Weird Supermarket Secret BEATS Sunburn

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted March 11, 2023

In the winter, we tend to ignore the importance of protecting our skin from the sun’s powerful rays.

But where I live, in Colorado, I see many folks come down from the ski areas with “raccoon eyes.” This happens when skiers’ faces burn, but the areas around their eyes remain pale because they wear goggles.

People are often surprised that they must protect their skin from the sun, even in winter and when it’s cloudy. But the fact is, powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays pass right through those clouds!

This means that even in winter, you CAN get a sunburn if you’re not careful.

If you spend a long time outside with snow on the ground (especially at higher elevations), it’s even more likely. After all, snow is highly reflective of UV radiation.

Now, you might think the next thing I’ll tell you is to slather on some sunscreen.

But you’d be wrong.

In fact, I’ve warned Living Well Daily readers about the dangers of the chemicals in most sunscreens MANY times before. Whatever chemicals you put ON your skin will most likely end up IN your body.

And to be clear, having chemicals in your bloodstream is NOT a good thing.

So, what can you do? Well, practicing good “sun hygiene” is the first step.  It means limiting your exposure by going indoors or putting on clothing that covers exposed skin after you’ve been out there for a while.

But there’s ANOTHER skin-protecting trick you can try. It may sound weird at first. And it requires a visit to the produce aisle.

To help ward off sunburn, head to the grocery store and buy some grapes.

A recent study published in the journal Antioxidants found that eating grapes can protect against UV light damage to the skin.

Volunteers ate two and one-quarter cups of grapes daily for two weeks. And at the end of the two weeks, the participant’s skin showed increased resistance to sunburn.

You see, one of the best ways to protect your skin is to use your body’s own natural defense system: antioxidants. And the researchers found that the polyphenols in grapes, which act as antioxidants in the body, were responsible for their protective qualities.

Over three million Americans get skin cancer every year. So it’s great news that something as simple as eating grapes can give you some extra natural protection against sunburn.

But don’t stop there. I’ve got some more sun tips for you, starting with why you SHOULDN’T be avoiding the sun:

• Balance your sun exposure: Most mainstream doctors will tell you to hide from the sun, stay indoors, and slather yourself in high-SPF sunscreen before you step outside. The fact is, sun-derived vitamin D is critical for good health, and sunshine is needed for healthy skin. Instead, I suggest you get out in the morning and/or evening and limit midday sun.
• Use natural sun protection: While avoiding sunscreen is the best way to keep your skin healthy, sometimes your work or play keeps you outside all day. These are the times to use natural sunscreen. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen database for safer alternatives.
• Stop inflammation: Too much inflammation can destroy your skin from the inside. Reduce chronic inflammation by avoiding vegetable oils and eating only butter, olive, and avocado oils. Sugar is also a culprit. The sweet stuff creates harmful chemicals called Advance Glycation End products (AGEs). AGEs destroy collagen in your skin. Limit sugar as much as you can.
• Vitamins and antioxidants: Healthy skin needs lots of good nutrients, including beta-carotene, polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamin C (which is essential to building collagen), and vitamins E, D, and K.
• Alcohol and smoking: Both alcohol and smoking damage the skin. Limit your drinking (or ditch it altogether) and quit smoking,

Protect your skin all year long with these easy-to-implement tips.

P.S. Our body produces vitamin D when the sun’s rays hit our skin. But fear of the sun and spending too much time indoors has led to widespread vitamin D deficiency. And now scientists are warning that could have DEADLY consequences.

Source:

“Short-Term Grape Consumption Diminishes UV-Induced Skin Erythema” by John M. Pezzuto, Asim Dave, Eun-Jung Park, Diren Beyoğlu and Jeffrey R. Idle, 30 November 2022, Antioxidants. DOI: 10.3390/antiox11122372

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND