Soup Recipes That Protect the Skin from UV Rays

Are you looking for recipes for tasty soups that can also help protect your skin from the sun's UV rays? In this section, you'll find a rainbow of yummy soup recipes that combine foods that are chock-a-block full of skin-protecting nutrients such as nutrients such as beta-carotene, lycopene, quercetin, and vitamin C. Bon appetit!

Tip: Make sure you have had a good look at the section Diet Tips for Protecting Skin From Sun Damage and the section 10 Skin-Protecting Foods before you set free the culinary guru in you and dive into the skin-protecting soup recipes in this section.

Tangy Tomato Soup with Basil

Tomatoes possess several interesting properties that make them exceptional at protecting the skin against the sun. Their most attractive quality: they contain 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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Nourishing Nettle Soup

Nettles provide a wallop of antioxidants, ranging from beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C to flavonoids, zinc and selenium. 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.
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Curried Sweet Potato Soup

Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious vegetables there is, and they are brimming 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.
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Carrot, Tomato and Lentil Soup

Carrots store a good amount of beta-carotene while tomatoes deliver plenty of lycopene. Both beta-carotene and lycopene have been shown to help protect the skin against damage caused by the sun.
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Barley 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.
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Chicken 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.
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Apple and Onion Soup

Here we've got a soup recipe that calls for onions and apples, two of the best natural sources of the bioflavonoid quercetin. The molecular structure of quercetin is particularly well suited for scavenging free radicals caused by sun exposure. Also the vitamin C found in apples and onions helps protect the skin.
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Beet and Carrot Soup

This recipe pairs carrots with beets to create a lovely crimson soup that is rich in nutrients that help protect the skin against harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Several studies have found betacyanin, a phytochemical compound responsible for beets' crimson color, to be highly effective at scavenging free radicals induced by ultraviolet irradiation. Carrots, which are packed with beta-carotene, are also famous for their ability to scavenge free radicals and protect the skin.
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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.
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Barley 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.
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Chilled Cucumber and Watercress Soup

Not only does watercress lend its unique flavor to this delicious soup; it is also good for your skin. It is bursting with vitamin C and beta-carotene, both of which have strong antioxidant and skin-protecting properties.
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Broccoli 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.
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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.