Main Dishes Featuring Sun-Blocking Ingredients
The recipes below can help guard your skin against UVA and UVB damage caused by an excessive exposure to the sun as they feature some of the best skin-protecting foods such as tomatoes, spinach, carrots, and salmon. Note that this is the second recipe page focused on cellulite-fighting main dishes. You can view the first page by clicking here.
Tangy Tomato Soup with Basil
Tomatoes are known to have many interesting properties that make them exceptional at protecting the skin against the sun. Their most interesting quality: they provide lycopene which can neutralize the harmful effects of UV light by scavenging skin-damaging free radicals. In one study, a daily intake of five tablespoons of tomato paste served with olive oil increased the protection against sunburn by 33%. Lycopene from processed tomato products—such as the stewed tomatoes used in this soup—appears to be more bioavailable than that from raw tomatoes. The basil in soup is rich in flavonoids which further strengthen the antioxidant power of this pleasantly tangy dish.
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Curried Sweet Potato Soup
Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious vegetables on earth, and they are packed with nutrients that help protect the skin against the sun. The pink, orange, and yellow varieties—which this recipe calls for—are one of the most concentrated dietary sources of beta-carotene (the more intense the color, the more beta-carotene), but sweet potatoes also contain plenty of vitamin C as well as unique root proteins which may have significant antioxidant properties. What's more, sweet potatoes are thought to promote the synthesis of hyaluronic acid which helps keep the skin smooth and supple. See the Recipe
Carrot, Tomato and Lentil Soup
Carrots offer a whopping amount of beta-carotene while tomatoes are supercharged with lycopene. Both beta-carotene and lycopene have been shown to help protect the skin against damage caused by the sun. See the RecipeBarley Soup with Carrots and Parsley
Carrots and parsley are loaded with beta-carotene, an important antioxidant that helps protect the skin against harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Barley, on the other hand, is brimming with selenium. Selenium is thought to help protect the skin due to its role in the antioxidant system of the body: this important trace element is a key component of several enzymes involved in antioxidant defense. See the RecipeBarley Soup with Beans and Basil
Barley is loaded with selenium, a mineral that plays a key role in the antioxidant system of the body. Also basil, rich in flavonoids, and stewed tomatoes, packed with lycopene, add to the skin protecting properties of this scrumptious soup. See the RecipeChicken and Barley Soup
You are probably aware that fatty fish such as salmon is rich in the skin-protecting omega-3 fatty acids, but did you know that also spinach contains these healthful fats? What's more, spinach, as well as the carrots contained in this soup, provide plenty of beta-carotene while the barley this recipe calls for ensures that you get plenty of selenium. See the RecipeBroccoli and Barley Soup
The barley in this soup ensures that you get plenty of selenium which helps protect your skin due to the role it plays in the antioxidant system of you body. Also broccoli provides protection as it is packed with antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E, and pro-vitamin A. Thyme and marjoram, which are used to add flavor to this dish, also possess antioxidant properties. See the RecipeScandinavian Spinach Soup with Boiled Eggs
You are probably aware that fatty fish such as salmon is rich in the skin-protecting omega-3 fatty acids, but did you know that also spinach contains these healthful fats? What's more, spinach delivers an abundance of beta-carotene, a key nutrient for protecting the skin from sun damage. Also the eggs in this vibrant green soup are beneficial as they contain plenty of selenium, a mineral that plays a vital role in the antioxidant system of the body. See the RecipeNourishing Nettle Soup
Nettle—the star of this wholesome soup—is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, and flavonoids. Many of these antioxidants are known to have a synergistic effect and to protect each other from oxidation, thereby enhancing the overall antioxidant prowess of this healthy soup. See the Recipe
Super-Nutritious Broccoli Salad with Apples and Cranberries
This highly nutritious salad uses ingredients that are bursting with nutrients that help protect the skin, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium. What's more, this salad also contains some omega-3 fatty acids (provided by the broccoli). See the Recipe
Romaine and Smoked Salmon Salad
Salmon is a super food when it comes to protecting the skin. It provides an excellent source of omega 3-fatty acids which help protect the skin from UV damage and premature aging. In addition to omega-3s, salmon contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid and a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to scavenge free radicals created by skin exposed to ultraviolet rays and to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with sunburn. In addition, the combination of romaine lettuce and carrots in this salad provides an excellent, low-calorie source of numerous skin protecting nutrients, including beta-carotene and vitamin C. See the RecipeShrimp and Eggs on Romaine Lettuce
Shrimp are rich in omega 3-fatty acids which help protect the skin from UV damage and premature aging. In addition to omega-3s, shrimp contain astaxanthin, an antioxidant that has been shown to scavenge free radicals created by skin exposed to ultraviolet rays and to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with sunburn. Also the eggs in this salad can help protect the skin from the sun due to their high concentration of selenium, a mineral that plays an important role in the antioxidant system of the body. See the Recipe
Tomato, Cucumber and Red Onion Salad
Tomatoes are packed with lycopene, a phytochemical that can neutralize harmful effects of UV light by scavenging skin-damaging free radicals. Red onions deliver antioxidants. See the RecipeSalmon Salad
Salmon is a super food when it comes to protecting the skin. It provides an excellent source of omega 3-fatty acids—a type of fatty acids that are often in short supply in Western diets. Research also suggests that these essential fatty acids can help protect the skin from UV damage and premature aging. In addition to omega-3s, salmon contains astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to scavenge free radicals created by skin exposed to ultraviolet rays and to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with sunburn. See the RecipeWant More Recipes?
For more recipes that can help protect your skin, visit the main recipe directory of HealWithFood.org's Guide to Protecting Skin from Sun Damage.
