thanks to the inflammation-fighting anthocyanins and melatonin in cherries, writes Tannis. Melatonin may boost UV protection and cell growth as well — two great ways to keep wrinkles at bay. Tart cherries tend to be highest in melatonin. 
• Nectarines: These smooth-skinned sisters of the peach provide a mini-spa’s worth of nutrients that may help correct sun damage from the inside out, according to Tannis. They offer skin goodies like lycopene, lutein, niacin, copper, and vitamins A, C, and E. The A, C, and E trio also works to control inflammation and free radical damage in both the watery and the fatty layers of skin. 
• Watermelon: Nibbling on watermelon wedges has the power to refresh your face as much as your palate, thanks to the high water and lycopene content. Lycopene helps protect and preserve connections between skin cells so skin is tighter, smoother, and better able to retain moisture.

To your health,

Kimberly