There has been an increase in awareness about the use of chemicals in personal care products and their effects. As a result, there has been more emphasis on researching natural substances. Much of the research only proves knowledge already known from generations past, but there are also very interesting new findings that prove the power of the natural world.
Green Tea polyphenols, a substance rich in antioxidants that forms part of the green tea leaves, has been mainstream news for awhile now. Research continues to be done today for using green tea for many conditions, including sun protection. (Yusuf et al.) Green tea high in polyphenols has shown to provide internal and external protection from UV radiation and in turn, photo aging.
Black tea gel, another ingredient more recently talked about, was studied for its absorption of ultraviolet rays. The study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (Dec. 2007) tested exposed skin of six subjects with an artificial source of UV light. Those participants with black tea gel on their skin were unaffected by the radiation, while the subjects with nothing on their skin started seeing reddening after four hours of exposure. (Turkoglu et al)
Broccoli extract has been studied extensively for its anti-cancerous effects as a food. A recent study has shown that applying broccoli extract topically, which is rich in an antioxidant ingredient called sulphoraphane, gave subjects protection against inflammation and redness caused by UV light. The research showed that instead of absorbing the radiation, the sulphoraphane penetrated the body and helped cells protect themselves against the damages of UV light, even three days after its application. (Talalay et al)
That is why the best kind of protection after all is what you put in your body. Foods like the ones mentioned above, like green tea and broccoli that have been proven to be anti-cancer, are a good start to add to any diet. If those are not to your liking, or you can’t get the kids to eat broccoli, maybe some pasta with tomato sauce will do. Studies have also been done on foods high in carotenoids, such as tomatoes. The research has shown that tomatoes cooked with olive oil, are said to release these carotenoids that can supply the body with some sun protection, what could be an SPF of 2 or 3. (Stahl W. et al)
Other foods or supplements such as algae, like chlorella and spirulina, are often called superfoods for their high nutrient content. The phytochemical Astaxanthin, a component of micro algae, is becoming popular as a supplement because of its high antioxidant value. Research is still being done, but it has been shown to give protection to the skin and eyes against ultraviolet radiation. (Naguib, YM)
Another supplement highly publicized lately is Vitamin D; research shows its importance in protecting against many types of cancer, including skin cancer. (Creighton University School of Medicine. June 2007) In this study supplementation with vitamin D and calcium showed that patients on a 5 year period decreased the incidence of cancers by 77%. More research is being done, but the Canadian Cancer Society has already advised people to supplement with 1000 IU vitamin D daily.
This is especially true for those areas with long winter months, and people who tend to use sun protection all year round, which means nearly no vitamin D at all. Although using protection during high intensity sun exposure may be necessary, it may be better to get that protection from the foods we eat or natural ingredients, than rely on toxic photo protective cosmetics that may be hazardous to your health.
