(NaturalNews) As the weather gets warmer, the more likely there will be instances of sunburn. It may be enjoyable to stay outdoors for a get-together, but the resulting stings of a sunburn are not fun. While methods such as putting plain unsweetened full-fat yogurt or potato peels on the skin are very effective in relieving pain and reducing reddening (1), there are ways to help skin even before a sunburn takes place.

Certain healthy foods have compounds that boost skin's health, and eating them can actually protect the skin from sun damage.

Eat these foods to help protect skin from sunburn

1) Tomatoes

In one study, people who ate a quarter cup of tomato paste every day for 10 weeks were found to have 35 percent less skin reddening when exposed to UV radiation (2). It's believed that a carotenoid in tomatoes, lycopene, may have the ability to keep sun damage at bay.

2) Red grapes

Red grapes are high in quercitrin, which is a flavonoid thought to play a role in reducing UVB radiation. A study published in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology found that quercitrin was responsible for lessening oxidative DNA damage caused by UVB exposure, and able to help protect the skin from related inflammation (3).

3) Strawberries

This tasty fruit is high in vitamin C, which is known to help protect skin. Researchers found that strawberry extract was able to provide skin-saving capabilities including decreasing the amount of DNA skin damage (4) leading many to suggest incorporating more of them in diets.

4) Green tea

Green tea has a host of benefits, including protecting the skin from UV radiation inflammation (2). Thanks to catechins, an antioxidant in green tea leaves, it can help banish toxic free radicals that wreak havoc on the skin.

While it's beneficial for the body to obtain sunshine, especially when it comes to keeping vitamin D levels in check, too much sun, and without proper protection, can harm health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic exposure can drastically change the skin leading to skin aging, loss of elasticity, certain skin cancers and even play a role in cataract development (5).

Sources for this article include:

(1) https://www.naturalnews.com/029019_sunburn_remedies.html

(2) http://www.fitsugar.com/Foods-Fight-Sunburn-1734217

(3) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041008X13001178

(4) http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

(5) http://www.who.int/uv/health/uv_health2/en/

About the author:
Raw Michelle is a natural health blogger and researcher, sharing her passions with others, using the Internet as her medium. She discusses topics in a straight forward way in hopes to help people from all walks of life achieve optimal health and well-being. She has authored and published hundreds of articles on topics such as the raw food diet and green living in general. >>> Click here to see more by Michelle